Sonic Frontiers is a forthcoming open-world Sonic the Hedgehog game still shrouded in mystery. As the calendar moves closer to the game's early November release date, there are still more questions than answers. Considering that the Sonic franchise has an expansive cast of characters to choose from, Sonic Frontiers seems to be operating with a more limited cast. Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy have been confirmed to return to the game alongside series villain Dr. Eggman. Amy initially appeared in Sonic CD and had a role befitting of a damsel in distress trope. Amy has made odd choices in Sonic games throughout the years, but she remains a constant in the franchise.
While it's never clear if Amy and Sonic are indeed a couple or if she's simply his biggest fan, Sonic clearly has a soft spot for her. Multiple trailers for Sonic Frontiers have gone out of their way to show Amy and Sonic interacting, with the latter rescuing the former from some jewel-like trap. Considering that we've already seen Sonic rescue Amy at least once during Sonic Frontiers, many players are wondering what kind of role Amy will play for the rest of the game and if Sonic Frontiers will operate as a redemption arc for her. Clues revealed so far seem to indicate the latter is more likely.
Amy's Role in Sonic Frontiers Explained
The plot of Sonic Frontiers is still heavily under wraps, but it has been confirmed that Sonic Frontiers' story revolves around regaining memories and that this will affect gameplay. The game will move between non-linear open-world exploration zones and more linear-based Cyberspace levels that callback to older titles. The duality of bringing something old with something new makes many gamers curious about the exact nature of Amy's role in the game.
In both Sonic Adventure games, Amy takes a supporting role and mostly moves the story forward by either needing Sonic's help or by making questionable decisions based on her feelings for him. In the ill-fated Sonic 06, she inadvertently helps the game's villain and causes more headaches than anything else. Sonic Frontiers seeks to take a different route. Not unlike the Koroks in Breath of the Wild or the Chao in Sonic Adventure, Sonic Frontiers will feature a collectible species known as Kocos. Kocos will be hidden throughout the game environments, and Amy will be essential to collecting Kocos. By collecting Kocos, players can upgrade Sonic via the game's skill tree and unlock new combat abilities, among other perks.
While more remains to be revealed, the choice to have Amy's presence positively affect gameplay is a stark one compared to her appearances in games past. It's a way for her to channel her feelings for Sonic into something tangible and mutually beneficial for him and gamers alike. The presence of Kocos already has nostalgia alerts going off for longtime series fans, with many gamers curious to know if they will serve as a brand-new take on the Chao Garden from the Sonic Adventure series. If that is the case, then Amy's role goes from supportive to significant and is a stark shift for a character who initially slowed the titular hedgehog.
As confirmed by the plot revolving around lost memories and the game's linear Cyberspace levels being remixed versions of levels from previous Sonic games, it appears that Sonic Frontiers will make the old feel new. By reinventing the series' longtime speed-based gameplay into sprawling open environments and giving polarizing characters like Amy Rose a new sense of purpose, it's clear that Sonic Frontiers hopes to demonstrate a new future for the series by honoring its past. Fortunately, the long wait is almost over.
Sonic Frontiers launches November 8th for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.