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Storybook series NAILED Sonic's personality

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EDIT 12/11/2013 - I now consider Sonic’s character to be marvelously back on-track, effectively ‘re-railed’ after Sonic Lost World did him justice and portrayed him fantastically. Just getting that out there in case some aspects of the paragraphs below strike you as ‘odd’ because they are now outdated when it comes to my views as they are now - I still consider the Storybook games the epitome of Sonic's portrayal in the franchise but my views on his present portrayal today are positive as he's been re-railed as of Lost World after Colours derailed his characterization.

Always held this opinion about these two games and likely always will do. It's one of my most stringently-held Sonic-related views and I'm certainly not timid about letting my immense respect for these games' portrayals of Sonic as a character be known especially in light of the current piss-poor writing direction of the series. Note; Direction, not actual writing. Current stories are treating Sonic like a scapegoat for 'humor', making light of his awkward tendencies to a truly excessive degree and that's not the ideal direction for his character in my opinion, especially not after the Storybook series PROVED that you could get a multitude of traits out of Sonic without turning him into a frikkin' parody of himself and overwhelming his portrayals.

Where to start? Where to freaking start? There's a reason this stamp has a gold colour scheme. You know why? Because these games basically set the gold standard for Sonic characterization that still hasn't even been remotely matched.

How about the fact that these games monopolized upon everything that makes Sonic....well, Sonic?

How about the way their storylines challenge his fortitude and ideals? The way Secret Rings tested his ability to keep forging-on in the face of a fatal curse despite it gradually draining his energy? How he stayed in high spirits despite his worsening condition? The way Black Knight tested his ideals, how he got beaten to a pulp for them and yet still kept getting back up not out of chivalry but because he's sticking up for his beliefs?

How about the way that Shahra's peace of mind was his priority despite the pickle he's in himself? How Nimue employed a secret test of character to see how he would handle the small child weeping over her folks being kidnapped and then Sonic followed his heart and his sense of morality, his 'own rules' instead of what was expected of him from Caliburn by rescuing the child's family? Don't get me started on the way the fandom sees fit to completely miss the point of his final wish in Secret Rings, a view that ultimately stems from selfish outlooks? ("BAAWWW Sonic should've wished for a mountain of Chili Dogs or a million bucks BAWWW instead of console a dear friend who just got resurrected from death after she sacrificed herself for his sake as well as witnessed the sealing of her own lover")

How about the way in which Sonic is not portrayed as the perfect goody-two-shoes in light of his highly visible compassion and goodness in these games? How he was the first to attack Merlina and not the other way around and how he looks like he was less than a meter from cleaving her in two had she not conjured a barrier to protect herself? And how he ruthlessly deals with Erazor by sealing him in his lamp for eternity then throwing the lamp into the molten metal within Evil Foundry, either annihilating the evil genie or preventing his lamp from ever being found and eliminating the possibility of him ever being freed? How he chafes with Caliburn and even blames him unreasonably for his own ineptitude regarding swordsmanship? How he deals with some bosses in some notably brutal ways? Pulling Captain Bemoth’s horns out. Slashing the Mist Dragon’s horn clean-off after hacking at it’s face. Beating the ever-loving crap out of Alf Layla Wa-Layla. Voicing complete apathy about doing all of that? These games perfectly portray his obstinance and arrogance and even viciousness to an extent.

How about the way they portrayed him as a kind, gentle and forgiving character in light of what happened to him in these two games? Unconditionally forgiving Shahra and consoling her even after her betrayal? Comforting Merlina with a bit of simple yet wise advice that I couldn't envision coming out of the mouth of any character other than him and giving her a flower? The way he leapt to grab Percival when the ground she was standing on crumbled, sending her to a flame-broiled death had he not leapt forward and grabbed her without a second thought for his own safety?

How about the way they portrayed him as the funny little guy that he is? Making comical and occasionally snarky observations during cutscenes and gameplay? Teasing Sinbad/Gawain because real Knuckles is gullible and Sonic likes poking fun at the Echidna's shortcomings? The way he saves King Shahryar....by stepping on the hem of his cape with one foot whilst the king hangs perilously over the edge of the cliff and looking as if he'd rather be doing anything but that? Jokingly commiserating if he should abandon Caliburn and run when Lancelot asks him if he will because he doesn't quite get along with the sword by that point in the story? Pointing out in an incredibly deadpan and/or cocky manner that enemies can't hit him because he's too fast/skilled? You know, the funny little pain in the butt and arrogant little guy he's been established as?

I could write a thousand posts about why the Storybook series completely nailed Sonic's character and why they should be noted as the important portrayals that they are especially now that the character's become pretty much a parody and shadow of his former self as of Colours. That's not a well-characterized Sonic, that's just a completely unnecessary exaggeration of his character basically for naught, as he's neither funny nor interesting. The Storybook games aren't perfect but they're still brilliant and they set the bar higher than it's ever been set for Sonic characterization.
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DragoLord09's avatar

Call this a "taboo" question, but has there been any legitimate complaints or genuine dislike of either Storybook's story or characterizations?