The main point I'm trying to get across is, Super Sonic just isn't special anymore, and I never really cared for him that much in SRB2, although I did like the small hover he had. Perhaps a more effective hover could be made for him? SS has been overdone in almost every game since it was first introduced in Sonic 1. I'm simply saying that Super Tails and Super Knuckles were refreshing to see when they appeared in Sonic 3 and Knuckles. I just want you guys to have a little more love for the other characters as well.
But I also want to make emerald collecting worthwhile for both Tails and Knuckles. Even if they don't turn super, couldn't they just get some better abilities for getting all seven emeralds? For instance, if they are in a party with all seven emeralds, Tails would be a tad faster and can fly longer (I'd say an additional two or three seconds, instead of infinite when super), and Knuckles would be a tad faster and can glide a little faster (instead of giving him multi-glide when super). They don't have to be overpowered, but at least give players a reason to play again as their favorite character if they don't want to use Super Sonic. Otherwise, I have no complaints about how Co-Op is run.
I don't see how Tails and Knuckles are "filler" or useless in SRB2 simply because we don't let them go Super.
Believe it or not, I was actually thinking more of Match at the time I wrote that. I've noticed that Sonic was given much attention, which is fine, but I felt the other two needed a little more attention, especially Tails. I have noticed now that Knuckles feels a bit more like a beginner character now than he was in the older version, while Tails is simply underpowered overall save for his flying.
In fact, as of late it has been getting to the point where I get frustrated losing to a Sonic player, because I use a very slow character. When it comes to speed, why is there even an acceleration category? Race has not been fun to me anymore, and I really enjoyed SRB2Riders, for example. But it is clear to me now that almost any racing mode is unbalanced. It just seems that the games want Sonic to win everytime over Tails, which is one of the reasons why I'm starting to dislike Sonic more. I will not discuss the Thok here, even though it is the main thing that frustrates me. I will say this much, I will not be doing Race anymore unless it's something different than usual, such as character specific.
I'm not really requesting much changed from the characters, but I do feel Knuckles needs to get buffed just a tad bit to help him against Thokking Sonics, and a more serious buff to Tails, whose only true effective strategy is flying. Maybe a slight fire rate increase? Not as fast as Knuckles, but faster than Sonic's, just to create more of a balance. Otherwise, I think the characters are fine...it's just I'm not starting to enjoy the fierce competition anymore. Anyway, I'm starting to go a bit off-topic here, so I may take this into the suggestions topic in the future.
Sonic still has a lot of love from his fans, but the fact the other two characters, and even some character wads don't have Super abilities, or can't even do anything with the emeralds kind of makes the game a bit more of a chore, because at some point you're forced to play as Sonic regardless of whether or not you play as him or not if you want emerald powers. This would be fine if it was for an unlockable. In fact, I would change the unlock requirement from "Finish 1P with all emeralds" to "Finish 1P with all emeralds as Sonic," since he at least has some use for the emeralds. Otherwise, yeah, it would be a bit too easy with Tails or Knuckles.
Keeping Super Sonic special, and forcing players to play as Super Sonic are two different things. Just look at the games in the series. Which style of Super Sonic gameplay would you rather want, Sonic 1-3, or Sonic Adventure 1-2? That may help in deciding what to do with him.
I know the developers already have a lot on their plate, so just consider changes for right now, but act later after more important work is done, such as finishing the Single Player campaign.