Who is Amy Rose in Sonic the Hedgehog?

With the surprise reveal of Amy Rose coming to Sonic the Hedgehog 4, many newer fans may be asking the simple question of: Who is Amy Rose? 

Well, today we are going to take a quick moment to go through Amy's history with the series, and answer that question for you! Amy has been an important part of the Sonic series for quite some time now, so get ready for a quick trip through the decades!

Now with that being said.... Who is Amy Rose?

Introducing Amy

Prior to the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, a manga titled The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog went into production. The short comic was aimed at kids and featured Sonic the Hedgehog as he faced off against the evil Dr. Eggman. The manga was the first to introduce Sonic's character and personality outside of what was explained within the video games themselves, and it also showed off a new character known as "Amy."

This initial version of Amy was a young hedgehog who looked up to Sonic, and required his assistance after her boyfriend was being harassed by a bully named Anton. Sonic of course took care of the issue, and the two remained friends after the event. Although this version of Amy was the first to make an appearance, her character would be altered once she entered the world of video games.

Sonic CD

When Amy appeared in Sonic CD in 1993, and she was shown to have a major crush on Sonic. Following him around everywhere he went, and even hugging him when he stood still, Rosy wanted to stay by his side forever. However, when Dr. Eggman's latest creation Metal Sonic entered the scene, he kidnapped Rosy, and Sonic was left with no choice but to head out and save her. This was Rosy's initial role within the story of Sonic CD, and her story wouldn't be expanded upon until later.

Sonic the Fighters, Sonic Drift, and Sonic R

After Sonic CD, Amy began appearing in multiple Sonic the Hedgehog spinoff titles. She was a playable fighter in the Arcade game Sonic the Fighters in 1996, and she was one of the racers featured in the Sonic Drift series and Sonic R. While in Sonic Drift all the racers drove cars, in Sonic R most of the characters ran on foot with the exception of Amy. As Amy was not initially a fast character, she continued to drive a car in an attempt to keep up with the other racers. On the other hand, Sonic the Fighters introduced her famous Piko Piko Hammer, which proved she could fight and hold her own, and revealed her nickname "Rosy the Rascal."

These games are the last time Amy's classic design would be seen for quite some time, as she received a major overhaul once Sonic fully jumped into the world of 3D.

Sonic Adventure - Amy Rose's Story

When Sonic Adventure hit the shelves in 1998, the game not only brought the main series into the 3D space of gaming, but also redesigned most of the characters while providing them with stories of their own. The game was no longer just about Sonic, nor was it as simple as "stopping Dr. Eggman." Sonic Adventure featured a full story for each of the playable characters, and had their plots intertwine to eventually paint a full picture. Amy Rose was one of the characters selected to be a lead, making it the first game where she would have a story all her own.

Picking up after the events of Sonic CD, Amy reflects on her past with Sonic, when all of a sudden she runs into a little Flicky bird that is being chased by Dr. Eggman's robots. Nicknaming the Flicky "Birdie," Amy takes it upon herself to protect the little Flicky, and figure out what Eggman wants with it. At this point Amy is still a slower shy character who retains her crush on Sonic, but this is her first step towards maturing into the character we know today.

Sonic Shuffle - Welcome to  Maginaryworld

Shortly after the events of Sonic Adventure, Sonic and his friends were pulled into the world of Maginaryworld. This Dream world was in danger of collapsing due to the Precioustones being destroyed and scattered around the world. Along with Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Gamma, and Big, Amy was one of the main playable characters in the game's story, as well as in the multiplayer party mode. 

Sonic Shuffle was a "virtual board game" developed by Hudson Soft (the original developers of the popular Mario Party series) in 2000, and each character brought different abilities with them. While Sonic could move farther faster, characters like Tails could fly over gaps in the board, and Knuckles could climb. Amy could make use of her Piko Piko Hammer to launch herself into the air, and gave her a slight edge in combat mini games. This of course wouldn't be the last "party" type game Amy would appear in, as she would become a playable character in nearly every side game released after it.

Related: Over 40 References and Throwbacks We Caught in Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Sonic Adventure 2 - Saving Sonic

After the events of Sonic Adventure and Sonic Shuffle, Amy once again returns in Sonic Adventure 2 in 2001 to help out Sonic and his friends. When Shadow is mistakenly assumed to be Sonic, Sonic is captured by GUN, and imprisoned on Prison Island in his place. When Amy and Tails catch wind of what has happened to their friend, the duo break into the prison, and it is none other than Amy herself who eventually opens the lock on Sonic's cell. She tells Sonic she'd only open it if he agrees to marry her, but after being flat out rejected she still opens the door. Even though Sonic doesn't return her feelings, she still loves him, and will continue to do anything to help him.

