Lock-on

Lock-on (ロックオン), formerly called Laser Gun (照準レーザー) is a move used by several characters in various games in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. When performing this move, the user marks a target and locks an attack onto it.

Description
When performing Lock-on, the user will lock onto a chosen target, with an indicator appearing in front of said target. When the user then performs an attack specifically tailored to the Lock-on, said attack will automatically home in on the target marked by Lock-on without failing, ensuring a virtually perfect hit.

Sonic Adventure
The move first appeared in Sonic Adventure and its remake, Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut, where it is called Laser Gun. In this game, it is used by E-102 Gamma and serves to mark the targets for his Homing Missile Launch attack.

To perform Laser Gun in gameplay, the player has to hold down the B/X Button to bring forth a harmless laser beam which can be aimed and maneuvered with the Analog Thumb Pad/Control Stick. Any breakable objects touched by this laser beam will then be surrounded by a target lock-on indicator (a transparent cube) and can be hit by Homing Missile Launch. Additionally, Laser Gun can mark up to multiple targets to be hit with a single Homing Missile Launch, with a number indicating when the target was marked (i.e. as the fourth, fifth, sixth etc.) appearing next to each target's lock-on indicator. However, the laser beam and its target lock-on indicators only last for a few seconds before they disappear.

Sonic Adventure 2
The move reappeared in Sonic Adventure 2 and its remake Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, where it is called Lock-on. In this game, it is used by Tails and Dr. Eggman as a part of the weapon arsenal onboard the Cyclone and the Eggwalker respectively, and serves to mark the targets for their Lock-On Missile attack.

In gameplay, Lock-on works like it did in Sonic Adventure and its remake. To perform Lock-on in gameplay, the player has to hold down the B/X Button to activate the laser beam which can be aimed and maneuvered with the Analog Thumb Pad/Control Stick. Enemies touched by this laser beam will receive a green rectangular indicator over them. However, unlike in the previous titles, the indicators from Lock-on does not disappear after a few seconds.

In Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, Lock-on can target enemies on an much faster rate due to the improved game engine.

Sonic and the Black Knight
In Sonic and the Black Knight, Lock-on is one of the basic actions in the game. It is used by Sonic the Hedgehog, Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawain during their character-specific Soul Surges in the game's Adventure Mode to target foes with special attacks.

To perform Lock-on in gameplay, the player has to use Soul Surge within the attack range of the targets. The player will then automatically use Lock-on on the nearest target which will make a red reticle indicator appear above said target. Unlike in the previous games though, Lock-on can only mark one target at a time. Once a target is marked with Lock-on, the player can either hit the target with a highly powerful attack or a stunning kick. If attacking while the reticle glows bright at one point, the player can earn Perfect Hit for more damage and extra points. If there is another target close by after launching an attack with Soul Surge, the player will automatically use Lock-on on that.