History YMMV / SonicStorybookSeries

* AudienceAlienatingPremise: One of the big contributing factors to the commercial and financial failure of this sub-series was that they came out at a time when the idea of Sonic starring in established mythological stories was the type of gimmick that fans and critics wanted to see the last of, and wished the series went back to its basic premise of Sonic simply fighting against Dr. Eggman. [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor Sega obliged]] and then...well see VindicatedByHistory below.

* VindicatedByHistory: More and more people have warmed up to these games, ''Black Knight'' especially. Some even think that ''Black Knight'' is the best ''Sonic'' story, striking the right balance of dramatic action and family-friendliness emblematic of the franchise. Its handling of Sonic, both in terms of writing and Jason Griffith's voice acting, have been especially retroactively appreciated.

** Given that neither game features the entire cast in the storybook worlds, it's not uncommon for fanfics to show and explore what would the rest of Sonic's cast be like in those worlds. There's also the question as to what the storybook equivalent to Sonic himself is potentially like, given that neither game features an alternate version of Sonic.

Here are the various subjective tropes found throughout the ''VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries''.

!!''Sonic and the Secret Rings'':
* CompleteMonster: [[BigBad Erazor Djinn]] is a [[JackassGenie malevolent genie]] with aspirations of godhood and world domination. Having been forced to grant the wishes of 1,000 people as punishment for his crimes prior to the game, Erazor harbored a hatred for the creator of the ''Literature/ArabianNights'' and sought to escape that storybook world. To that end, Erazor began to destroy and absorb the pages of the book to grow in power. When [[BenevolentGenie Shahra]] brings Sonic into the storybook to stop him, Erazor uses his Flame of Judgment curse to force Sonic into finding the Seven World Rings for him before the flame kills Sonic. He also commits other attrocites such as attempting to assassinate King Shahryar, summoning the Ifrit demon to burn the remaining pages of the book, and condemning King Solomon to [[FateWorseThanDeath life as an undead skeleton]]. When Sonic confronts Erazor at his palace, Erazor reveals his intention was to sacrifice Sonic to gain control of the Seven World Rings and reshape the world in his image. His attempt to kill Sonic is thwarted when [[HeroicSacrifice Shahra takes the hit for Sonic]]. Erazor is [[LackOfEmpathy unmoved by her sacrifice]], calling her weak. [[ItsAllAboutMe Self-absorbed]], and with the cruelty to match his ego, Erazor's [[OneWingedAngel transformation into Alf-Wayla-Wa-Layla]] only reflected the evil within his heart.
* GameBreaker: The Aegis Slider skill. This skill renders you invincible while sliding, which allows you to bypass entire sections of levels without taking damage. Pair this with any of the Skimmer skills, and entire levels become cakewalks.
* HilariousInHindsight: From ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogTheScreenSaver''. [[http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100328120920/sonic/images/b/b5/BOOM!!.jpg One of the screensavers featured]] a genie lamp. Then, over 10 years later...
