Why I think a permanent homing attack is beneficial.

Note that I'm suggesting this as an optional tweak rather than one that's always enabled. I realize that not everybody is fond of this idea but I think it would be nice to give some perspective on why I think it would improve the game for me personally. It's great if you like playing without it but I personally think the isometric perspective is the biggest issue with 3D Blast and the homing attack is the best way to help remedy it.

This hack is a homing attack hack that someone made not too long ago. After playing it I found it to be a significant improvement to the game, and I was disappointed to see it not included in the Directors Cut patch. I tried patching the DX update to it (and long shot, I know) to see if it still retained the permanent homing attack and it unfortunately did not. So I've decided to try to describe why I feel like it should be an optional inclusion.

I realize that the collision was improved for the Directors Cut but I simply don't feel like its enough to properly help with the perspective that 3D Blast provides. I still occasionally (though much less often) find myself taking a hit or missing when I could have sworn I did everything correctly. On its own this isn't much of a big deal, but it becomes an issue when trying to keep your rings for the special stages. Once again the perspective makes it difficult to re-acquire your rings after taking a hit. When playing the homing attack hack this issue is seemingly fixed in its entirety. Of course I could just safely roll into most badniks but the homing attack would be a faster and more fun way of dealing with them. I disagree with those who suggest it would make the game too easy. I don't feel like the difficulty would change too much when it comes to obtaining flickys but I feel like the homing attack would certainly resolve the quirks that come with the perspective of the game.

An additional reason I find the homing attack essential is because of how it could be modified to actually improve the game beyond destroying badniks. I'm sure many people have heard time and time again how the actual platforming sections are simply too difficult to really do considering the perspective. I think the homing attack could actually be used to improve some of them. Such as these more infamous sections in Rusty Ruins.

In the above image I'll try to display (through extremely poor artwork) how the homing attack could be used to improve these platforming segments and make the perspective a non-issue. The homing attack could be used to ensure Sonic lands on these platforms. One might think that this makes it too easy but I believe the only challenge was caused by a fight with a perspective rather than legitimate difficulty, so I'd honestly rather play without that added “challenge.” I know that many of these sections can be skipped through a spindash or an alternate route of sorts but newer players wouldn't likely be aware of these methods for passing these segments.

Boss fights could also be improved with the addition of the homing attack because I believe some boss fights make it too easy to mishit eggman in the original game though I haven't had enough time to really experiment with the bosses yet in the Directors Cut Update so take this point with a grant of salt. (Edit: Yeah, it seems that the boss fights would still definitely benefit from the homing attack.)

The last thing I'd like to say is a simple suggestion of what could be done with the yellow shields since the homing attack would be permanent. I think they could either be replaced with blue shields or function like the electric shield from Sonic 3 in which they draw in rings that are close by.

Overall I'd say this is a great update to the original game! I can't say I directly dislike any of the decisions besides this one. I think the homing attack really has the potential of vastly improving the game. Remember that I'm suggesting this as an optional tweak for those who would prefer it like myself, I don't want Jon to make the game unappealing to those who prefer it the way it is now.

Edit: I also have one minor suggestion for the speed shoes. I like the idea of absorbing the impact but I think it should only apply when Sonic is actually going at faster speeds. If he's slowly moving next to an enemy I think he should take damage.

Edit 2: I made a hack to add a permanent homing attack but I'd like to get permission before I release anything.