History YMMV / SonicExe

** The constant ripoffs from other video games (ripping off the final boss music from ''VideoGame/{{Silent Hill|1}}'' and ''VideoGame/Earthbound1994'', Kefka's ever-popular laugh [[note]]{which had already been used in ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qmyv5iOh9HI Sonic Oddball Crackups]]'' in lieu of Knuckles' sniggering for ''intentional'' comedic effect}[[/note]], etc.).

* DesignatedHero: Tom spends the entire story worrying about fictional characters and mourns over their gruesome deaths unlike his real-life friend, Kyle, who presumably died horribly trying to save him.

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Tom can be hard to sympathise with due to how [[IdiotHero idiotic]] his actions are (like playing a game even after he was repeatedly told to destroy it) and the fact that he cares more about fictional characters dying rather than his real-friend who probably died trying to save him, never considering about it until the end, which was still overshadowed by him worrying over Tails, Knuckles, and Robotnik.

* ItsPopularNowItSucks: Ever since it was posted on the Creepypasta Wiki and the fangame adaptation, it has gained widespread popularity across the net, and since then many find it as one of the worst examples of creepypastas out there. This trope, [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny among]] [[CondemnedByHistory other]] [[ClicheStorm reasons]], is the reason it was moved from the Creepypasta Wiki to its sister site, the Trollpasta Wiki (along with many other old creepypastas that fell into this trope). Even amongst its initial following, it didn't really stand the test of time against other pastas.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: The .exe part of the story's name itself. The idea was that it's just a regular file called "Sonic" with the file extension for executable files at the end to give an eerie air since [[ParanoiaFuel it is seemingly a regular file that anyone could stumble upon and open to find out the consequences too late]]. After tons of imitators copied the story's name, adding ".exe" to the end of a title is just seen as a common creepypasta trick, and of the oft-mocked kind at that.

** The original video game adaptation of the Creepypasta by [[https://gamejolt.com/@MY5TCrimson MY5TCrimson]] (which simulates Tom's experience) is more well-known and is often considered the superior experience by many, as you are the one experiencing the cat-and-mouse game with the demonic Sonic, as opposed to the contrived and idiotic human characters in the original story.
** Even moreso for the remastered version, which manages to be geniunely scary while following the creepypasta quite closely.

* CommonKnowledge: X is often interpreted as a demon, when he's actually an alien. Him being an alien was made more clear by [=JoeDoughBoi=] and ASTRANOMICONX, Sonic.exe's new owners.

** The constant ripoffs from other video games (ripping off the final boss music from ''VideoGame/{{Silent Hill|1}}'' and ''VideoGame/Earthbound1983'', Kefka's ever-popular laugh [[note]]{which had already been used in ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qmyv5iOh9HI Sonic Oddball Crackups]]'' in lieu of Knuckles' sniggering for ''intentional'' comedic effect}[[/note]], etc.).

* MemeticLoser: Sonic.exe is commonly trashed by other, more genuinely terrifying Sonic-resembling villains, such as [[ComicBook/SonicTheComic Fleetway Super Sonic]] and [[WebAnimation/SuperMarioBrosZ Turbo Mecha Sonic]]. This is referenced in the ''VideoGame/FridayNightFunkin'' mod ''VideoGame/VsSonicExe'', where Fleetway Super Sonic is one of the opponents, and [[TakeThat constantly throws jabs at Sonic.exe]] [[GameOverMan when Boyfriend loses to him]].

