Sonic and the Black Knight scann'd and quartered
We promised an update, so here we are! That oft-discussed Nintendo Power cover did contain some righteous screens of Sonic and the Black Knight within its papery (Remember paper? The stuff you learned stuff from before the internet?) depths, and we commandeered the above shot for your viewing pleasure.
This new Sonic adventure takes the series in a new direction which, as evidenced by fans continuously lamenting the destruction of the franchise, is sorely needed. The initial reaction hasn't been positive, as fans don't expect this game to be some kind of salvation. Some gameplay details have been revealed, including multiple characters (namely Shadow and Knuckles), different sword maneuvers, and a system which earns knighthood points depending on your good or bad actions during levels. Oh, and his sword is named Calibur, and it talks.
Well, we all wanted Sonic to go really fast, and that turned out to be a big bust, so what now? Do you feel like a passenger on a train bound for Shovelware City? Check out the rest of the scans at Gamekyo and have your say.
This new Sonic adventure takes the series in a new direction which, as evidenced by fans continuously lamenting the destruction of the franchise, is sorely needed. The initial reaction hasn't been positive, as fans don't expect this game to be some kind of salvation. Some gameplay details have been revealed, including multiple characters (namely Shadow and Knuckles), different sword maneuvers, and a system which earns knighthood points depending on your good or bad actions during levels. Oh, and his sword is named Calibur, and it talks.
Well, we all wanted Sonic to go really fast, and that turned out to be a big bust, so what now? Do you feel like a passenger on a train bound for Shovelware City? Check out the rest of the scans at Gamekyo and have your say.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
pjsingh @ Jul 22nd 2008 8:53AM
i actually think that this game might not be bad if we have a lot of players and we don't just swing around the remote aptly. (Hopefully you're right in saying DIFFERENT sword manuevers)
Nigeria: SSBB: 0731-6347-2110 @ Jul 22nd 2008 9:05AM
I'm glad to hear Knuckles is playable. He was always my favourite character, after Sonic, of course. Everything I've heard about this project sounds amazing, and not to sound like a fanatical fanboy, but this post has painted every nugget of information in quite the negative light. It's to be expected whenever Sonic is mentioned. But, come on?
Sonic has had just as many good games as Mario this generation. Quality all the way. Let's not pander to the loud voices of the minority here. He's doing good, the Sonic Teams are doing good. Optimism!
justin b. @ Aug 10th 2008 2:21AM
What? Are we talking about the same character here? It's one thing to say you're a fan of the Sonic games (some of my friends are, too), but you CAN'T say he's had just as many good games as Mario this gen. Because...he hasn't. He has had maybe ONE good game this gen: Sonic Rush. And the sequel, so two. Mario has at least 3: Galaxy, Brawl and Strikers. Mario Party is garbage, of course. Oh, and Mario Kart, that's 4.
I'm sorry, but the first step towards healing is admitting you have a problem, and Sonic Team has a big problem: themselves. Someone else needs to take over for them, because they've killed Sonic. There is no "minority" saying the games suck, EVERYONE does.
Sonic Unleashed all the way. Screw this garbage. (At least, I hope Unleashed works. Otherwise, I'm going to become the world's biggest anti-Sonic game person.)
dukemeiser @ Jul 22nd 2008 9:09AM
Not that I was ever a Sonic fan to begin with (definitely a Mario guy) but I'm hoping Mega Man 9 will breathe new life into retro. Perhaps the industry will sit up and take note that retro style graphics and gameplay can be big sellers and inexpensive to produce. Here's hoping we shall see a new retro Sonic game as a download. There are plenty of original titles in which the formula still works. Just look at the New Super Mario Bros.
Hamster @ Jul 22nd 2008 9:15AM
I'm not so much against Sonic and the Black Knight as a concept, it may be very good, it's just that there seems to be serious Sonic overkill at the moment. This generation is still young and yet we've already seen four major console Sonic games (ie. proper Sonic adventures, not even spin-offs); Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic and the Secret Rings, Sonic Unleashed and now Sonic and the Black Knight. Maybe SEGA should hang fire for a bit, then he can come back refreshed.
jared @ Jul 22nd 2008 9:22AM
this might actually be a decent sonic game, ever since sonic adventure for the dreamcast (and that game was "alright" at best) sonic has been the highlight of many awful games. As for sonic team making quality games and them being just as good as marios, thats just crazy talk.
