Sonic Mania (Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC...Netflix?)

Nah, the lack of insta-shield in the earlier Sonic games feels kind of similar to the lack of spin dash in Sonic 1. It's so natural, and I come to use it without thinking about it, so not having it is a bit jarring. I think it was a perfect fit for Sonic in comparison to Tails (easy mode) and Knuckles (different routes, harder bosses). It gave him a higher skill ceiling, and as much as I can't wait for Sonic Mania (seriously no other game comes close), I will be at least a little disappointed if the insta-shield isn't an option.

 

I'm all for the Insta-shield and even I have noticed that it probably is a vocal minority, I will say this though, to me Sonic 1 and 2 feel weird without it, I kind of use it religiously so now it's became kind of a basic feature in 2D Sonic to me. It's useful if you know how to use it and irrelevant if you don't know how to use it, so optionally I don't see why it shouldn't be there however I understand completely why it was removed.

That sounds cool, I've always appreciated Doomsday Zone because it feels like only Super Sonic could do it. Personally I'd love to see bosses acting more aggressively against Super Sonic, I liked the fact that in Sonic 3 stand-alone the Big Arm boss can knock Super Sonic out of super form if he caught him. Bosses that pose at least a little threat to SS would be the creme-de-la-creme for me.
Even if the boss was able to knock rings off of SS with projectiles or attacks just to add some challenge with him.

 

Because movement control is locked during a jump from a roll, it can easily create frustrating or hazardous scenarios that don't need to happen. Jumping, hitting a wall, but still having enough vertical motion to clear a platform yet unable to land on it, is pretty annoying. This is one of the details in the classic games I don't like. The control lock is absent in Sonic CD, and also removed in the Sonic CD control mode in Sonic 3 Complete.
Situations like these are not unlikely, and can add up to frustration over time unless you're conscious of the mechanics and play carefully. The instashield alleviates this problem, and this is only a secondary use of it.

 

For the people who are saying that the insta-shield helps with the control lock, didn't someone say that in Sonic Mania they removed the control lock?

 

Even with the MAX CONTROLS setting in Sonic 3 Complete the control lock is gone and the Insta-shield still functions well with a purpose, We're just sad to see it go I think.

 

Aww, they did? Oh well. =\

 

But with the control lock gone it kind of makes the insta-shield less useful. The only things you could do with it is get a little extra attack range and get a split second of invincibility, which is only useful to the people who know how to use it. Although I like the ability of having more attack range (it makes killing the orbinauts easier), there is still the electric and bubble shield, which is more helpful than the insta-shield when it comes to hitting enemies/bosses easily.

 

I think it's more balancing for sonic to have that extra attack range though, Knuckles has a glide at his disposal and he automatically breaks barriers at a run, Tails has flight at his disposal and he is shorter effectively nerfing downward spikes that could crush Sonic. Without the Insta-shield Sonic has a jump at his disposal. Even including the drop dash it's very area specific by the looks of it.

 

No chance Hyper will return. Super is basically guaranteed.

 

Does the insta-shield even work as a shield? I remember I tried using it a lot to block projectiles but I always ended up taking damage anyway. I mostly used it to extend my attack range.

 

No, you would need to approach a projectile at speed and jump towards it, for a couple of frames you are now invincible and can pass through them, it doesn't make projectiles bounce.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNEjQHuvZjY

 

In S3&K as released, the insta-shield does two things: it makes you invincible for a few frames and increases your attack radius. When you're using it to deal with projectiles, you need to use it to move through them before the invincible frames run out.
It's very easy to think its useless as a shield because if you time it just right but the bullet is still touching Sonic when the insta-sheld's time is up, you get damaged. Happened to me a bunch before I finally figured it out.

In Sonic 3 Complete, it outright reflects bullets like all of the elemental shields, which seems to have been what it might have been meant to do in the first place.

 

Oh my god. I never knew that! I used to use the insta-shield as increased attack radius and that's it. You'd think with it being called "instant shield" it would have clicked in my childhood mind that you could make yourself momentarily invincible. Can't believe I'm only just learning of this now like two decades later.

 

Thanks for the examples, Lange. Now seeing the insta-shield in action, I have to ask... "High-level of play" or lazy level of play? Tapping the shield to avoid all the obstacles seems a little weak IMO...

 

I presume the point was to use it as a last-ditch maneuver at-speed. Not to stuff around with edge cases.

 

Those are example gifs just to make what it does clear to people, try it in normal play or watch a mike89 speed run to appreciate it when it is put into a practiced route. You can't just pull it off willy-nilly (unless you're going slow) the timing isn't that forgiving.

 

Compared to Tails' flying?
The instashield only gives you very brief invincibility, and you can only use it once per jump. It takes good timing and opportunity to be useful, and it only allows you to get by a few certain things. For example, it's good against spiked enemies, but won't do you any good against stationary spikes.
If you want to talk about a cheap or lazy ability, how about the boost?