I understood your point. My counterpoint was saying the acceleration was used interchangeably with speed in the statement regarding a 4x increase. Because people often say accelerate when they mean move at a certain speed in fictional settings.
If there's not additional information that proves "acceleration" is being used incorrectly, we should just go with the meaning of the word in my opinion though. I understand you believe there is, I just personally don't consider it to be strong enough to ignore the simplest explanation
You can't excuse some other writer's mistake
You can react to V. Maximum Overdrive from nearly point blank if you're fast enough. Jumping far in advance is optional (I think he waits until Metal is up close in the Generations scene, but can't recall).
That kinda goes against the idea that you can aim dodge based on reaction and that VMO is 4x faster than his own combat speed.
But as you know, that'd lead to circular argument
You shouldn't be able to dodge something point-blank if it's 4 times faster than you, unless you have to cross 4 times less space to dodge it, not Sonic's case though
I can't remember if it mentions the 4x increase. I don't think it did, but the important thin to note is that it doesn't even mention acceleration iirc. It just says VMO increases Metal's speed. Which should support the idea that acceleration was used interchangeably with speed in the CD manual and other material.
Okay, to me at least, I wouldn't take this as evidence
Seems like a connection that doesn't really exist, these are two separate statements, one about speed, one about acceleration, the accel one even containing details not present on the speed one (4x). Statements don't really need to contain the same information across several guides, so there isn't a solid reason to believe acceleration and speed are being used interchangeably as each guide could very well be stating two different truths about the speed.
That it increases Metal Sonic's speed beyond Sonic, which we know it's true -
and that it increases his acceleration four times over Sonic's, which is also true, and probably the reason why Metal gets a faster top speed (we also see regular speed being mentioned in the same statement)
I can definitely see your side given how fiction usually works, I just disagree with using what seems to be whataboutism
I believe we both heard each other's point at this point, so I'll resign for further back and forths. I respect your take, while still disagree