Rouge the Bat

**Rouge the Bat** (ルージュ・ザ・バット *Rūju za Batto*?) is a character from the *Sonic the Hedgehog* series who first appeared in *Sonic Adventure 2*. She is a mobian bat and former jewel thief working as a part-time government spy for the President of the United Federation, and an agent on loan for the Guardian Units of Nations.[3] A world-famous freelance treasure hunter,[4][5] Rouge has a weakness for jewels, like the Master Emerald and Chaos Emeralds, which she always obsesses about. As a spy, Rouge is trained in combat, stealth and infiltration, and possesses both super-level kicking power and flight.

Rouge is in short, an enigma, as her motivations are always in question. In truth, she is usually just out for herself. She is smart, sassy and seductive, and knows how to get what she wants. Once she has a target in mind, she always goes for it, regardless of the costs. Beneath her ditsy exterior though, she is a calculating realist and her motives are always mercenary in nature. Regardless, she is loyal to her closest friends and has more than once helped Sonic the Hedgehog and his allies save the world.

## Appearance

Rouge is a mobian bat with white fur, tan skin, teal eyes and endowed female features. She has large pointy ears, small fangs, a bare muzzle with a small black nose, a short tail, and a pair of black wings on her back. Only her head appears to have fur. Her short white hair flares out at the back and she typically wears blue eyeshadow, as well as lipstick. Her typical attire consists of a black skintight jumpsuit, a pink, heart-shaped chestplate-like top with white trim, and tall white gloves and boots with pink cuffs. The boots are high heeled and feature hearts on the toes.

## Personality

Rouge is a strong-minded young bat, a fearless, treasure-hunting, ambitious, independent, flirty and ruthless who most people see as only caring for herself and her gems. It is shown in *Sonic Generations* that Rouge can be referred to a temptress, due to her flirtatious and selfish ways. Her carefree and playful attitude can be fun or even annoying for the other characters of the series,[9] especially Knuckles. She has a lot of pride and starts to fight dirty when facing a superior opponent, such as Knuckles (when it comes to power) or Tails (when it comes to flight). She can also show a bashful side, such as the time Knucklessaved her life from falling into her doom and became very embarrassed before disguising it with disgust and outrage. She can also be a bit of a hypocrite, especially in regards to thefts. This is especially evident when, after witnessing the Master Emerald being stolen, she refers to the one stealing it as a thief despite the fact that she herself had stolen it from Knuckles earlier, something Knuckles even noted by saying "Look who's calling who a thief!"

Rouge is also at times a government spy who works for her own good. Rouge has a great obsession for jewels or even anything else that shines or glitters. She has been known to seduce people with her attractiveness to get what she wants (such as kissing Tails in *Sonic Battle*). However, she has, on occasion, shown that she can be heroic. In the final events of *Sonic Adventure 2 Battle*, she helped to save the planet. In *Sonic Heroes*, she stopped Shadow the Hedgehogand E-123 Omega from killing each other, and is seen battling Chaotix and Sonic as liabilities to her quest to finding Dr. Eggman's supposed hidden treasure room. In *Sonic Battle*, when Shadow was injured and needed a place to stay, Rouge helped him. In *Shadow the Hedgehog*, she did other laudable things, such as rescuing a Chaos Emerald from the doomed mainframe, destroying the evil monster Black Bull, and assisting Shadow in defeating Black Doom as well as showing concern for Shadow's welfare at the end of the game.

Recently, she has been becoming less selfish, as can be seen by her actions towards Shadow in *Sonic the Hedgehog*(2006) and *Sonic Rivals*. However, as shown in her portrayal in *Sonic Free Riders*, which depicts her as a very cold and only caring about her and the cash prize suggest that she has not changed much, regarding her interest in jewels and riches. This is proved as she couldn't care less that her robot team member broke down and even went on to insult it as well.

## Powers and abilities

### Physical abilities

Rouge possesses enormous physical strength that rivals that of Knuckles the Echidna's. However, whereas Knuckles' strength lies in his upper body, Rouge's lies in her lower body, particularly in her legs and feet, giving her enormous kicking power. With her kicks, she can shatter boulders, slice through metal, or even leave dents in thick steel walls. She can even split her opponents in half with precise kicks and create small earthquakes to trip opponents by striking the ground.

With her wings, Rouge is able to achieve flight and can glide by using her wings to manipulate her descend. When flying, Rouge can move as fast as Knuckles' gliding, but not as fast as Sonic or Shadow can run. Nevertheless, Rouge possesses an innate quickness, making her fast on her feet and can reach super speeds when running, though she is still not as fast as Sonic, Tails or Shadow.[9]

Rouge has proven herself to be quite acrobatic, precise and agile, on both the ground and in midair due to her government training. She is able to perform all kinds of actions and movements while in midair effortlessly, grind on rails and as well perform several types of nimble movements in combat with incredible precision.

