I don't get the criticism for Sonic and the Black Knight's graphics - it looks wonderful!
That's not to say the game will turn out brilliant, but it looks fantastic for a Wii game.
I also don't have a problem with the box art either. It does it's job perfectly. Gamers know exactly what to expect with the game - Sonic using a sword.
The artwork for Sonic himself is great, and just because it's about the only Sonic artwork we have seen from the game, doesn't mean it isn't suitable for the box cover. I think it's perfect.
We've got to face the facts really. We're probably not going to get a true Sonic 2D-esque game for home consoles using 3D graphics. Unleashed is the closest we've come to that, but as I read at Cubed3 recently, it would take too long to produce a full game based around nothing but travelling miles upon miles of land at supersonic speed.
The best thing to do is not hype up Sonic games too much, even when they look like something special. Go in with a cool head and appreciate what the game is.
From what I've heard, Secret Rings was a well-received game, and has a lot of fans. It was something different, so now perhaps SEGA have found something to work with and will improve upon it with The Black Knight. And the great thing is, it's only on Wii.