Moving past the jailbreak, Amy continues to support Sonic and the others through the entire adventure, and eventually joins the group in Space when they infiltrate the Space Colony Ark. She eventually develops a relationship with Shadow, and is ultimately the one who convinces him to team up with Sonic to prevent the destruction of the Earth.

While Amy wasn't playable in the main story of Sonic Adventure 2, she was unlockable in the multiplayer mode by collecting all A ranks in Sonic's stages. In the GameCube port she is unlocked by default, and acts as a "speed character." However, Amy is slower than the other speed type characters, but makes up for this with her special ability to freeze time.

Sonic Advance

When SEGA made the jump to being a third party developer, Sonic Advance was the first title to be developed exclusively for a Nintendo console. Developed by DIMPS, the game released in 2001 and was a modern take on the classic 2D Sonic games. Players could either choose between Sonic, Tails, a secret Sonic and Tails combo, Knuckles, or of course Amy. This was Amy's first playable appearance in a main 2D Sonic title, and once again gave her the ability to use her Piko Piko Hammer to launch herself into the air, and smash enemies. While the story wasn't much more than "we must stop Dr. Eggman," all of the characters shared the same goal, and got to experience the entire game just like in the classic 2D Sonic titles.

Amy once again appeared as a playable character in Sonic Advance 2, which is also the game that introduced her friend Cream the Rabbit. 

Despite being a slower character, the Sonic Advance games are the first ones to have her on par with Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles speed, so she isn't left behind or at a disadvantage when playing as her.

Amy would also return as a playable character in Sonic Advance 3, where she can either be the lead character, or the partner character.

Sonic Heroes - Team Rose

2004's Sonic Heroes was the first 3D game to feature Amy in her more "current" state. No longer relying on Sonic, she forms "Team Rose" and sets out along side Big the Cat and Cream to take matters in their own hands. With Dr. Eggman planning something evil once again, the three set out on an adventure across the world to put a stop to him. While finding Sonic is a part of Amy's motivation, she is also determined to prove herself to him. 

Like in Sonic Advance, Amy is no longer a slow moving character, and is featured as a "Speed Type." She is Team Rose's version of Sonic, Shadow, and Espio, and can match them in every single way.

Sonic Battle

Released around the same time as Sonic Heroes, Sonic Battle was the second fighting game within the Sonic series, and once again Amy plays a major role. As a fighting game, Amy's strengths focus more on power rather than speed in battle, while the story itself focuses on her taking care of the mysterious robot "Emerl." She becomes quick friends with Emerl, and even goes as far as to act as his mother. Scolding him when he acts out, Amy is a major influence in Emerl's development, and he eventually looks up to her and respect her for her strength.

Shadow the Hedgehog -  On the Sidelines

Although 2005's Shadow the Hedgehog was in fact about Shadow, most of the past Sonic characters appear as side characters throughout the game. These characters only stick around for a single level, but they support Shadow throughout the stage, and can even be controlled by a second player. Amy appears in the stage Cryptic Castle, where she is looking for her friend Cream who has gotten lost in the castle. She appears similar to her Sonic Heroes counterpart, and once again retains her faster movement speed.

Sonic 06 - Meeting Silver

Amy's next major role in Sonic was in Sonic the Hedgehog (also known as Sonic 06 by fans). Similar to her role in Sonic Adventure 2 where she encounters Shadow, Amy meets Silver the Hedgehog and is the one who helps change his outlook on things. Originally the two become friends and travel together as they are both looking for "someone," but when Silver attempts to kill Sonic, the two split. Silver believes Sonic is the reason the future he is from is in ruins, while Amy refuses to believe Sonic would ever cause such a thing. Eventually Silver does come to his senses, with Amy being a major influence on him; something Amy is very good at doing by this point.

Eventually time is reset, so the events of Sonic the Hedgehog never happen, but when the new version of Silver comes from the future, him and Amy do become fast friends once again.

Sonic Rivals - Amy Captured

Speaking of Silver returning... The late 2006 release Sonic Rivals features Silver's rival "Eggman Nega" traveling back into the past, which causes Silver to follow him. While Amy herself isn't fully featured in the story, she is captured and turned into a card by Eggman Nega. This event sparks Sonic to set out to save her, which is similar to her role in Sonic CD.

Sonic Unleashed

In Sonic Unleashed, released in 2008, Amy once again provides a supporting role as Sonic travels the world to stop the evil entity Dark Gaia from destroying the world. Despite having a smaller role this time around, she greatly fears for Sonic's life, as this is the biggest threat they have ever faced (as Sonic 06's timeline was reset), and part of her fears that she may never see him again. This time around she confronts Sonic and asks him out on a date, in which he actually accepts. Assuming he survives that is. (Which he does!)

