Homing Missile

Homing Missile
First seen: Sonic R (1997)
Users: Dr. Eggman, Eggrobo, E-102 Gamma, Miles "Tails" Prower, Chao Walker, Dark Chao Walker, Big the Cat
Type: Attack

The Homing MissileMedia:Sonic R Sega Saturn US Manual.pdf, also known as the Homing Missile LaunchMedia:SonicAdventure DC US manual.pdf and Lock-on MissileMedia:SonicAdventure2 DC US manual.pdf (ロックオンミサイル発射Media:SonicAdventure2 DC JP manual.pdf), and Homing Bakudan (ホーミング爆弾Media:SonicR Sat JP manual.pdf) and Gun Hassha (ガン発射Media:SonicAdventureInternational-JP-DC-Manual.pdf) in Japan, is an attacking move used throughout the Sonic the Hedgehog series.

Overview

The Homing Missile is essentially a projectile attack fired using certain weaponry, such as a gun or a mounted cannon. As a move, the player can fire one or multiple Homing Missiles at distant targets. As its name suggests, a missile will home in on a targeted character or enemy and pursue them until it makes contact, either causing damage or destroying the target entirely.

Game appearances

Sonic R

The first use of Homing Missiles as an attack in the Sonic series is in Sonic R, where they can be used by Dr. Eggman and Eggrobo when they have collected at least 10 Rings. When a Homing Missile is ready to be deployed, a green target will appear over any rival in front, at which point the player can press the Jump button (// in the Saturn version) to fire the Homing Missile. The missile will slow down the rival considerably if it hits, and also make them lose their Shield if they have one. Once fired, the Homing Missile has a cooldown period before the player can fire another one.

Sonic Adventure

In Sonic Adventure, Homing Missiles are fired by the Homing Missile LaunchMedia:SonicAdventure DC US manual.pdf, one of E-102 Gamma's main attacks. After locking on to targets using his Laser Gun, the player must release to fire Homing Missiles from Gamma's machine gun at the targets, which move very fast and quickly to take out all locked-on enemies. The Homing Missiles can be upgraded with the Laser Blaster, changing the missiles' colour to light blue and increasing their blast radius.

Sonic Adventure 2

In Sonic Adventure 2 and its re-releases, the attack is referred to as both the Lock-on MissileMedia:SonicAdventure2 DC US manual.pdf and Homing Missile, and is one of the standard weapons available to all of the mech-shooting characters. Its use is the same as with Gamma in Sonic Adventure in that the player must hold to lock-on to enemies, then release before the lock-on laser vanishes to fire Homing Missiles from the mech's rear-mounted cannon at the targets. The Homing Missiles can be upgraded with the Laser Blaster, changing the missiles' colour and increasing their blast radius.

In the boss battles between Tails and Eggman, Homing Missiles move considerably slower so both characters are given a chance to avoid them. In the 2P Battle mode, Homing Missiles have less accuracy; in addition, the Laser Missile special attack fires many Homing Missiles simultaneously.