IGN May Not Have Played SBK Through
Tristan Oliver | March 5, 2009
UPDATE: Video Review Contradicts Speculation from Printed Words
In trying to separate a cold truth from IGNorance in IGN’s recent review of Sonic and the Black Knight, evidence has surfaced that may lead some Sonic faithful to lean on the latter side.
Take a look at what our German partner site Spindash.de found–he noticed a post made on NeoGAF regarding the IGN review that has been circulating in other forum circuits. You would have needed to read Matt Casamassina’s bottom line in the Lasting Appeal section to notice, because that’s where the evidence begins to mount:
You can beat the primary single-player mode in a few hours and then you’ll unlock some extra playable characters. But there’s no point in going back unless you like torturing yourself.
Here’s what the NeoGAF forumer had to say about that:
Wrong. You do not “beat” the game, then unlock the characters. The game gives off a false ending with credits, then the major plot twist happens and the game continues with the ability to play as the other knights. The story is still going on. Did Matt actually think that little bit was the ending?!
There is one other element adding fuel to the fire. Sega has clearly shown in their recent SBK trailer that other characters are playable in the main game, a trailer IGN is hosting on their site. While Casamassina does make mention of a four player mode that includes Knuckles and Amy Rose, nowhere else in his review does he make mention that characters other than Sonic are eventually available in the single player quest. All single player experiences are told in the context of Sonic only. Not helping matters is that all of IGN’s gameplay imagery relating to SBK only shows Sonic as the player.
If IGN really did stop their SBK playtime short, it would not be the first time the mainstream gaming media site has given Sonic or Sega the short stick. In December, TSSZ News showed you evidence that IGN’s Hilary Goldstein may not have finished half of the next-generation Sonic Unleashed, and also in that month, IGN apologized for an unfavorably and admittedly unfair review of Sega’s Worldwide Soccer Manager 2009.
UPDATE: Matt Casamassima’s Video Review of Sonic and the Black Knight released Thursday night contains material that contradicts some of the information reported above. There is footage of other characters in the single player mode that are not from the trailers, and it appears IGN shot the footage. However, Casamassima’s voice-over comments do not reference that footage specifically, and are generally in line with comments made in his written review. It is entirely possible the footage in question may have been shot by someone else solely for the purpose of additional B-roll.
We want to know what you think of these developments, especially if you’ve already played Sonic and the Black Knight through. Sound off in the comments below.
Filed Under Hot Topics, Sonic Scene
I think he didn’t play the whole game too! He said in the review that Sonic was slow compared to Sonic Unleashed. But hey! You upgraid Sonic in black knight! I bet he’s as fast as in secret rings when he’s fully upgraded!
I say the same as you werehog, many says secret rings is bad cus he’s so slow. Man he goes fast like hell when heäs full upgrade!
I don’t care but IGN is just a bunch of lame idiots! I were expecting better from gamespot on Unleashed but they gave it a lower score. But they really liked secret rings so just for fun, I want to see gamespot’s review.
You know, I wouldn’t wonder at all if this guy was fooled by the false ending.
IGNorants
@Kadeb:
Also know as
Ignorant
Gay
Nerds.
OMG VG reviewers never play games all the way through duh! If that’s news then Abe Lincoln became our president is too.
Wait, isn’t the other playable characters only opcional?
Bryce: I understand that. However, the single player SBK takes far less time than other games to our understanding, and it appears a good chunk of the game may involve other characters. If the main story is that quick, it’s not out of the question that he picked this up for an hour–nothing more–and tossed it in disgust.
Ultimate: That’s to be determined. Maybe, maybe not.
-T
I think it is pretty clear that IGN and quite a few other big critics arent exactly Sonic fans and have been giving them bad scores regardless.
That said… Sonic and the Black Knight looks like a pretty terrible game.
the only thing i agree with in the review that its kinda clunky and sometimes unresposive at times
Clunky: Wait some more. You will upgrade!