Sonic and the Black Knight

Although her likeness is featured in the main story, Amy herself only makes a small appearance at the end of the game. Sonic and the Black Knight is a 2009 "Storybook Title" where Sonic gets pulled into Arthurian Legend. Upon putting an end to the evil Black Knight that is terrorizing the land, Sonic returns to his world, and quickly realizes what he has done... He has missed his date with Amy.

Sonic tries to explain to her what happened, but she doesn't believe the whole "being pulled into a storybook" tale. To her, it was nothing more than an excuse, and she isn't happy.

Sonic Generations

In Sonic Generations, Amy is one of Sonic's friends to be there for his birthday party. While she doesn't play a role in the overall story, she's there to support her friend, and celebrate with him. When everyone is pulled into another world by the Time Eater, she acts as a side character who provides extra challenges for Sonic and Classic Sonic to complete, but she herself is not playable. Although the original Sonic Generations came out in 2011, the game was re-released as Sonic X Shadow Generations in 2024.

Related: Ever wonder how old Sonic is?

Sonic Forces

Once again, Amy returned in Sonic Forces in 2017 as one of Sonic's friends supporting him in the fight against Dr. Eggman. 

After Sonic goes missing, and is presumed dead, Amy helps form the resistance against Dr. Eggman, and becomes head of their communications network. When Sonic returns, she continues to provide navigation support for both him and the player created avatar character, and remains a vital part of the team.

The IDW Comics

Following Sonic Forces, the IDW Comics pick up shortly after the events, and have continued to be a "main" part of the Sonic series every since. Amy, along with nearly every other major Sonic character, is a huge part of the IDW storyline, where she has shown to mature greatly. Following the events of Sonic Forces, Amy now has great leadership skills, is much more level headed and quick thinking, and can hold her own against whatever the world throws at her. Those around her look up to her, and she no longer relies on Sonic, but instead supports him as an equal. She still loves Sonic and has a crush on him, but it is no longer her main focus, and even Sonic himself shows her a lot more respect. 

With all things considered, Amy means a great deal to Sonic.

Sonic Frontiers

In 2022's Sonic Frontiers, Amy joins Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles as they investigate the Starfall Islands. However, she becomes trapped in cyberspace, and must be restored by Sonic. During this time both Amy and Sonic discuss their relationship, and Amy further demonstrates exactly how much she has matured. She was added as a playable character in the DLC The Final Horizon, and helps Sonic gather the final Chaos Emeralds to ultimately defeat The End.

The Many Appearances of Amy Rose

Outside of the mainline games, Amy has appeared in nearly every piece of Sonic media since her introduction. If she isn't a main character in the story, she typically appears as a cameo, or is at least mentioned. 

She's been playable in all of the Sonic and Mario at the Olympic games titles, she made her return to racing in Sonic Riders Zero Gravity, Sonic Free Riders, and the All Stars Racing titles, and she's also been featured in games such as SEGA Superstars Tennis. She is also playable in most of the Sonic mobile games, including Sonic Dash, and more recently Sonic Dream Team and Sonic Rumble.

Classic Amy has also been featured as a playable character in handful of Sonic games. Her first playable role was actually in the SEGA Pico game Sonic the Hedgehog's Gameworld, which was a kid's learning title packed full of mini games and contained a drawing arts and crafts mode. Besides being featured in Sonic the Fighters, Sonic Drift, and other classic spin offs, she is also playable in the newer Sonic Superstars, and can be selected as a playable character in Sonic Origins. Thanks to Sonic Origins being a collection of Sonic the Hedgehog 1-3 and CD, Classic Amy is now playable in all four titles, but in a non-canon "for fun" role.

Amy has also been a major character in the TV (and game) series Sonic Boom, and her along with her alternative counterparts play a role in Sonic Prime as well. Here her personality is still more in line with what we've seen in the later Sonic titles, where she is a strong independent character who helps her friends when in need. She was also one of the major characters in the anime Sonic X, where her role and personality reflected the stories Sonic X was retelling at the time. This includes the events of Sonic Battle, and Sonic Adventure 2. She was also one of the major crew members in the final season of Sonic X, where the group travels from planet to planet to defeat the Metarex.

And More

These are just some of the examples of Amy Rose's appearance throughout the Sonic series, but in general, nearly everything since her introduction includes her in some way. Amy is a major part of the series, and this isn't going to change anytime soon.

As for her role in Sonic the Hedgehog 4, she appears to be closer to her modern day appearances. Rather than being captured and needing help, she is seen fighting off Metal Sonic and protecting Sonic instead. Of course this is all we know at the moment, but we'll be seeing more of her as time goes on!

Sonic 4 is set for release in 2027.

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