quote Barmy Brat

(the only thing that will make this good is if it turns out that the Wii version of Unleashed doesn't have the Werehog, and has sword-Sonic instead. Werehog gameplay looks pretty enjoyable actually but the Werehog itself is a lame concept, so I'll be happy if this replaces it.

but i doubt that so very, very much.)

quote bbb7002004

For one, is Sonic Team even working on this game? I would assume they are still busy with Unleashed, and SEGA would have ported this game out to a new developer, much like how they are handling the Sonic RPG on DS.

quote Sega

Sonic returns to the Wii on a wild ride through a storybook world of Arthurian legend in his all-new adventure, Sonic and the Black Knight. Designed exclusively for the Wii, Sonic and the Black Knight brings a new twist to Sonic gameplay by combining Sonic's legendary speed with frenetic swordplay action that makes full use of the unique Wii control system.

In this strange, enchanted medieval world, Sonic wields a sword in his effort to save the day. Encountering many friends and foes along the way, Sonic shows them what it takes to be a true hero and the ultimate knight. Master the sword and unravel the mystery behind this intriguing adventure…

Check out the September issue of Nintendo Power for the full scoop on Sonic and the Black Knight!

quote Sega Press Release

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.

quote Blue Blur

-Developed by the same people as Sonic and the Secret Rings

-"This time, a sorceress named Merlina summons Sonic to the mythical realm of King Arthur, but it seems the fabled monarch has somehow been corrupted and now rules the land as the tyranical Black Knight."

-Uses a similar storybook device as Secret Rings

-"As Sonic runs along, a simple flick of the Wii remote will execute a basic slash, which is enough to dispatch most low-level grunts."

-More advanced swordplay consists of the ability to thrust, parry, and even pull off a buzz-saw maneuver midjump.

-"During out demo, we saw the hedgehog leap from a high precipice, then thrust the blade into a wall to slow his decent, sparks flying impressivly as steel cut through brick"

-"Combat is integrated in such a way that most of the time you can slice through any who stand in your path without even slowing down"

-Sonic is controlled with the Control Stick.

-"Our hero begins his quest as a mere knave. Only by becoming a full-fledged knight will he have any hope of defeating King Arthur."

-"his sword, a talking blade named Calibur, serves as a mentor"

-If you help civilian townfolk in need of assistance, you'll earn points toward knighthood. If you smite one of those civilians, your reputation will take a hit.

-"At the end of each stage, the game tallies your good and not-so-good deeds and updates your rank accordingly.

-You can purchase items from residents. "Sonic can aquire everything from gauntlets to magical tomes to new swords, and when equipped, each article bestows him with a unique benefit."

-About 200 items in all, with some being able to be combined with others to make new ones.

-You have the option to go online and trade items with friends.

-Rings come in burlap sacks instead of monitors.

-Sonic uses magic elementals to help him do various things, such as a bounce pad or a speed boost. They look like chao heads. The red ones give him a jump and the blue give Sonic a speed boost.

-Sonic can cross large gaps by firing a ballista and grinding the rope to the other side.

-"On the audio side, veteran composer Jun Senoue is taking a smiliar approach, injecting familiar Sonic themes with a Celtic flavor."

-"Each stage has multiple branching paths and searching for townsfolk and treasure chests provides an element of exploration that recalls Sonic's early Genesis days."

-"the camera will occasionally pan to a side-scrolling perspective for a quick dose of classic 2-D action"

-SBK Bringing back the skill system from Secret Rings, but they're trying not to have the skill system interfere with the game's tempo this time around.

-The mission structure also returns but the developers hope to make it less arduous.

-"And there will be no dinosaur eggs!"

-"Just as they subbed in for such characters as Ali Baba and Aladdin in Sonic and the Secret Rings, a number of familiar faces will assume Arthurian personas in SBK."

-"This time, however, some of Sonic's friends will be playable. Each hero will boast unique abilities, and though the team isn't ready to divulge the full cast just yet, we do know the identities of two playable comrades: Knuckles, who brandishes two swords at once, and Shadow."

-Playing as these other characters is entirely optional. You will be able to play through game as Sonic, or switch to the other characters if you choose.

-"When people see that Sonic is wielding a sword, they'll probably have certain expectations of the multiplayer mode. And all I can say is that we're thinking along those same lines."

-While the old guages from Secret Rings are gone, a new special guage will "bestow him with similarly impressive powers. The meter fills gradually whenever Sonic vanquishes an enemy or snags a purple elemental, and when it reaches a certain point you can unleash a powerful combination attack capable of tearing through multiple foes in quick succession. You simply press the B button to lock onto the nearest enemy, flick the remote to strike him down, then press B again to move onto the next unfortunate soul. If you chain together enough smitings before the guage is depleted, Sonic will receive a speed burst at the end of the string."

-"the team behind Sonic and the Black Knight is keenly aware of the franchise's past missteps, and their enthusiasm for doing right by the series is infections"

quote GAF

Everyone!

I have scans of all the pages of the article, but not the issue itself, I'm not a subscriber (dammit I should be).

I've found some extra, small tidbits that may be of interest:

- Tetsu Katano is the Director this time. Not sure what he's done before. He was the one who thought it was a good idea to give Sonic a sword. I'm offering dart boards with his name on it, free of charge! Yojiro Oqawa, director of Secret Rings, asked him to come up with the idea of the next game (this being it of course).

- Morio Kishimoto is the Lead Designer.

- Kishimoto tried a lot of different controls, but settled on the one we know of, and he jokes about not having tried the Balance Board yet! XD

- It seems that townsfolk do appear in the stages themselves.

- It says that you purchase items from GRATEFUL residents, so that feature is unlocked by saving a specific person/people? I don't know.

- Neat! NP says that the demo they played ran silky smooth, and boasted incredible draw distances!

- Finally, there are 4 screens not shown on Gamekyo and Blue Blur, etc. They show impressive shots of the in-game level.

One shows a shot of the inside of the castle, in a dungeon tunnel, sewer-like area (there's a stream of water running through out the tunnel.

Another shows a shot of the front of the actual castle, with some nice color of green for the grass and trees in front of it.

A third one is a bit high up with some horizontal bridges (tiny ones) and with a waterfall to the right, and some plants!

The last shows a tall, straight stairway (it's viewed from the side) and it shows a large statue of a knight to the left of the stairway (it's close to the camera). In the distance from the right of the stairway, you can see more of nice green plant life.