* IronWoobie: '''''SONIC'''''. Throughout the entire game, he has to deal with a magical flame arrow jutting out of his heart which continually saps his energy as a result of his selflessness, has a time limit to fulfill the request of retrieving the World Rings or the curse will kill him, experiences fatigue from the curse occasionally, has to juggle with the idea that he'll be killed whether he does it or not, and then is faced by [[spoiler:Shahra's death and his rather painful-looking forced transformation into Darkspine Sonic]], and even worse, the poor guy is suffering with a cold throughout the game as well. Bearing all that in mind, Sonic STILL doesn't miss a beat and is having the time of his life through the majority of the adventure. It's not until the very end when he's very close to death and Erazor has pretty much smashed every BerserkButton he has that Sonic's mood drops and even then, [[RageBreakingPoint he just gets pissed off by the situation more than anything.]]
* MemeticMutation:
** Evil Foundry's music. All together now: "WHO'S GONNA ROCK THE PLACE?! PLACE?! PLACE?!"
** The lyrics to "Seven Rings In Hand", especially the chorus, are often parodied. [=TieTuesday=] and crew ''especially'' took the piss out of it during his [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwUXNm4WYmdbDuPyV_7I9sHzE3-Y_TQrW playthrough]] of the game.
-->''MAAAKE BELIEEEVE REBOOOORN--''
* MoralEventHorizon: Erazor crosses it when he manipulates Shara's feelings for him to get the World Rings, and then scoffs at her death when she takes a hit intended for Sonic.
* SugarWiki/MostWonderfulSound:
** The sound Pearls make when they are collected.
** The sound for collecting Super Rings in this game is probably the most cathartic it's ever been.
* {{Narm}}:
** Erazor Djinn's voice acting is... not very good, to say the least. It's most egregious during the final cutscene, where it sounds like he's drunk half the time.
** Erazor's vocalizations during the ending scenes are themselves rather hilarious, as what should sound like him going through great pain sounds more like he's belting out and holding a very impressive operatic note.
* NarmCharm: [[spoiler: Sonic's final wish from Shahra, to grant her a mountain of handkerchiefs, might be a corny BookEnds, but the sheer compassion Sonic holds for the grieving genie after her TraumaCongaLine is sweet.]]
* NightmareFuel:
** Erazor's very gruesome and agonizing-sounding transformation into Alf-Layla-Wa-Layla. Also, the appearance of Alf-Layla-Wa-Layla in general. Sonic himself lampshades it:
--->'''Sonic''': This is awful. You're just some incomplete monster...
** Taking place directly after Erazor's transformation, Sonic's transformation into Darkspine Sonic is also rather horrifying. For starters, hearing Sonic outright ''[[PainfulTransformation scream in pain]]'' is already distressing enough, but then you consider the fact that he's [[KidHero only 15 years old]]. ''[[AdultFear He's a]]'' '''''[[AdultFear child]]'''''.
* NightmareRetardant: Alf-Layla-Wa-Layla may look scary (provided you don't look at the face as some type of mutant [[WesternAnimation/MonstersInc Mike Wazowski]]), but the voice work for him just kills the scare factor. It tries to make him sound booming and powerful, but it just sounds like he inhaled a tank of helium, which has the unintended effect of making him sound like a petulant man child, or alternatively a very cheap [[VideoGame/AsurasWrath Chakravartin]] soundalike. Just try to listen to him say "The stories of this world are MINE!" without laughing.
* TearJerker: [[spoiler:Shahra's death. This is one of the few times Sonic actually breaks his optimistic demeanor, desperately wishing for her to live, and when that fails, he focuses all of his anger on to Erazor in the form of Darkspine Sonic. Thank goodness he is able to wish her back to life using Erazor's lamp.]]
* ThatOneLevel: Dinosaur Jungle -- Mission 10: "Get the Pterosaur Egg!". You must find four dinosaur eggs scattered throughout a small course and take them to their nests. One problem: each egg belongs in a specific nest and the eggs' locations are all randomized. Combine all this with controls that are more tuned for going forwards than anything related to exploration, and you got a mission that will wear out its welcome in no time flat.