Uresponsive: As long as the sword works the most of the time… Live with it. Evrything can’t be perfect.
i still cant wait for the game(last to get it >.<), even though the gameplay might not workout, ill be lookign forward to playing through levels as knuckles, and without being forced to move all the time (like secret rings) i can mess about on the levels
I loved secret rings because of the multiplayer party mode so ill be hopefull about this game’s minigames (if there are any, or if its just the battles)
As for IGN, I really dont mind their reviews, I just have to accept that they generally dislike some games that I love. some games (cant really remember of the top of my head) but the new Spyro the dragon, and frogger for the playstation got really terrible scores but i loved them ^^ i guess IGN just had really high standards, but maybe thats good for what a true 10/10 game comes along, and its not the same score as some 10′s that dont deserve it (if you know what I mean)
I’m afraid that the game will be to short. How long is it?
i have the game and its true they gave a false ending o.0 so i went back to adventure mode then i am not giving spoilers but heres something thats a hint Merlina is well i cant say it and i hated the fact that she doublecrosses you thats all i am saying ok i really shouldnt give spoilers that was just a hint and also the GAMEPLAY IS AWESOME SIMPLY AWESOME =D
I beat it in like 3 or 4 hours, but Matt can’t really be penalized for this. The optional characters don’t do a whole lot differently, except for maybe Gawain.
I heard it takes about 7 hours to beat from a lot of people or in a day
He completed the story you fucktards. It’s called crappy controls. And c’mon. This game has nothing to do with Speed or platforming whatsoever. I’m waiting until a REAL Sonic game comes out.
Man all he needs to do is upgrade Sonic a bit.
Ethan Kerr: Ok, it’s your choise but I’ll get this game on Friday! Oh, next friday!
It always feel like it’s tomorrow…
Etan Kerr: Yeah there is platforming in it and speed. Have you even played it yet or what?
Keydown: Is it platforming? Cool…
AGAIN WITH THIS SHIT
The game is alright…not worth the 50 dollars, though.
I’m about ready to fight the final boss, but I’m taking a break. Knuckless gliding=win, though.
This happened the same thing with Unleashed! I swear to **** that this is either a bunch of lies or a Sonic conspiricy theory made by IGN. I cannot say.
I’m excited to play the game, but I’ll have to wait a little because it takes some time to get here where I live.
Anyway, I can’t stand these people bashing a Sonic game without even playing the game. If the game sucks, then ok, blame Sonic Team, but play first.
From what I watched in the trailers, the game looks good. The only thing I’m concerned about it’s the sword play. I don’t like to swing my arms to attack, if this could be changed to button presses, then it would be great.
OMG! I CAN BELEIVE WHAT HAPPENS AFTER U BEAT KING AURTHOR! O_O
This is just like Sonic Unleashed. DON’T TRUST IGN!!!!!!!!!
Folks I wouldn’t even worry anymore. If IGN doesn’t want to play sonic anymore lets move on and see what the other people have to say.
Werehog: Thank you for not giving me an outburst like Keydown.
Keydown: You think you see speed and platforming. I’ve played Sonics 1-3&K, CD, Adventures 1 and 2, Heroes, 06, Unleashed, the Advance and Rush series. (oh, and ShTH, too.) See, SATBK gives you this illusion of platforming and speed. All you fucking do in the game is waggle. Waggle. What the fuck does Waggle have to do with Sonic? Sega seems to create hype for the Sonic games like this that let us down. You want a good Sonic game? Play either of the Genesis games or the Adventure games. Those represent what the series is about best.
I didnt outburst it may have seemed like but I didnt. Dont get angry at me I have played those games. Dont assume what I did.
I just want to say…IGN SUX!!!!! they aren’t reliable any more…if they can’t play a Sonic game then THEY’RE A BUNCH OF STUPID FAGS!!!
I mean…HELL!!!! I don’t know what people have now with Sonic games…
and now…I just HATE all those people who always say : GENESIS SONIC WAS THE BEST!!!!….NO!!!IT WASN’T!!! sorry that’s MY opinion…just all get out with this… for me EVERY SINGLE SONIC GAME since Sonic Heroes where masterpieces…every time a new Sonic game came out I went to buy it and when I played…I’m always like WOW!!! THIS IS WAY BETTER THEN THE ONE BEFORE!!!…for me Sonic 06 was one of the best Sonic games EVER!!!please don’t hate or even say bad comments to me ok… it’s just that I can’t stand how people…ESPECIALLY REVIEWERS are…
Sonic IS GREAT!!!it always is…and it’ll always stay great!!!…
now the last thing I want to say…is that Black Knight is AWESOME!! it’s great!!! you don’t have a long story but the game gives a feeling that even when you beated the final boss you still HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO DO!!!the game isn’t over!! it’s great!!
and…Sonic 06 is like MY favourite Sonic game…
don’t even bother writing to me to say you hate me please…if you think I’m right then I am more then ready to hear what you have to say…
Thank you.
