Sonic and the Black Knight

 Wii
  • Publisher: Sega
  • Release Date: Mar 3, 2009
Metascore
54

Mixed or average reviews - based on 51 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 51
  2. Mixed: 34 out of 51
  3. Negative: 14 out of 51
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  1. GameSpot
    45
    Sonic finds shallow, frustrating gameplay awaiting him in the legendary realm of King Arthur.
  2. InsideGamer.nl
    45
    Sonic and the Black Knight is the perfect game to break your arm. The only thing you do is sweeping around the Wiimote, which is really boring. We could say "better luck next time", but to be honest: We don’t believe in a good Sonic-game anymore.
  3. PALGN
    45
    Slow, mindless and dreary gameplay deals another blow to Sonic's struggle to survive in the 21st century.
  5. Total Video Games
    40
    Control issues prevent any true sensation of a classic Sonic title from emerging, while any subtle depth is virtually eradicated by the overwhelming sense of simplicity.
  6. Eurogamer
    40
    Sonic's stuck in a rut, then: he can run as fast as he likes, but no matter the fancy new tricks he learns, he just can't seem to keep up any more.
  7. DarkZero
    40
    What Sonic and the Black Knight amounts to is a game that has been polished to within an inch of its life, yet one that sadly misses the point everywhere else.
  8. Gamer.nl
    40
    Again Sega doesn't seem to realise what made the old Sonic games so much fun. By wielding a sword, the game loses a lot of speed and the choice to let Sonic play short and meaningless missions doesn't fit the franchise. Even Sonic fans will have a hard time liking this game. It seems that Sonic blew his changes on the Wii.
  9. Kikizo
    40
    Insultingly easy, repetitive, unfunny, strained, shallower than it thinks it is and certain to sell loads, simply because it's got Sonic on it and it's advertised on TV. If you care about what you play, don't play this.
  10. D+PAD Magazine
    40
    As a package Black Knight is competent: the frame rate is consistent while the visuals, taking their cue from Secret Rings, suggest that Sonic Team’s capability with squeezing results from the modest hardware is more successful than their understanding of how Sonic should feel as a game.
  11. Thunderbolt
    40
    Another disappointing effort.
  12. MEGamers
    40
    The extras in the game are irritating and pointless.
  13. IGN
    39
    This is a Sonic game that craps all over everything that has ever made the series interesting and then adds pointless waggle.
  14. Edge Magazine
    30
    The left to right weaving that gave Secret Rings old-fashioned zip has been jettisoned for narrow paths, funneling you from one fight to the next. Add on-rails cart rides and regular pauses to hand rings over to local villagers and this becomes Sonic's most static adventure yet. [May 2009, p.97]
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  15. Metro GameCentral
    20
    Sonic speeds ever further away from his roots and into one of his most ineptly-designed games so far.

Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Most Discussed Wii Game of 2009
5
#5 Most Shared Wii Game of 2009

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 318 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 185 out of 318
  2. Mixed: 71 out of 318
  3. Negative: 62 out of 318
  1. Hynda
    Sep 7, 2010
    10
    The only reason this game got a bad score its because its main character is sonic, imagine for a second this game main character is Kratos. OrThe only reason this game got a bad score its because its main character is sonic, imagine for a second this game main character is Kratos. Or lets say... Solid Snake. It would get tons of high scores everywhere, that is what have become of our industry, creative and unique games are seen as garbage because all this industry wants is graphics and gore, this game is more than that, this game gots magic, speed, and yes, Knights. The graphics of this game are very well if you consider its a wii game, the gameplay is intuitive, you always feel like if you was a hedgehog with a sword in your hand. Also the battles agaisnt Knuckles and Shadows are the best battles in videogame history. There are people who says Uncharted 2 got the most epic moments in any videogame ever, but they are all casual gamers who just started playing this console generation, I am a veteran, and I can tell you, this game is pure gameplay, this game is more deep than any Gears of war or God of War or any Gay war thing. So I give it a high score of course.… Full Review »
  2. JRcade
    Nov 14, 2010
    4
    I am sad to report that Black knight took almost everything that was fun about Secret Rings and destroyed it completely. There is no point inI am sad to report that Black knight took almost everything that was fun about Secret Rings and destroyed it completely. There is no point in controlling your character on such a strict linear gameplay path. The story which I will not spoil is Among the worst in the franchise, and possibly the industry. The battles with the other knights are not Cinematic or even exciting, they are more like a wagglefest you have to engage in, lose a couple of times, and then win. Not to mention Knuckles gameplay segments are COMPLETELY broken, I could not complete his origin level more than once because he wouldn't stop attacking when I so much as tilted the directional stick on the NUNCHUK forward.

    The game should be avoided pure and simple, save your money for something else like the upcoming colors.    … Full Review »
  3. ohaiKendyl
    May 20, 2011
    4
    The once-beloved Sonic series continues its mediocrity with another gimmicky and unoriginal game, but worse. Pros: Some of the best graphicsThe once-beloved Sonic series continues its mediocrity with another gimmicky and unoriginal game, but worse. Pros: Some of the best graphics ever seen on the Wii; engrossing cutscenes. Cons: No loops, no corkscrews, no originality; poor controls; repetitious enemies; awful mini-games.… Full Review »
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