Oh, but then it begins to flounder…

My first impressions of the game were positive but the further along I got into the game, the more the smile on my face started to flop. The half-baked gameplay didn’t exactly make for a memorable experience.

The initial sense of speed will surely give anyone a rush. Sonic runs fast! Watching blazing volcanoes and vast green fields race by is a genuinely pleasing feeling. However, when Sonic requires his sword the game riddles itself with the common problems of a usual 3D Sonic game.

Combat in Sonic and the Black Knight lacks any sort of perception or depth. There is simply no variety on how to use Sonic’s sword and all of it sadly consists of mindless waggle. Swordplay is quite a cumbersome and clumsy affair and the delayed response from the Wii Remote really defeats the potential fun from the controls. The enemy placement is widely unbalanced as there are simply too many interferences with Sonic’s high-octane running. Compared to the genuinely inventive use of the Wii Remote in the more successful Sonic and the Secret Rings, gameplay feels generic and lazy.

Presentation

Perhaps, the saddest thing is that Black Knight delivers very pleasing visuals and has a surprisingly high-standard presentation. Whilst the levels lack the creativity and distinctive art style of classic Sonic games, the levels have a strong attention to detail and are surprisingly faithful to the fairytale, Arthurian vibe. Each level has a strong energetic personality and the vivid colors create some visually memorable experiences. The cut scenes are brilliantly animated and are presented in a surprisingly artful 2D storybook style.

The stylish menu screens and interface in Sonic and the Black Knight are worth noting. Each menu is presented in a vibrant, imaginative and attractive way that really reinforces Sonic and the Black Knight’s King Arthur tone. The audio in Sonic and the Black Knight is also very well done. Whilst the music isn’t quite as iconic nor as memorable as classic Sonic tunes, the soundtrack comes in an interesting blend of soothing instrumental pieces and energetic, pumping rock medleys. The voice acting, whilst at times seemingly overdone, all give equally fitting performances to each Sonic character.

Better luck next time, Sonic

Whilst Sonic and the Black Knight does get some things right and, at times, shows some genuine potential for the game to be fun, it sadly suffers from the same problem most 3D Sonics have had: the gimmick is not welcome here. More importantly, it is not as easily accessible as it should be.

Parts of the game have been lovingly created, yet even the magnificent presentation ultimately fails to rescue the lazily implemented gameplay. Perhaps next time Sonic’s adventure in a fictional story might be just as fun to play as it is to watch. For now, this is yet another Sonic game that will be appreciated only by its most loyal fans.