RUTHLOOSE @ Jul 22nd 2008 9:37AM
Chuga chuga choo choooooooo! You hear that? That's the Shovelware Train coming to town with a new Sonic Team release. Whoooooooo!
N4N0T3CH @ Jul 22nd 2008 9:48AM
I am concerned, but since this is supposed to be in the same storybook vein as Secret Rings, I'll withhold judgment until we see some game play.
Shadow31 @ Jul 22nd 2008 10:25AM
I've lost all confidence of this being a good Sonic game, just hoping it's a good sword game. If it uses the Wii MotionPlus, then at least it could be worth a purchase.
At least half of Sonic Unleashed will be good!
samfish @ Jul 22nd 2008 10:31AM
HA! I TOLD you the sword would talk!
Also, I don't htink this is shovelware. It looks a LOT better than what we've seen of the Wii version of Sonic Unleashed, that's for damn sure. Plus, Secret Rings had excellent visuals.
That said, I'm a bit concerned about this. I was getting hyped up for another game that plays like Secret Rings, but the screen shots and descriptions of gameplay make it sound like it's going to be your usual, shitty 3D Sonic game, complete with game-breaking camera.
Ugh. Sega REALLY was on the right path to making Sonic work with Secret Rings. It's sales should speak to that, too. It would be mind bogglingly stupid, even for Sega/Sonic Team, if they suddenly decide to make it's sequel have all the problems of the previous games!
Zertoss @ Jul 22nd 2008 10:40AM
Kinda hard to tell how a game is going to play from a single screenshot nearly a year before the game is released.
samfish @ Jul 22nd 2008 10:47AM
There are about 10 or so more screenshots floating around out there.
Zertoss @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:14AM
Ah, the source link didn't show up for me before. Looks like Secret Rings to me, but with a sword and... Chao fairies?
John Rios @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:32AM
Why on EARTH would I want this game?
TX2 @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:13PM
Sonics done nothing BUT take new directions for a long time now. He's practically running around in circles like a headless chicken.
beesnipe @ Jul 22nd 2008 1:16PM
So....
This game was created for cashing in on the new wii-motion peripheral?
FYIan @ Jul 22nd 2008 2:41PM
Why on earth don't they just make a Secret Rings sequel with more than 4 levels and without the crappy RPG and mission elements. That would be a great game.
A 2.5D Sonic game in the original style would work, too.
Sonic has only ever been about speed. That's the only thing he ever had over Mario, and that's the only way he'll succeed now. If they want him to do something else, the game might as well be a different franchise and not a Sonic game at all.
Zachary @ Jul 31st 2008 4:34PM
I got tired of Secret Rings solely because it repeated the same levels over...and over...and over. If it had more than a couple of levels (or at least more places in each of the worlds--running over the same 10 feet of track on the dinosaur level was too much), the game would've been much improved.
They really should take a Super Mario Galaxy-esque approach. Even though you visited the same galaxies over and over, you rarely went the same route through the galaxy, or even the planet in some cases. If Sonic and the Black Knight did this, I'd buy it.
Mechanox @ Jul 23rd 2008 6:47AM
Hmm...This game might actually be really good if:
It's not on rails like sonic and the Secret rings,And plays more like sonic adventure 2.
We actually run fast AND have awesome swordcombat
Emm...have that RPG system that we already now exists now :P
2 player battle.
I would like sonic Unleashed if it wasn't 2-D but i can live with it,I hope the next sonic game they make is a sequel to Sonic adventure series.
And for those who say "Sonic should be 2-D!!!"
Do you remember how bad sonic Rush was.....
Mr Khan @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:17PM
A level up system is what killed Secret Rings (at least in terms of critical response). If they deliberately bury the good controls and make it so you have to unlock them again, it'll be the same debacle for them
Playable Knuckles, of course, is win.
Tim @ Jul 28th 2008 7:39AM
It started with 3-d blast ;), then we got sonic taking care of giga pets, and now this... I think I may be hanging up my red and white sneakers soon