Much like Knuckles, Rouge is an expert climber and can climb on any kind of surface, no matter the material. She is also excellent at digging and tunneling through subterranean regions. She is also very experienced swimmer, possibly due to her being a treasure hunter, enabling her to swim with both great speed and skill, and can reach amazing depths.

### Stealth and infiltration expertise

As both a government spy and self-proclaimed "World's Greatest Thief", Rouge has been trained in infiltration and is skilled in the art of stealth.[9] As most times, she uses these skills to pull different kinds of successful heists, and has proven herself as a master thief.

As a result of her training, Rouge can surreptitiously enter enemy-held territory, either through stealth or by manipulation of others, such as when she tricked Shadow and Dr. Eggman into believing that she was willing to help them in *Sonic Adventure 2* when she was send to investigate the doctor, and can hack computers and break codes in record time with successful results nearly every time. She is also stealthy enough to move nearly undetected through even the most fortified of locations, such as Prison Island, Dr. Eggman's various bases or Space Colony ARK and sneak up on people without bringing attention to herself.

### Combat skills

A part-government spy and expert thief, Rouge is one of the strongest female characters in the series. Swift and powerful, she has been recognized as a force to be reckoned by both allies and foes alike. She is well-versed in a variety of martial arts and has gone through several forms of special training in self-defense. Her skills in combat are so great that she was able to fight the combat-versed Knuckles the Echidna to a stalemate when confronting him on Space Colony ARK.

#### Fighting style

Rouge's fighting style focuses on a form of kickboxing, a style she has derived from her special combat training. Thus, she rarely using her arms or fists in combat. In battle, Rouge primarily fights her opponents using a large number of skillful and specialized kicks to strike blows. Using her agility in line with her training, Rouge can perform moves such as high kicks, side kicks, spinning kicks etc., striking her opponents with deadly precision and efficiency, and can even send her whole body spinning through the air with her feet first, turning herself into an all-piercing spear.

Rouge can also complement her fighting style with her flight abilities, allowing her to take her fighting techniques to airborne opponents and allowing her to launch aerial kicks and strikes at her opponents.

#### Techniques and moves

Most of Rouge's standard moves and techniques revolves around her Kick Attack move where she attacks her opponents with combos composed of kicks. Her special attack Screw Kick enables her to form a "screw" shape into midair while kicking, while her Drill Drive lets her send herself downward, with her feet first, as a spinning drill that pierces through her opponents. Also, her Hip Drop lets her drop onto the ground to form wide tremors that effects everything within its range.

When not attacking her opponents directly, Rouge has also been known to use techniques that involves some form of weapon. In *Sonic Heroes* she is shown to use Dummy Rings in her "Dummy Ring Bomb" move to paralyze opponents, and in *Sonic the Hedgehog* (2006) and *Sonic Generations*, she used her "Bomb" and "Bomb Snipe" techniques with her Heart Bombs to damage her opponents.

### Miscellaneous skills

Like real-life bats, Rouge has an excellent and sensitive sense of hearing, even allowing her to hear Espio, who is known as an expert ninja and a master of stealth, when he is in her proximity. Also, as hinted by her move Shriek and some of her moves in *Sonic Battle*, Rouge can make ultrasonic shrieks, just like real bats, to both attack her opponents or leave them disorientated.

Rouge is one of the world's most foremost treasure hunters, as seen during her hunts for the Emerald Shards and the Chaos Emeralds, and her skills on the subject rivals even that of Knuckles'.[10] Rouge has also proven herself asvery talented Extreme Gear rider as seen in *Sonic Free Riders*, where she is able to go toe-to-toe with some of the best Extreme Gear riders in the world. While in midair, she is capable of doing several acrobatic tricks with her Extreme Gear and can as well dash through midair with her Extreme Gear with her wings to pass through shortcuts through the tracks.

### Color Powers

By harnessing different variants of Hyper-go-on from Wisps, Rouge can use specific Color Powers to transform into a certain form, such as a drill, a laser or even a planet, each one possessing its own unique abilities. So far, Rouge has been able to transform into the Cyan Laser, Yellow Drill and Indigo Asteroid. However, these transformations require a steady supply of Hyper-go-on to be maintained.