* CondemnedByHistory: You would have nary a clue this used to be one of ''the'' most well-respected game Creepypastas out there judging by how the pasta is treated nowadays; after critics tore it apart and made people realize its flaws, the pasta was lampooned so hard it got moved off the Creepypasta Wiki and onto a wiki dedicated explicitly for bad or troll Creepypastas. This in turn led the author to practically explode with petulant rage, writing a response to the Creepypasta Wiki's deletion of the story (with an archive available [[https://c0rps3.deviantart.com/art/The-Original-Sonic-EXE-Rant-EDIT-READ-DESCRIP-508262184 HERE]]) so overwrought and laden with PurpleProse that he only [[DiggingYourselfDeeper drew further attention]] to both the story and himself, resulting in even more relentless mockery and criticism. Finally, it was revealed in 2021 that the creepypasta author participated in questionable roleplays with minors, leading to said author being disowned by most of the fandom. While there does still exist a significant following for the general idea and character of Sonic.exe (something the author's response outright desired to keep it alive), especially among kids or [[NostalgiaFilter adults who encountered it as kids]], [[AdaptationDisplacement it is almost entirely divorced from the actual original story]], which any retrospective will be quick to point out the issues with.

%% Overshadowed By Controversy cut per cleanup thread. Please discuss there before bringing it back.
%%Link: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=15417159170A60176600&page=124#comment-3082

** In his infamous rant, the author claims that "our glorious little Hellspawn shall have the last laugh yet" and tells his fans to do whatever it takes to keep it alive. By 2023, Sonic.exe has, [[AdaptationalDisplacement even if they're rather divorced from the original]], maintained a strong community of fan-games, fan-videos, art, and mods compared to other creepypastas, even fellow big-namers like ''WebOriginal/JeffTheKiller'' and ''[[Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos Slender Man]]''. So, in a sense, Sonic.exe did get the last laugh.

** The story also has a love for repeatedly listing or estimating an exact number of seconds something happened. This can get pretty tiring. This culminates in a moment near the finale, in which our protagonist ‘in an actual split second’ screams - must have been a very short scream! - then screams again for 7 seconds while the game produces static for the exact same amount of time, cramming in a healthy dose of PurpleProse for good measure.

** In his infamous rant, the author claims that "our glorious little Hellspawn shall have the last laugh yet" and tells his fans to do whatever it takes to keep it alive. By 2023, Sonic.EXE has, [[AdaptationalDisplacement even if they're rather divorced from the original]], maintained a strong community of fan-games, fan-videos, art, and mods compared to other creepypastas, even fellow big-namers like ''WebOriginal/JeffTheKiller'' and ''[[Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos Slender Man]]''. So, in a sense, Sonic.exe did get the last laugh.

** In his infamous rant, the author claims that "our glorious little Hellspawn shall have the last laugh yet" and tells his fans to do whatever it takes to keep it alive. By 2023, Sonic.EXE has, [[AdaptationalDisplacement even if they're rather divorced from the original]], maintained a strong community of fan-games, fan-videos, art, and mods compared to other creepypastas, even fellow big-namers like ''WebOriginal/JeffTheKiller'' and ''Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos Slender Man]]''. So, in a sense, Sonic.exe did get the last laugh.

* CondemnedByHistory: You would have nary a clue this used to be one of ''the'' most well-respected game Creepypastas out there judging by how the pasta is treated nowadays; after critics tore it apart and made people realize its flaws, the pasta was lampooned so hard it got moved off the Creepypasta Wiki and onto a wiki dedicated explicitly for bad or troll Creepypastas. This in turn led the author to practically explode with petulant rage, writing a response to the Creepypasta Wiki's deletion of the story (with an archive available [[https://c0rps3.deviantart.com/art/The-Original-Sonic-EXE-Rant-EDIT-READ-DESCRIP-508262184 HERE]]) so overwrought and laden with PurpleProse that he only [[DiggingYourselfDeeper drew further attention]] to both the story and himself, resulting in even more relentless mockery and criticism. Finally, it was revealed in 2021 that the creepypasta author participated in questionable roleplays with minors, leading to said author being disowned by most of the fandom. While there does still exist a significant following for the general idea and character of Sonic.exe, especially among kids or [[NostalgiaFilter adults who encountered it as kids]], [[AdaptationDisplacement it is almost entirely divorced from the actual original story]], which any retrospective will be quick to point out the issues with.

