It’s not a dream, it’s a nightmare: Wii-exclusive Sonic and the Black Knight is real
Monday, July 21st, 2008 at 11:46am by Jack
As Sonic Unleashed continues to bleed street cred with further revelations about what it will really be like (read: not good), another Sonic title was revealed by Nintendo Power that did little to help the failing, flailing mascot get back on board the bus to Cool Town.
Called Sonic and the Black Knight, the title was first shown on the cover of Nintendo Power. Sonic, clutching a giant sword and looking as desperate for a sense of direction as ever, was front and center. Today, we have confirmation from Sega that the Wii-exclusive title is coming soon. Press release (via Kotaku) after the jump, but first a word from Gary Knight, European Marketing Director, SEGA Europe:
“After the success of Sonic and the Secret Rings we’re delighted to announce a second title in the Storybook Series,” Knight said. “Following Sonic on his way to knighthood will excite players of all ages.”
I am ashamed.
SEGA ANNOUNCES SONIC AND THE BLACK KNIGHT
A new addition to the Storybook Series of Sonic Titles
SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON (July 21, 2008) –SEGA of Europe Ltd. and SEGA® of America, Inc. today announced Sonic™ and the Black Knight, an all-new Wii-exclusive adventure. Part of the storybook series of games that began with Sonic and the Secret Rings, this new title brings Sonic into the world of Arthurian legend and offers the worlds most infamous blue hedgehog the chance to become a knight. Using the unique Wii control system, this exciting game will take advantage of both the Wii Remote and the Nunchuk to offer an interactive experience that any Sonic fans will love.
Created by Sonic Team in Japan, this innovative game takes Sonic into a medieval world and arms him with a sword to aid in his effort to save the day. Sonic and the Black Knight will provide Sonic fans with an irresistible cast of characters and teach them all what it takes to be a true hero and the ultimate knight. With a series of missions taking place in stunning Arthurian-inspired locations, Sonic and the Black Knight promises to offer a fast-paced adventure that gamers of all ages will enjoy.
“After the success of Sonic and the Secret Rings we’re delighted to announce a second title in the Storybook Series,” said Gary Knight, European Marketing Director, SEGA Europe, “Following Sonic on his way to knighthood will excite players of all ages.”
Sonic and the Black Knight, exclusively for the Wii, will be out in Spring 2009.
July 21st, 2008 at 11:51 am
Sonic and the secret rings was a ’success’?
July 21st, 2008 at 11:55 am
I don’t get Nintendo Power anymore… I’m missing a lot.
July 21st, 2008 at 11:56 am
@bOB
Whether you liked the game or not, it sold crazy good. I think especially in Europe. I actually like the whole “storybook” thing of Arabian knights, so hopefully it’s still fun.
July 21st, 2008 at 12:34 pm
My friend would flip out about it!
July 21st, 2008 at 12:47 pm
So much hate for a game one hasn’t even played yet…
July 21st, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I really liked Sonic and the Secret Rings - I can’t wait to get my issue of Nintendo Power in the mail so I can read up about it!
July 21st, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I heard only bad things about secret rings, specifically about the control scheme (although I never played it). I’m not a huge sonic fan so I’ll probably pass on this one.
July 21st, 2008 at 12:56 pm
@DmNt
I agree with you 100%. How can someone possibly say that a game is bad if they not only haven’t played it, but haven’t even seen a screen shot or video of it?
OK, so Sonic and the Secret Rings wasn’t the best in the Sonic series, so what. That game is almost a year and a half old. I’m thinking that by now many lessons have been learned about what to do and what not to do in a Wii Sonic game, and that this game will be a whole lot better than Secret Rings. I think the theme of this games sounds good, and I’m sure the graphics will be really good as well.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m holding off on any judgment until I actually see the game in action.
July 21st, 2008 at 1:03 pm
On the positive side, at least the announcement coming so soon after E3 (something Nintendo could very well have announced at E3) shows that there most definitely are development efforts going on for Wii that Nintendo simply didn’t want presented at the show. Hopefully this adds additional weight to new Zelda, Kid Icaras, Mario and Retro studios titles being well in the works, and potentially soon to be announced.
July 21st, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Why is it so hard to make a good Sonic title? And why hasn’t Sega fired the Sonic Team, yet? All they make is garbage nowadays.
Seriously, the name “Sonic Team” should, in theory, mean that something good is coming. But everytime I hear/read it, I’m afraid of what garbage they’ll shovel out next. Sega needs to give Sonic to a third party (although, Bioware is in control of Sonic RPG for DS, but that’s an RPG and I’ve heard lackluster things anyway), because thing just are’nt working out between the blue blur and his original creators.
July 21st, 2008 at 1:37 pm
SEGA, its like this, 2D side scrolling sonic game = good
3D sonic game with chau = jumped the shark
Sonic kissing real women = double plus ungood
Sonic speaking on and on about nonsensical tripe = Face palm (I’m of the opinion that he talked too much in Brawl)
Look at the awesome retro stuff coming down the pike, Megaman 9, Wario, Gradius and that new Castlevania DS game. These things have me very excited. Why can’t Sonic get this treatment. SEGA, just because you can do 3D with voice work and cinematics doesn’t mean you’re obligated to use them in the least.
