Soul Gauge

The Soul Gauge (ソウルサージ) is a technique utilized in the two Storybook games, Sonic and the Secret Rings and Sonic and the Black Knight. The attacks used from the Soul Gauge vary from both games.

Secret Rings
In Sonic and the Secret Rings, the amount of Soul Energy in the Soul Gauge can carry increases as the game progresses, increasing every five levels. It starts with a capacity of 100 and increases to 300 at maximum, you reach 300 at about level 50. The gauge is filled as Sonic picks up Soul Orbs lined up in each level. When Sonic has at least one fifth of the gauge full, he can perform a special move, depending on what button the player presses. With the Wii Remote sideways, pressing up utilizes Speed Break, a move that lets Sonic go at a high speed and blast through obstacles and past certain hazards. Pressing down activates Time Break, which slows down all enemies and movement in the area, similar to Chaos Control in Shadow the Hedgehog. In the battle against Erazor Djinn, Soul Orbs can be picked up with a silver ring. In the final battle against Alf-Layla-wa-Layla, there are no Soul Orbs to collect. Instead, Sonic can refill the Soul Gauge by having the player shake the Wii Remote. He gains Soul Energy much faster in this level.

Black Knight
In Sonic and the Black Knight, the Soul Gauge remains at the same level after learning how to use it. In this game, it is filled by collecting Red Fairies or by performing certain actions, based on the chosen fighting style and the skills learned. The amount of Soul Energy filled varies depending on the mission. It can range from one sixteenth in most missions to a full recharge in others. Each of the playable characters in the game has a Soul Surge with a different effect. To activate the soul surge, the player must press B and swing the Wii Remote. It can be cancelled by also pressing B.

The Soul Surge can be used in three ways. When no enemies are around, it can be activated for a high-speed dash akin to Speed Break from the previous Storybook game. When foes are nearby, a targeting reticule appears and swinging the Wii Remote performs a character-specific attack. If the player waits until the reticles is bright white and their blade is glowing, they can perform a Perfect Hit for more damage and extra points. Also, by swinging the Nunchuk, the character can perform a kick. This is the only way to defeat a Will-O'-Wisp without taking damage. In the final battle against the Dark Queen, there is only one opportunity to fill up the Soul Gauge: Countering each of the sword swings fills up one third of the Soul Gauge.

Sonic the Hedgehog
The Soul Surge used by Sonic the Hedgehog is called Speed Slash. When performing this move, Sonic dashes up to the enemy and attacks with a powerful sword swing, and he can use it in both in midair or on the ground.

Exalibur-Sonic
During the battle with the Dark Queen, Excalibur-Sonic can perform a Soul Surge where he launches a powerful combo of sword slashes with Excalibur. This is the only move that can damage the Dark Queen.

Shadow the Hedgehog/Sir Lancelot
The Soul Surge used by Shadow the Hedgehog and Sir Lancelot is called Chaos Punishment. When performed, the user teleports to the nearest enemy with Chaos Control and attacks, while time appears to have stopped when attacking. If Ddraig Goch is equipped, then Lancelot attacks the enemy with Chaos Blast, destroying more enemies in the vicinity.

Knuckles the Echidna/Sir Gawain/Sir Lamorak
The Soul Surge used by Knuckles the Echidna, Sir Gawain and Sir Lamorak is called Gail Meteor. When performed, the user throws their weapon to a targeted enemy. All enemies that are in the path of the thrown weapon are also hit. If Flamberge is equipped, Gawain always targets the furthest enemy, allowing multiple enemies to be hit on the way back, while creating explosions upon impact..

Blaze the Cat/Sir Percival
The Soul Surge used by Blaze the Cat and Sir Percival is called Flames of Kilekion. When performed, the user engulfs herself in a flaming tornado and charges through enemies. If Joyeuse is equipped, Percival creates bigger and stronger fire tornadoes.

Sir Galahad
Sir Galahad's personal Soul Surge is called Psycho Wave. When using this technique, Galahad produces a field of psychokinetic energy that destroy/damages any lesser enemy. Any playable character caught inside its vicinity, however slowly loses rings, and then loses 20 rings on the last hit.

Amy Rose
The Soul Surge used by Amy Rose is called Rose Typhoon. When performed, Amy creates a pink ripple-like shockwave that damages all in its path.

The Blacksmith
The Blacksmith's personal Soul Surge unleashes a flurry of bombs from his weapon and can spread out for further attack radius.

King Arthur
The Soul Surge used by King Arthur is called Electric Shock. When using this move, King Arthur lets out an electric circle from his sword, Deathcalibur, that damages everything in its path.