* HilariousInHindsight: There would eventually be an [[Film/SonicTheHedgehog2020 official Sonic media]] with a human protagonist named Tom. Funnily enough, it ''also'' had a version of Sonic that made people reel in horror. That very same version of Sonic (albeit with a few cosmetic changes) was later featured in Film/ChipNDaleRescueRangers2022, where he does a creepy closeup at one point similar to one of Sonic.exe's faces.

* DracoInLeatherPants: The fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13376526/1/Sonicexe-a-change-of-fate Sonicexe: a change of fate]]'' has [[spoiler:X (named Exe) making a HeelFaceTurn at the end after regaining his lost memory and falling in love with Mephiles.]]

* DracoInLeatherPants: The fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13376526/1/Sonicexe-a-change-of-fate Sonicexe: a change of fate]]'' has X (named Exe) [[spoiler:making a HeelFaceTurn at the end after regaining his lost memory and falling in love with Mephiles.]]

* DracoInLeatherPants: The fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13376526/1/Sonicexe-a-change-of-fate Sonicexe: a change of fate]]'' has X (named Exe) making a HeelFaceTurn at the end after regaining his lost memory and falling in love with Mephiles.

** [[EldritchAbomination X]] is a monster resembling Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog. Trapped in another dimension, X created a cursed ''Sonic'' game. Once someone had played through the game, a portal would open up, allowing X to tear the player's soul out of their body and take them back to his world for [[AndIMustScream eternal torture]]. When Tom plays the game, he witnesses X torment several people whose souls have been transformed into Sonic characters, before he brings Tom into his realm. In ''Sonic.exe Round 2'', it is revealed that X has killed 31 people, and plans to one day permanently cross over to Earth and [[DystopiaJustifiesTheMeans turn it into a realm of eternal suffering]]. Viewing all of humanity as toys [[ForTheEvulz for his amusement]], X is as evil as a Creepypasta monster could be.

* TooBleakStoppedCaring: The protagonists are idiots who endanger themselves and others through their acts, and the antagonist is an obnoxious EldritchAbomination who can never be defeated. This combination, mixed with the bad writing, doesn't endear the creepypasta to a number of people.

* MemeticLoser: Sonic.exe is commonly trashed by other, more genuinely terrifying Sonic-resembling villains, such as [[ComicBook/SonicTheComic Fleetway Super Sonic]] and [[WebAnimation/SuperMarioBrosZ Turbo Mecha Sonic]]. Nevermind that Sonic.exe is an EldritchAbomination, which is an entirely different tier from Fleetway Super Sonic, who is a SuperpoweredEvilSide, and Mecha Sonic, who is a robot (though in their defense, multiple Eldritch Abominations were beaten by persons from lower power tiers). This is referenced in the ''VideoGame/FridayNightFunkin'' mod ''VideoGame/VsSonicExe'', where Fleetway Super Sonic is one of the opponents, and [[TakeThat constantly throws jabs at Sonic.exe]] [[GameOverMan when Boyfriend loses to him]].

* NightmareFuel: On the other hand, this creepypasta did manage to include genuinely terrifying moments. [[NightmareFuel/SonicExe Just take a look here]].

** [[ScreamsLikeALittleGirl The scream]] made by X's victims when he catches them. It fits with Tails since he's a young child, but with [[TheBigGuy Knuckles]] it's so unfitting it's hilarious. The remastered version does avoid this.
** The voiceovers for X introduced in Version 7 can sound more ridiculous or over-the-top in a CrossesTheLineTwice way than scary. In the case of the remaster, X is only heard talking once.

* DesignatedHero: Tom spends the entire story worrying about fictional characters and mourns over their gruesome deaths unlike his real-life friend, Kyle, who died horribly trying to save him.

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Tom never considers the fact Kyle probably died in his attempt to save him until the end, which was overshadowed by him worrying over Tails, Knuckles, and Robotnik.