EvilAntho: Ok. I am going to perfectly honest here: You are what some of us old time fans call a “newb.” You hate it when people say that the genesis games were (and are IMO) better than the 3D games because you never were around to play them. I played Sonic 1 and 2 when I was only five, in 1995. They fucking rocked. Later on, I got to play these games on the GameCube, PC/Mac, and Xbox 360. I lived in Sonic’s hey day, when he actually had an edge over Mario. You wanna know something you can do in the older sonics that you can never and will never do in the newer games? Two words. Debug Mode. And with the older games, regardless of whether you cheated or not (and got the 7 emeralds), you could be Super Sonic about ANY TIME INSTEAD OF AT THE END OF THE FUCKING GAME. Get yourself a fucking emulator and some old Sonic Roms and play. Either that or pick up the games on XBLA or Wii VC, or actually buy Sonic Mega Collection/SMC+ for GCN/Xbox/PS2. Oh, and I bothered writing because your a newb.
I played Sonic 2 and it’s the best Sonic game ever. Now I wounder if SatBK is better.., SU was close but the werehog (oh no, thats me) destroyed evrything. Or maybe not evrything, but the game don’t deserve to be the best.
Yes, IGN got many things wrong in that review. They are truly IGNorant, and they prove it just about every time they open their mouths to review a Sonic game. They are a disgrace.
This is why I often don’t bother with them; their reviews are always biased, even if the game is decent. They just love to complain.
It’s true what they say; you can’t spell ignorance without IGN.
Well then, we’ve two possibilities: Listen to reviews, or listen to people who actually played the game.
I’ll chose the second possibility:
I’ll get Black Knight, play it, and not think about these (damn) reviews. Just playing the game and enjoying what there is to enjoy (what I think will be a lot).
There not even trying to review a sonic game anymore, they just pick, it up say some bullshit about how the control is messed up (beacuse they cant play a sonic game for shit) call it a bad game and expect everyone to believe their IGNorant claims.
Ugh…. I hate coming here and seeing a general lack of a mature view on things.
Well, I have learned to stop relying on most professional reviewers since I never get a great idea of how the game’s going to play anyways, and too much of the review is cluttered with complaints, bitching and “Oh, if only it was still…” and blah blah blah.
About this review, I don’t blame them. The game isn’t like Unleashed where it actually deserved a good rating and got disrespectfully smashed… This was an idea that most of us were iffy about in the first place. And look, the game play turned out to be less than what we know could have been done.
In short, don’t trust “professional” reviewers, trust yourself. Play it, and if you like it, what more must be said? As for the flaming, just let it go. At the very least a large amount of fans I know said the game only truly deserved a five out of ten if we’re going to be using a crappy numbering scale anyways.
Oh, and as for him not finishing these games… how far can you expect someone to go if he doesn’t like it in the first place? And if it never gets any better, it’ll only give a sour attitude for the rest of the experience.
Quote@someone : “Oh, and as for him not finishing these games… how far can you expect someone to go if he doesn’t like it in the first place? And if it never gets any better, it’ll only give a sour attitude for the rest of the experience.”
How about finishing the damn thing, last time i checked that was his job, and hes being payed (indirectly by the readers of ign, and directly by suscribers) for it.
@SonicLegends
“i have the game and its true they gave a false ending o.0 so i went back to adventure mode then i am not giving spoilers but heres something thats a hint Merlina is well i cant say it and i hated the fact that she doublecrosses you thats all i am saying ok i really shouldnt give spoilers that was just a hint and also the GAMEPLAY IS AWESOME SIMPLY AWESOME =D”
….WTF was THAT??? You deliberately said you WEREN’T going to give away any spoilers…and then you give one away. A HUGE one. Thanks for totally screwing the story over for me.
[...] again, IGN manages to piss off Sonic fans, the usual allegations of not playing the game to completion in sue, followed by IGN throwing petrol on the problem. This type of thing happens every time a new [...]
i really like IGN but when they review a game i start to hate them
they really are bad doing reviews PRETTY DAMN BAD!
The multiplayer really sucks with only 2 persons playing, but with 4…… jejeje……..The fun begins.
o i was forggeting something
to “beat” the game with only the true ending is about from 5 to 10 hours. But to REALLY BEAT IT (100%) you need from 2 to 5 months!
P.D: the other comment clear your question Werehog?
P.P.D.D: see if you can beat the game with 100% in record time! XDXDXD
but if some persons think that is a bad game (I don’t) think first: is this really bad like Sonic Unleashed for Wii and PS2 versions? (i wished more of them)