## Weakness

While not having any physical weaknesses, Rouge has a stubborn attitude that has put her in mortal dangers, like in *Sonic Adventure 2* where her arguing over the ownership of the Master Emerald nearly made her fall into a lava pool. Also, her spy skills are not flawless either, as she was discovered by a Flying Dog while robbing Prison Island and got imprisoned by Dr. Eggman when she stole the Scepter of Darkness (although she eventually broke herself out in the latter case).

## Theme songs

The *Sonic the Hedgehog* video games have featured several theme songs for the character.

* *Sonic Adventure 2*: "Fly in the Freedom" - Tabitha Fair, Todd Cooper.
* *Sonic Heroes*: "This Machine" - Julien-K. This was a team theme shared with Shadow and Omega.

The background music for the stage Security Hall (titled "I'm a Spy") in *Sonic Adventure 2* and *Sonic Adventure 2: Battle*is generally attributed to Rouge, despite technically having no relation to her. Like most characters, Rouge is associated with a genre of music, specifically smooth jazz/bossa nova/fusion with some feminine sighs thrown in (similarly to how Knuckles is associated with the rap genre). It is interesting to note that the background music in her Club Rouge stage from *Sonic Battle* also has feminine sighing. No other BGM in the game has any form of vocal.

## Quotes

* *"Better behave yourselves!"* - *Sonic Riders*, *Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity*, *Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games*and *Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games*.
* *I never fail my mission."* - Upon selecting her in multiplayer in Sonic Adventure 2.
* *"Even if you believe everyone is against you, know that I'll always remain by your side. Remember that."* - Rouge telling Shadow that even if he is a threat to humanity she will always be with him in *Sonic the Hedgehog* (2006).
* *"Oh, look who's here. I didn't expect to see you guys."* Rouge upon when she and Shadow find Team Sonic in the future, *Sonic the Hedgehog*(2006).
* *"Hi. Long time, no see."*A few times during *Sonic the Hedgehog*(2006).
* *"No, that's not possible. We're still in the Doctor's base."*When she and Shadow are trying to pinpoint their location just before they realize they are in the future, *Sonic the Hedgehog*(2006).
* *"My name is Rouge the Bat. Better known as the treasure hunter, Rouge."* - The beginning of Rouge's recap in *Sonic Adventure 2*.
* *"Oh great. Mama always told me that one day I'd get stuck in an alien dimension without a change of clothes."*- Rouge when the heroes finally landed in the Nocturne in *Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood.*
* *"So, you did your homework, is that it? I'd say that's an invasion of privacy"* - Rouge talking to Shadow in *Sonic Adventure 2*.
* *"How's that? Perfect? Like me*?*"* - After getting an *A* Rank.
* *"I'm Rouge the Bat, but you can call me Rouge."* - Rouge introduces herself.
* *"You just wanted to hold my hand, didn't you? (teasingly) That's why you saved me; you're such a creep!"* - After being saved by Knuckles.
* *"All the world's jewels will be mine."* - After winning in *Sonic Adventure 2*.
* *"I've got something better than jewels that I'm thinking about right now... It'll all work out; you'll see."* -To Knuckles, during the credits on *Sonic Adventure 2*.
* *"Aw yeah baby, this makes us a team!"* - After assembling Team Dark for the first time in *Sonic Heroes*.
* *"Long time no see boys! Too bad you had to come all this way for nothing, we'll take it from here!"* - Taunting Team Sonic on their way to Eggman, before the teams fight.
* *"I haven't seen the President lately."*- Rouge when standing still for a while in *Sonic Heroes*.
* *"Wonder if there are any jewels around here..."*- Another of Rouge's lines when standing still for a while in *Sonic Heroes*.
* *"These ears aren't for show, you know."* - When she was being spied on by Espio in *Sonic Rivals 2*.
* *"Hey, ladies first!"* - When losing a race in the*Sonic Riders*trilogy and when she is behind in Bobsled Race in *Sonic Heroes*.
* *"These boots were made for racing."* - After winning a race in *Sonic Rivals 2*.
* *"Too bad, so sad."*- Another quote when winning a race in *Sonic Rivals 2*.
* *"(Sighs), you're so slow!"*Another quote when winning a race in *Sonic Rivals 2*.
* *"I think... No. See ya later, Silver Boy."* - After arguing with Silver about Chao and Chaos Emeralds in *Sonic Rivals 2.*
* *"I despise anyone who takes jewels from me. All the world's gems are mine to keep!"* - After Eggman took the Master Emerald in *Sonic Adventure 2.*
* *"Winning is everything!"* - Rouge after winning a battle in *Sonic Battle*.
* *"Shadow? Has the prince finally awakened?"* - Rouge asking Shadow if he woke up in *Sonic Battle*.
* *"What'd ya think of my beautiful technique?"* - Rouge after getting an *S* Rank in *Sonic the Hedgehog* (2006).
* *"Thanks Big Blue, that's the first time I've ever been stolen."* - Rouge after Modern Sonic rescues her in City Escapein *Sonic Generations*.
* *"That piece of junk robot is no match for my charms!"* - Rouge before the Seaside Hill mission with Modern Sonic begins from *Sonic Generations*.
* *"Such a hard worker! How's about I give you a kiss for your troubles?"* - Rouge flirting with Sonic after he completes her mission in *Sonic Colors (DS)*.

