Review Detail
| Overall rating: | 5.6 | |
| Gameplay: | 4.0 | |
| Presentation: | 8.0 | |
| Value : | 6.0 | |
| Fun Factor: | 5.0 | |
| Tilt: | 5.0 |
Reviewed by Eric LaymanApril 07, 2009
View all my reviews
Report this review
In Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the Black Knight character managed to get his arms and legs sliced off, but refused to acknowledge his peril (even as it was happening) in a blast of comic irreverence. Funny as that was, I can't help but feel Sonic and the Black Knight is analogues to that situation. As the onslaught of poor execution continues, Sonic Team absolutely refuses to believe there is anything wrong with their current interpretation of the Sonic franchise. They're not necessarily trying to emulate their peers anymore, which is good, but they also seem to be blind to how well other platformers are shining on the Wii. Mario Galaxy, de Blob, Mushroom Men, and even Spyro are leaps and bounds ahead of Sonic's latest outing. I know Sonic Team can still make fantastic games (NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams was arguably my favorite game of 2007), but Sonic and the Black Knight is far from their potential. It breaks my heart to see Sonic fall again, but he'll be back in a few years, and I am sure we will all be eager to see if he's changed. Here's hoping, anyway.
Videogames
| Gameplay | Initially appealing and inviting, but it quickly wears out its welcome as boredom and remorse inevitably set in. The sword play is incredibly disappointing, the missions are repetitive, and the bosses are frustrating. The control and interface from Secret Rings were fixed, but what happened to everything else? |
| Presentation | Be it the environments or the sparse CG, Sonic and the Black Knight looks fantastic. While many of the narrative scenes are minimally produced, their presentation is effective. The music, for better or worse, adheres to Sonic's standards. |
| Value | A LOT of content, but I can't award points if a majority of it isn't any fun. Sonic could keep you busy for a long while if you want to ace everything, but, beyond the legacy levels, there aren't too many reasons to play it past the end of the story. |
| Fun Factor | My fun with Sonic was short lived. I had my fill early on, but dread took over when I felt my obligation to complete the game. Again, Sonic and the Black Knight isn't necessarily bad (or even broken), it's just not up to par with any of its peers. |
