Not the coaster material many proclaim

by Jon Erik Ariza

Fun factor: Average

Worth to: Rent

Though it lacks the level creativity of past titles and offers fickle sword mechanics, it’s still a decent Sonic game if one knows how to enjoy it

Let’s just get this out of the way. 90% of you out there will hate Sonic and the Black Knight. Even if you don’t play it, you’ll hate it and tell everyone how much you hate it. The exact same way you hated Sonic and the Secret Rings, Sonic Unleashed, and Sonic Heroes. Just like all those games however, this game is not nearly as bad as its public perception.

Arthurian legend as told by a hedgehog

I’ll begin with the story. Sonic has been transported into a medieval world where a corrupted King Arthur is wrecking havoc. Sonic is given a sword and sets out to stop him. A handful of Sonic’s supporting cast members appear as characters in the Arthurian legend. Shadow, Knuckles, and Blaze make up Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table respectively as Lancelot, Gawain, and Percival. Amy plays the Lady of the Lake and Tails is the anonymous blacksmith. Honestly, the story is there for little more than context as it is not terribly involving. If anything, I guess you can compare it to the stories of the old Genesis Sonic games where the plot is set up for you but the majority of the time you’re just going wherever the levels take you.



The presentation is where the game is the strongest. All the menus can be accessed with either the pointer or the Wii remote. There are a few beautifully done CG cutscenes used sparingly throughout the game. Most of the story is carried with stylized storyboard-like scenes that, while not as impressive as full-motion videos, are well done and have their own unique charm.

The graphics in The Black Knight are probably some of the best I’ve seen on the system from a third party. The textures are all clean and the models for Sonic and the other playable characters all look great. The game is especially impressive in the volcano levels where you have the blinding hot lava juxtaposed against black volcanic rock. It’s obvious that the development team put a lot of effort in making sure the game looks good and they succeeded where too many Wii games failed miserably.

Understanding the game is key to enjoying it

Then we get to the gameplay that, while being mediocre, is not bad. You use the A button to jump and swing the remote to attack while moving Sonic with the analog stick. The B button is used to trigger a special combo attack when you fill a certain gauge. The game throws a lot of enemies at you and if you try to go through and defeat them all you’ll hate the game and end up nursing a sore arm the next day. I don’t think you’re really meant to defeat every enemy in the same way you’re not meant to do so in Mirror’s Edge. Yes it’s possible, but your enjoyment of the game will be severely compromised.



Instead, focus on jumping attacks and keep your speed up and you’ll actually find some enjoyment in the game. That said, the level design isn’t particularly inspired. Unlike other Sonic games where you are running down walls and flying through loops, Sonic and the Black Knight’s levels feel unusually flat. There’s plenty of turns, some stairs, and some hazards like swinging maces, jumps, and you can also keep a decent sense of speed, but the levels just don’t feel as outrageous as they have been in Sonic games past.

Ends like a typical Sonic title

The plot itself is very short and if you stick to just the story missions, you can easily finish the game in a sitting. Bonus stages are unlocked as you progress that challenge you to complete a portion of a level without being hit, killing a certain number of enemies, not taking damage, or giving NPCs a certain number of rings. The game also includes challenge stages for online leaderboards.

After beating the first portion of the The Black Knight and getting the first ending -- Sonic games are now known for having a normal ending and then a true ending unlocked after further play -- you unlock the ability to play as Lancelot, Gawain, and Percival (Shadow, Knuckles, Blaze) who each play slightly different from Sonic and whom you can outfit with new weapons that Tails can create from the items you collect at the end of a level. In a way, it feels like the game is finally opened up after you get the first ending because you have more options with the Knights of the Round Table than you had with Sonic.



There is also a multiplayer game that I actually haven’t given a shot yet, but I’m sure you can find or already have a better party game on the Wii, regardless. You can exchange items online with friends for weapon forging after exchanging Friend Codes, and as I mentioned, there are leaderboards for online specific challenges available.

Summary

While I may give this game an average grade in that I found it playable, if uninspired with a few good moments, most people will probably hate Sonic and the Black Knight and I can understand why. I don’t think I’d recommend it at full prince unless you absolutely have to own the latest Sonic as soon as possible. If you want to buy the game, I’d recommend you wait for the inevitable price drop.

That said, this new Sonic title is not coaster material as it will undoubtedly be immediately written off as. It’s flawed and I wouldn’t call it a great game, but it’s not terrible. It’s a decent title.