* AntiClimaxBoss: [[CanonForeigner Ino Taisei]] in ''Alteration'' is built up as TheDragon to Kyoji Mujoh, has an awesome Main/{{Samurai}}-themed Alter, and even defeats [[spoiler:Martin Zigmarl]] (albeit, offscreen). [[spoiler: He then [[ILetYouWin purposefully]] gets one-shotted by Kazuma near the end of ''Quan'' to gather "data" for his boss.]]
* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: Both the anime's [[AnimeThemeSong OP]] and ED qualify. The former, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrL2E_jFVZY "Reckless Fire" by Yasuaki Ide,]] is adrenaline-pumping hard rock with traces of flamenco, while the latter, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7olMM4AVj3k "Drastic My Soul" by Mikio Sakai,]] is a much more somber (but no less rocking) ballad.
* BaseBreakingCharacter: Is Ryuho a deep, interesting hero or a bland, annoying spotlight thief?
* BrokenBase:
** Are the manifestations of Alter powers awesome or are they just ridiculous?
** Some people believe the final episode is the ultimate fanservice to fans who appreciate the action scenes while others think of it as a useless episode that adds nothing to the main plot.
* HilariousInHindsight: Several fans and even some critics/journalists (such as ''Wizard Anime Insider'' in their preview of the series from the magazine's August 2002 issue) have noted that ''s-CRY-ed'' can be aptly summed up as "[[SpiritualAdaptation Anime]]!''ComicBook/XMen''." The dub features Creator/SteveBlum as the AntiHero protagonist about two years before [[VideoGame/XMenLegends he'd first lend his voice to]] [[ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} the most recognizable (and similarly anti-heroic) X-Man of all]].
* HoYay: Aside from [[FoeYayShipping the usual]] when it comes to [[TheRival the two male leads]] obsessing over each other, there's Unkei, who apparently deliberately pumps up the Ho Yay between Kazuma and Ryuho up to eleven during their sparring match orchestrated by his Alter power. This is what ultimately tips his hand to Kazuma, who realizes he's being controlled.
* MemeticMolester: Tatsunami and his Big Magnum. It's big, and it's hard, and it's COMIN' TO GET YA!
* MemeticMutation:
** Asuka Tachibana: Keeper of the Eight Treasure Balls. Really, with a name like that and the quotes that inevitably spring forth, it's like the producers were asking for it. Stop snickering, you at the back.
*** In the manga, there's an exclusive character who fights with a large pole. He and Tachibana end up fighting, and [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything arguing over whether it's more important to have a big pole or big balls]].
** Straight Cougar is voiced by Creator/CrispinFreeman, better known for voicing [[Anime/CodeGeass Jeremiah "STORM OF LOYALTY" Gottwald]]. This led to many crossover jokes. (Knight of Cougar, STORM OF RADICAL GOOD SPEED!)
* NarmCharm: A good portion of the show is made up of this entirely, especially in the extra campy English version. That it has some genuinely touching moments helps.
* TheyCopiedItSoItSucks: As noted above, this series has invited ''many'' comparisons to ''ComicBook/XMen''. Those who don't view ''s-CRY-ed'' as [[SpiritualAdaptation the closest one could get to]] an ''X-Men'' anime (until [[Anime/MarvelAnimeXMen there was an actual X-Men anime]], that is) tend to dismiss it as little more than a cheap knockoff despite a number of significant differences between the two.