!!''Sonic and the Black Knight'':
* EightPointEight: IGN's low score review. A lot of it has to do with accusations that the reviewer never actually completed the game, due to comments about the post-game being totally inaccurate.
* {{Applicability}}: There's a meta interpretation of the game's message that the ''audience'' needs to be willing to let go of ''Sonic'' someday. All good things must come to an end, even your favorite series. Or would you rather it be stuck in mediocrity for all time, like [[spoiler:Merlina]] wants? For many ''Sonic'' fans, this is a legitimate question to ponder that becomes more and more relevant as the series goes through constant ups and downs and always tries new things to stay relevant.
* AudienceAlienatingPremise: While it likely isn't the ''only'' reason the game didn't sell well, there was a ''lot'' of wariness around the very concept of Sonic wielding a sword. It didn't help that the game came out around four years after the critically panned ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'', where Shadow used all sorts of weaponry. On top of this, the game also came out around three years after ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'' [[ObviousBeta put the series in dire straits]], and less than a year after ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' had the divisive Werehog in it. In other words, regardless of its quality, a game with that concept basically came out at the worst possible time in the franchise's history it could have.
* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic:
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpX14vaw5Mw "I just gotta do what I gotta do!"]]
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7jzIhJ1X3g Live Life]]; a slow bittersweet ballad about holding onto hope and enjoying life while you still can as the IAmSong for Sonic The hyperactive, cocky, gotta-go-fast Hedgehog? How the hell is THAT supposed to work? [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools Like a match made in]] ''[[AwesomeMusic/SonicTheHedgehog heaven]]'', [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools apparently]].
*** Until 2019's Videogame/TeamSonicRacing, this was the last song Music/Crush40 would perform for the series (barring the remixes for Videogame/SonicGenerations). This makes the song that much more [[TearJerker poignant.]]
* CommonKnowledge: A lot of the complaints that Sonic got for wielding a sword in ''Black Knight'' stemmed from a line in ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'' where he says he 'wouldn't be caught dead with [one]', with many claiming it contradicted his character of being anti-weapons. The thing is, Sonic wasn't referring to weapons in ''general'' with that line; he was specifically referring to not being caught dead with a ''gun''.
* EvilIsCool: [[spoiler:Merlina, especially in her final form.]]
* EvilIsSexy: [[spoiler:Merlina may be an AntiVillain WellIntentionedExtremist, but there's no doubt that she is '''gorgeous''' in both her normal appearance and her Dark Queen one.]]
* {{Fanon}}: Some fans have gone with the idea that Merlin is Camelot's equivalent to Dr. Eggman (who otherwise doesn't appear in the game).
* GameBreaker:
** Sir Lancelot with [[InfinityPlusOneSword Ddraig Goch]]. First of all, Lancelot is locked into the "Knight" style, offering a balance of speed and power. With his ultimate weapon, the playable Lancelot suddenly gains the skillset of [[ThatOneBoss his rematch version]]. His regular (ground) swings unleash Chaos Spears that can destroy oncoming enemies and safely ruin their approaches. He's at his absolute fastest and still gains access to standard "Knight" skills. The true gamebreaking is his Soul Surge, an improved Chaos Punishment. You know how Lancelot teleports in front of targets and swings. With Ddraig Goch quipped, Lancelot will do ''Chaos Blast'' instead! His range suddenly increases tenfold, making it stupidly easy to rack up your hit count and clear out lanes. Combined with aforementioned "Knight" skills such as the one where he gains Soul Surge meter from simply running, it's possible to [[{{Pun}} surge]] through stages with absolute ease. Lancelot's only weakness is his standard aerial attack, whose startup frames leave him very vulnerable.
** If Lancelot with his ultimate weapon can surge through stages, then Percival does it even better. She has the best Soul Surge in the game -- almost every hit is registered as a Perfect Hit and thus refills a depleting Soul Surge meter -- allowing her make mincemeat out of the more linear stages (like Great Megalith). To a lesser extent, her ground strikes as staggeringly fast and home in on targets. However, she's hampered by weak aerial attacks and awkward aerial mobility, despite being the only one to have a motion-cancelling double jump.
* GeniusBonus: Those who are quite knowledgeable in the Arthurian mythos may easily guess that [[spoiler:Caliburn is the true Excalibur]], considering that [[spoiler:"Caliburn" is what Excalibur was originally called in real-life before the name was later altered by European authors]].
* HarsherInHindsight: The game's message that everything must end takes on a whole new meaning in light of the departure and replacement of writer Creator/ShiroMaekawa and the 4Kids cast shortly after this game’s release.
* SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct: This game is considered to be Creator/JasonGriffith's best performance, for Sonic but especially for Lancelot. Just listen to him bellowing "Chaos Punishment!" when he activates his Soul Surge!
* HeartwarmingInHindsight:
