Super Knuckles in the classic games is just Knuckles with the Super Sonic flashing effect slapped on. The pink is an artifact of the flashing from red to white, the same way Super Sonic looks pale yellow at some points. And Super Tails originally got the flickies to work as its screen cleaner, but that was it.
Super Tails and Super Knuckles in Heroes had a recolor of the regular shield, and new movement animations.
Old School non-Sonic supers are a mere flashing effect applied on the regular palette of the character.
Combined with how they're not officially called Super Tails or Super Knuckles anywhere, and how they look different from previously established Super forms including their own in other games, it comes off to me like they're more like "quasi-Super" forms.
I just realized Superstars and the new Mario game are coming out around the same time.
It's the 90s all over again XD
The Protomen enhanced my life.@Handsome Rob: I think that was supposed to be a reference to The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog.
"Cynic, n. — A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be." - The Devil's DictionaryIt's a shame Superstars only lets you customize in Battle mode. It would've been dope if you could go through the story mode while kitting out the characters with costumes referencing stuff all across the franchise history, like what Rayman Legends did with its plethora of alternate costumes and colors.
Edited by KnownUnknown on Aug 22nd 2023 at 3:43:21 AM
RE: Superstars:
Hey look, we can finally make a Metal Tails! (IYKYK.)
And a costume for Sonic to make him look like the bunny prototype? Talk about a deep cut.
RE: Frontiers DLC 3:
Ohhhhhh man, I am so close to finishing watching a playthrough of Frontiers!
Must resist!
Edited by TargetmasterJoe on Aug 22nd 2023 at 6:44:57 AM

(Spoilered because part of the datamine from some time ago. Don't worry, no story spoilers)
There's a skill tree for Tails, Knuckles, and Amy. AKA what was mostly combat moves for Sonic. That should mean more likely they are actually playable in the open zone rather than just Cyberspace.