High-speed elevator in Metropolis Zone
High-speed elevators are a frequent gimmick in Genesis-era Sonic games and usually appear in the final or penultimate zones. When Sonic steps inside, he goes into either his spin attack or horizontal spin animation before being rapidly teleported somewhere else. For the most part, Sonic cannot backtrack once he goes through a high-speed elevator.
Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
These appear in Scrap Brain Zone (Act 2 only). Depending on how many rings you have, it either takes you up or down one floor or two.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
In Sonic 2, the elevators are found in Metropolis Zone and are almost exactly like the ones in Scrap Brain Zone, except they are gold in color and when you enter one, a light flashes on and off before Sonic is teleported.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
These appear in Launch Base Zone (Act 1 only) and are a little different than before. In these elevators, Sonic spins around horizontally instead of curling into a spin attack. They also appear to use actual elevator cars instead of just tubes.
A high-speed elevator in the Death Egg Act 2 boss fight
Sonic & Knuckles
In Act 2 of the Death Egg Zone, these elevators are one of three ways to switch gravity and move from floor to ceiling. They also play a crucial role in defeating the Act 2 boss.
Sonic 3D Blast
Gene Gadget Zone and Panic Puppet Zone both have high-speed elevators.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1
Mad Gear Zone has the golden elevators from Metropolis Zone. They work exactly the same, except these shoot Sonic out of a pipe at high speed. E.G.G. Station Zone has the same elevators and uses them to transport Sonic from one boss arena to the next.