July 21st, 2008 at 1:45 pm
my wife bought sonic and the secret rings and i decided to give it a try. the storyline is a little weak, but what sonic title wasn’t? the premise was fun, but the control lacked (seriously). if they could work out the control and make it all flow a little better then work on the story a little the game might not be that bad. i will have to wait and see more before making the final judgement.
July 21st, 2008 at 2:07 pm
How can we judge a game by one piece of art and a few paragraphs of PR bullshit. We don’t know what it is about. It could be good, just like SSR before it. Or it could stink. We just can’t tell yet.
you SHOULD be ashamed, Jack!
July 21st, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Would Mario make a good first person shooter? Would you use Zelda to make a DDR rip-off? Some ideas are legitimately bad from the get-go. I don’t pour coffee on my mac ‘n’ cheese, and I sure as hell wouldn’t try to mix Sonic and sword play. I don’t know why Sega is hell-bent on killing the Sonic The Hedgehog IP, but I wish they’d either put it up for sell or nix it altogether rather than continue to kamikaze it into the ground. I’m with Ptolemy; why not do a 2D revival title with Sonic? Sonic’s overall transition to 3D didn’t go nearly as smoothly as Mario or Link’s, and it’s one of those “if it’s not broken, fix it until it is” things. I just want the Hedgehog, rolling hills, jumps, loops, ramps, springs and rings on a fixed axis with the occasional cameo by Knuckles (death to Tails) and Eggman. No bloody Chao. No bloody helpless animal critters. No bloody princesses to rescue. No bloody gawd-awful voices. If Capcom has the balls to try this with Mega Man, then Sega definitely needs to try it with Sonic; because let’s be honest…..they ain’t got that much to lose.
July 21st, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Wii motion plus confirmed!
July 21st, 2008 at 3:15 pm
sWiit! Can’t wait!
I’m not too picky about Sonic games. SatSR was freakin’ awesome for me. The only 3d one I didn’t like was Sonic Heroes, and that’s only because I sucked at it, lol.
July 21st, 2008 at 3:27 pm
bOB asked if Sony and the Secret Rings was a success, not if you liked it!
I echo his question: Was Sonic and the Secret Rings a “success”??
July 21st, 2008 at 3:48 pm
@InvisibleMan:
Yes, Secret Rings was a success - especially if you take a look at the shoddy Sonic X360 and POS3 got…
July 21st, 2008 at 5:17 pm
They want to save the sonic franchise? Dump the character and story it has now, and adopt the setting, story, and characters from the SATam show and the Archie Comic. Make an in depth adventure with multiple gameplay styles based on THAT and you’ll have a success.
Nobody really cares about amy rose or creme anyway.
July 21st, 2008 at 5:33 pm
I for one, am going to wait for more information before i judge…I actually enjoy sonic and the secret rings…And nobody said the gameplay of this upcoming game will be exactly the same…Geez people…I’m growing ever more disappointed lately…so many judging way to quick…-_-;;
July 21st, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Ok why do we have to play Sonic again?
July 21st, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Sega, it’s like this: If you make an HD update of the original Genesis games, people will throw money at your feet. It’s cheaper, more profitable, and a hell of a lot easier than coming up with this crap year after year.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:53 am
Ptolemy:
In the 1995 Sonic anime (produced by Sonic Team themselves, mind you, at the height of Sonic’s fame) Knuckles was kissed by a teenage girl.
KNUCKLES. KISS. GIRL.
OMG!
But no one freaked out about it. Only in the bent, limited minds of westerners does there seem to be a problem with a completely anthromorphic, un-hedeghog like character being kissed by a human.
It’s OK in Disney films, but in Sonic games? OH NOES! But the reality of the fact is, it could have been Sonic instead of Knuckles and Japanese audiences still wouldn’t have called it a “mistake”. They wouldn’t dwell on it for a moment. Every American, old-school Sonic fan that I’ve known who has watched the 1995 film and enjoyed it (and really, if you’re into the “old” feel of the Sonic games, this movie is for you) didn’t seem have an issue with the Knuckles/Princess Sera kiss.
But I suppose in 2008 we’re too “hardcore” and serious-minded to simply let something like this pass, right? And you’re such a “hardcore” Sonic fan, you must have already known about the Knuckles kiss, but this is WAAAAAY different……right?
You lose.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:57 am
greatslack: Actually, it’s not more profitable. The Sonic games have been released, and re-released a bazillion times. You might as well be saying that virtual console releases sell better than original releases. They don’t. Super Mario Bros.3 is not currently outselling Super Mario Galaxy and Super Paper Mario.
The Sonic games, on the other hand, consider to sell well no matter what YOU think about them. Sorry….your opinions don’t mean diddly-squat to Sega.
RoyalRook: Well, I don’t know why anyone would have to play Sonic. Your question doesn’t really make sense. No one is forcing anyone to play Sonic. However, Sonic and the Secret Rings was fantastic IMO, so I suppose I have to play this one.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:59 am
Sean:
“Nobody really cares about amy rose or creme anyway.”
http://www.deviantart.com
http://www.fanfiction.net
I love how the hardcore always think they are the majority.
July 24th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Well it might be a disaster, but I think your jumping to conclusions too fast JACK. Personally I think that secret rings was a step in the right direction and this game is suppossed to fix many of the problems that it had. I believe that SONIC is on the road to recovery but he definatly isn’t out of the hole yet.