## TMNT X Pokemon

As a treasure hunter, she likes to steal jewels from anyone and anything. Hawk Moth sees this as a potential and mind control Rouge into making her steal the Miraculouses. This didn't work though as they have defeated her and capture the Akuma. Even with the team she intends of getting all the world's jewels.

## Trivia

* Prima's Game Guide for *Sonic the Hedgehog* (2006) states that there are rumors that Rouge has feelings for both Shadow and Knuckles,[22] although it is unknown how much of this is valid due to the book possessing a large amount of errors and contradictions. It also erroneously says above that in Omega's back history that it was his rampage that unleashed Rouge from Eggman's base.[23]
* In *Sonic Adventure 2* and its re-releases, Rouge's character model features breast physics. This is most easily visible in the brief pause before her intro sequence for multiplayer in the Dreamcast version. This was the only game to feature this trait with her.
* In *Sonic Riders*, Rouge has blue eye shadow on the character select screen and in gameplay but when you see her icon on the race results screen she has pink eye shadow on, very similar to the eye shadow in *Sonic Heroes*.
* Rouge may have been named after the jewel, the Rouge, relating to her jewel obsession. Her name could also come from a type of makeup applied to the cheeks (also called "blush").
	+ It is also possible that her name is a pun on the capital of Louisiana, Baton Rouge, due to her first name being Rouge and her being a bat. Her name also means "red" in French, possibly named after Knuckles' color or the fact that red is a color symbolizing love and Rouge is having a flirtatious and romantic attitude.
	+ Another possibility is that her name is a play on the word "Rogue", often used as a synonym for "Thief", mirroring how she often steals other peoples jewels.
* Although she told Knuckles at the end of *Sonic Adventure 2* that she was done with jewelry, she is still hopelessly obsessed with jewels in later games.
* Not counting team members in the support class, Rouge has the least team POW moves in *Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood*, with only one.
	+ Also, Rouge is the only character with an Armor-Piercing move that hits all onscreen enemies instead of targeting one enemy. She is the second member of the Shifter class, and the only Shifter class member in Team Dark (Shadow and Omega are both in the Power class).
* In *Sonic Heroes*, while selecting Shadow or Omega to be Team Dark's leader, if you use the first-person camera to look at Rouge, she will occasionally turn her head in the player's direction and wink.
* Rouge and some other characters have a few locations named after them in Empire City, as seen on the street signs of the level's day time stages in *Sonic Unleashed*.
* At one point in *Sonic Battle* while Rouge was around, Sonic says, *"I smell perfume. Maybe Rouge is around."*. This might mean that Rouge wears perfume, or Sonic was only making a joke.
* After *Sonic Battle*, Rouge's design changed a bit, her wings become less detailed and only one color, also her blue eye shadow got darker after *Sonic Adventure 2*, (while becoming lighter again in *Sonic Generations*).
* In *Shadow the Hedgehog*, Rouge's outfit appears to be a purple/lavender color in game, but the concept art from the game has the outfit in its regular black color.
* To date, Rouge has never appeared in any *Sonic* game without Shadow appearing in the same game, cameo or not.
* In her alternate outfit model in *Sonic Adventure 2: Battle* her mid-driff shows her navel. However, in *Sonic Riders*onwards it isn't present. It is also true that Sonic characters do not have a navel (such as Wave and Tikal). Notably, though, Wave, as a bird, and Tikal, as an echidna, both hatched from eggs, which could account for the lack of a navel.
* In *Sonic Adventure 2* Rouge had fangs, but afterwards, they were absent. From *Sonic Free Riders* though, they have started to become visible again.
* One of Rouge's unused lines (*"Pleasure before business!"*) of *Sonic Adventure 2* is used in one episode of *Sonic X*.
* After *Sonic Adventure 2*, Sega decided to change Rouge's outfit (explaining why she wore something different in *Sonic Heroes*) to make her look less provocative, but they ultimately decided to change it back as they found the new outfit to be even more provocative than the old one.