Gamekyo : Sonic and the Black Knight first pics !

Sonic and the Black Knight first pics !

Sega has announced a new Sonic game for the Wii called Sonic and the Black Knight in the latest Nintendo Power magazine that will feature Sonic with a sword. We are still waiting for more details (Wii MotionPlus use ?) and pics of this game.

Update 1 : Sega has confirmed the game : "Sonic returns to the Wii on a wild ride through a storybook world of Arthurian legend in his brand 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…". The game should be released during Spring 2009.

Update 2 : here are the first pics of the game finally ! Here are some details from Nintendo Power :

- Developed by the same team 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 Sonic and the 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."

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

- "On the audio side, veteran composer Jen 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."

- "And there will be no dinosaur eggs!"

- "You will be able to play through game as Sonic, or switch to the other characters if you choose."

- "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."

- "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."

(Source : Nintendo Power)