** One of the winning fan art from North America and shown in the game ([[https://youtu.be/4MHs46ZwSZk?t=2m8s shown here]]) is one of Knuckles' POV of Sonic looking at the mural in [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Hidden Palace Zone]], [[https://www.deviantart.com/evanstanley/art/S-and-the-BK-Fan-Art-entry-117329900 created by Evan Stanley.]] Yes, that's the same Evan Stanley, a ''Sonic'' FandomVIP who created notable fancomic ''Webcomic/GhostsOfTheFuture'' and became a PromotedFangirl who got to write and illustrate for the official comic series such as ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'' and ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW''. Likewise, one of the game's European pieces, depicting Sonic in [[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed Jungle Joyride]] ([[https://youtu.be/4MHs46ZwSZk?t=1m8s shown here]]), was submitted by Kieran Gates; he would later go on to create art for ''VideoGame/SonicMania'' and the official ''Sonic'' social media accounts, as well as the IDW comic.
** Sonic's ImageSong ''It Doesn't Matter'', first introduced in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', gave fans insight into his moral code, that he lives by his own rules, doesn't stop his insecurities from living life to the fullest, and even though he doesn't have all the answers, he will never give up and stay true to himself. This game, more than any other, shows just what he means by those lyrics, particularly with his iconic WarriorTherapist speech at the end. The instrumentals of the song even gets a small reprise during the climax.
* HilariousInHindsight:
** One line from the main theme of ''VideoGame/SonicCD'', Sonic - You Can Do Anything, is "Excalibar - It's not that far". Here, Sonic gets Excalibur.
** There was one episode of ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'' called Hedgehog of the Hound Table in which Sonic went back to medieval times, becoming a knight while doing so.
** A magic sword from Arthurian times that [[TalkingWeapon talks]] and likes to annoy the wielder with snark or interruptions? Are we talking Caliburn, or [[Manga/SoulEater Excalibur]]? [[spoiler:Even better, they're really [[SuperMode the same person]]!]]
** This isn't the first time [[spoiler:[[VisualNovel/FateStayNight a woman from Arthurian times would attempt to save Camelot from its destruction through magical means]]. The difference is that it's King Arthur [[GenderFlip herself]] trying it rather than fighting against it]].
*** Even better considering the [[LightNovel/FateZero prequel series]] features its own Black Knight as the ''berserker'' summon (this time it's [[spoiler:Lancelot]]).
** The title becomes this twelve years later when Sonic is in [[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiLiberationDx2 the same game]] as The Black Swordsman from ''Manga/{{Berserk}}''.
* MagnificentBitch: [[spoiler:[[AntiVillain Merlina the Wizard]] flawlessly masterminded the entire plot of the game completely beneath notice. Summoning Sonic from his world to slay a corrupted King Arthur, she takes the arcane Scabbard of Excalibur to utilize its power of immortality, casting a powerful spell on the Kingdom of Camelot. Having foreseen the ruinous future of her world, a despairing Merlina places Camelot under a kind of magical stasis, fueled by the dark forces from the Underworld, in hopes of keeping it eternal. Showing absolute conviction to her cause, Merlina even fights back against Sonic and Caliburn as the Dark Queen. Although ultimately defeated, Sonic spares and convinces Merlina to abandon her nihilistic outlook, proving her to be a lost, if understandable soul who needed her [[HeelRealization hope restored]] after [[WellIntentionedExtremist resorting to extreme measures to keep her world intact]].]]
* SugarWiki/MostWonderfulSound: The sound of going into Soul Surge, followed by the sounds of getting perfectly-timed hits. The high-pitched note is incredibly satisfying.
* {{Narm}}: Sir Gawain [[spoiler:threatening to commit ritual suicide out of dishonor]] is unintentionally hilarious due both to the fact that it's ''Knuckles'' of all people and to CriticalResearchFailure. No chivalry-motivated knight would ever do what Gawain does, [[spoiler:because suicide is unlawful in medieval Christianity, which was a core influence on the development of chivalry]]. Sonic lampshades its ridiculousness:
-->'''Sonic:''' ''*snatches sword*'' Gimme a ''break''! What's up with all this drama?!
* NightmareFuel:
** One of a FridgeHorror variety, when [[spoiler:Sonic realizes what Merlina means to do to Camelot and the world it lies within. As she elaborates on what she means by creating a kingdom that never ends, she demonstrates by bringing forth a healthy flower before his eyes. Sonic's confused, at first... until he realizes that's the dead flower she'd picked up days before, and then it hits him. Merlina ''thinks'' she's sparing the world from destruction, but Sonic sees the reality: her actions would doom the world to a GroundhogDayLoop LotusEaterMachine of [[AndIMustScream cursed, inescapable]], [[WhoWantsToLiveForever madness-inducing immortality]], with everyone and everything staying ''exactly the same, forever.'' Nothing new can be born, nothing old can be remembered. The world ''has'' to be allowed to end at ''some'' point. Needless to say, the dude is HORRIFIED.]]
** [[spoiler:And then in a surprisingly brutal scene for a Sonic game: when Sonic tries to fight Merlina, she ends up ''[[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown beating him within an inch of his life.]]'' [[HeroicSecondWind At first, anyway.]]]]
* OlderThanTheyThink:
** This isn't the first time Sonic has wielded a sword, as he's briefly wielded a sword known as [[https://archiesonic.fandom.com/wiki/Sword_of_Acorns The Sword of Acorns]] in the [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics Archie comics]] a couple of times way before ''Black Knight''.
** Sonic's AntiNihilist life philosophy as summed up in this game came as a welcome surprise to many fans, but that aspect of his personality has always existed since the very first game, where he said something similar on the Japanese box art.
--->''Don't just sit there and waste your precious time. When you want to do something, do it right away. Do it when you can. It's the only way to live a life without regrets.''
* ScrappyMechanic: Despite being the main selling point of the game, the swordplay is often criticized by fans for being clunky, filled with {{Waggle}} and poorly implemented to the point where Sonic is brought to a screeching halt whenever he has to use it. In particular, it slows the game down so much that speedrunners often go out of their way to avoid attacking with a sword unless absolutely necessary.
* SequelDifficultyDrop: Present, due to not having to unlock basic maneuvers.
* SignatureScene: Sonic's last words to Merlina about living life to the fullest even though [[WeAllDieSomeday everything eventually comes to an end]], for being the clearest display of his HiddenDepths in the whole series.
* SurprisinglyImprovedSequel: The game is generally considered to have improved on ''Secret Rings'' by a large margin. While the game is still on-rails, Sonic is now moved using the control stick, and motion controls are now limited to more intuitive sword strikes. Plus, the story is far more memorable, and you have the option to play as other characters with their own abilities.
* TearJerker:
** Merlina's sorrowful moment watching a flower wither. Seeing something that blooms despite being destined to last only a short while is the entire reason for [[spoiler:her master plan]].
** [[spoiler:Her entire speech to Sonic as the Dark Queen, explaining that the ideal world that her grandfather Merlin tried to build will not last and will end in ruin. She even mentions Lancelot and Gawain's rift dooming the Round Table, as well as Arthur getting mortally injured by his own son Mordred.]]
** The agonizing screams that [[spoiler:Dark Queen Merlina]] lets out after [[spoiler:getting run through by Excalibur Sonic.]]
** The ending credits theme, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gximJkLg5MU Live Life]], with lyrics from Sonic's perspective expanding on his message to [[spoiler:Merlina]] about living life to the fullest in the time you have. Performed by Crush 40.
** Special mention goes to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lndJB0F4tYc Knight of the Wind (Accoustic Mix)]], which is a sorrowful take on the otherwise upbeat and action-packed main theme.
* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter:
** A variant. Lancelot gets a harder boss fight, but Gawain and Percival don't. While Percival's one fight does have a notable difficulty, Gawain's doesn't have such merits and could have benefited most from a "Gawain Returns".
** Silver and Jet are both in the game as Sir Galahad and Sir Lamorak respectively and yet, despite being part of the knights of the round table themselves, never appear at all in the story mode and are only playable in multiplayer mode. It would have been interesting to see how their involvement in the story and what their boss fights could have been like.
** Lancelot, Gawain and Percival are all playable characters in the game and have their own moves, swords and the works, however, they're only playable in four stages late in the game. which is extremely disappointing as it would have added a good bit of replay value to the game if you could play as them in every stage in the post-game.
* UnderusedGameMechanic: Late in the game, you can unlock the ability to play as Lancelot, Gawain and Percival in addition to Sonic himself, and all of them have their own unique movesets and swords. Unfortunately, by the time you unlock them, there are only around four worlds left and you can't use them in any others, denying them any potential usage and replay value they may have had.
* VindicatedByHistory: When it was originally released, this game received mixed reviews across the board and was mocked by critics and fans alike for giving Sonic a sword (when he's never needed to use weapons in past games). However while some aspects are still divisive amongst the fandom to this day (mainly Sonic wielding a sword), many fans have since looked back at the game more positively and finds aspects of it to be amongst the best the franchise has ever done, such as its story, villain, voice acting performances, and Sonic's character.

** Merlina's sorrowful moment watching a flower wither. Seeing something that blooms despite being destined to last only a short while is the entire reason for [[spoiler:her masterplan.]]

** The lyrics to "Seven Rings In Hand", especially the chorus, are often parodied. TieTuesday and crew ''especially'' took the piss out of it during his [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwUXNm4WYmdbDuPyV_7I9sHzE3-Y_TQrW playthrough]] of the game.

* SugarWiki/MostWonderfulSound: This game gives Sonic one of chunkiest, sharpest-sounding jump sounds he's ever had.

* {{Narm}}: Sir Gawain [[spoiler:threatening to commit ritual suicide out of dishonor]] is unintentionally hilarious due both to the fact that it's ''Knuckles'' of all people and to CriticalResearchFailure. No chivalry-motivated knight would ever do what Gawain does, [[spoiler:because suicide is unlawful in Christianity, which was a core influence on the development of chivalry]]. Sonic lampshades its ridiculousness: