Marth (Fire Emblem)

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Marth
Marth's design from Monshō no Nazo.
Game series	Fire Emblem series
First game	Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Ken (1990)
Created by	Shouzou Kaga
Voiced by (English)	Spike Spencer
Voiced by (Japanese)	Hikaru Midorikawa

Marth(マルスMarusu) is a character from Intelligent System's Fire Emblem series of video games. More specifically, he is the central protagonist and Lord-class character of the original game^[1] Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Ken, the third game, Fire Emblem: Monshō no Nazo,^[2] and the upcoming remake Fire Emblem: Shin Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Ken.

Although Marth's Fire Emblem titles were released only in Japan,^[3] he has acquired more widespread international attention through his recurring appearances in Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. series of fighting games^[4]. The appearance of Marth and Roy sparked a greater level of Western interest in the Fire Emblem series, and it was in part because of this that Nintendo began releasing the games internationally beginning with the seventh title in the series.^[5]

Contents 1 Localization 2 Appearances 2.1 Video games 2.1.1 Early Fire Emblem games 2.1.2 Super Smash Bros. series 2.1.3 Fire Emblem DS 2.2 Other media 2.2.1 Fire Emblem anime 2.2.2 Fire Emblem Trading Card Game 3 Character 3.1 Role in Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Ken 3.2 Role in Fire Emblem: Monshō no Nazo 4 Reception 5 References

[edit] Localization

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Originally, in the English localization of the original video animation (OVA), Marth was referred to as "Mars", but with the release of Super Smash Bros. Melee, Nintendo of America officially localized his name as "Marth". However, in Melee's debug menu, which is written and programmed by the game's Japanese developer, lists his name as "Mars".^[6]

In his recent 3D appearances in the Super Smash Bros. series and in the 1996 anime Marth has been played by Japanese seiyū Hikaru Midorikawa. He retains this voice in the Western release of Super Smash Bros. Melee and in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, but is portrayed by Spike Spencer in the ADV Films dub of the anime.^[7]

[edit] Appearances

[edit] Video games

[edit] Early Fire Emblem games

Marth debuted with the April 20th, 1990 release of the video game Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Ken in Japan. He is depicted as a heroic prince, sixteen years of age who was forced to flee his home kingdom of Altea after it was attacked. He then assumes the role of hero leading a rebellion to regain control of his kingdom and save his sister Ellis.

In Fire Emblem: Monshō no Nazo, released on January 21st, 1994, Marth reprised his role as the story's protagonist. The first part of the game being a direct remake of the first Fire Emblem game, Marth's role wasn't altered much. In the second part Marth spent his days peacefully in Altea until he discovered a former ally was conquering neighboring kingdoms by force and left to investigate. Over the course of the game Marth sought to restore the Fire Emblem's true power and discovering the reason behind his friend's actions.

[edit] Super Smash Bros. series

Marth's first major appearance in the Western hemisphere was in the wildly popular GameCube title Super Smash Bros. Melee. Marth is unlocked if the player beats classic mode with the orignal fourteen characters.^[8] He appears on the basis of the official Fire Emblem: Monshou no Nazo artwork and in-game appearance.

Marth is also a playable character in the major 2008 Wii title Super Smash Bros. Brawl.^[9] sporting a more detailed and updated appearance. In the game's story mode, "The Subspace Emissary", he's seen teaming up with Ike, the protagonist of Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance and Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn and Meta Knight of the Kirby series. His final smash is Critical Hit, where he can strike opponents with a blow from his sword for an instant KO.

Due to his appearance in Super Smash Bros. Melee, it has been a misconception by some fans that Fire Emblem: Fūin no Tsurugi's main character Roy has a tie in with Marth. However, Marth's world and Roy's world are not connected.^[10] This confusion stems primarily from the fact that the trophy descriptions for Marth and Roy describe both characters as being from Fire Emblem, but do not name the specific titles each character appeared in.

Despite the Fire Emblem shield being stated to be needed to properly wield the Falchion and a important part of the games. It is absent in his Smash Bros appearances.

[edit] Fire Emblem DS

Marth appears as the main character in Fire Emblem: Shin Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Ken, as it is a remake of Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Ken. Under the DS's visual enhancements, his appearance has changed compared to that of the original game.^[11]

[edit] Other media

[edit] Fire Emblem anime

The Fire Emblem anime, based on Fire Emblem: Monshō no Nazo, is an adaption of the beginning part of the first game's plot, including and following Marth's fleeing of his kingdom. It depicts Marth and his sister fleeing from the castle after his father is killed by the evil priest, Garnef, followed by Marth in the present residing in the kingdom of Talis. He faces the shame of his family's defeat, followed by saving his friends and Sheeda's city from pirates and then rejoining the war effort. The second episode mostly follows the character Navarre of the same game. The anime ended production after only two episodes were finished. ^[12]

[edit] Fire Emblem Trading Card Game

Marth is featured as a card in both of the final expansion sets for the Fire Emblem Trading Card Game along with other characters from Fire Emblem: Monshō no Nazo^[12][12] and also as a promotional card. ^[12]

[edit] Character

Marth is the prince of Altea and a direct descendant of Anri, the warrior who slew the dark dragon Medeus, in the Fire Emblem series.^[13] Being in the first Fire Emblem game, Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Ken he is the first Lord (main character) of the Fire Emblem series. Typical of most Fire Emblem Lords in successive games, he is a swordsman with a slim build and wears a cape; he shows nobility and justness in both of the Fire Emblem games that he appears in. This has carried over to the anime, in which he is fighting against villains.^[12] His father, Cornelius, is the king of Altea, and his elder sister, Ellis, is a princess. Marth uses the Sword of Light, Falchion, as his main weapon in both the Fire Emblem games and Super Smash Bros. series.^[14]

[edit] Role in Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Ken

Hundreds of years had passed since Medeus was slain in Akanea. Once Medeus is resurrected, he rebuilds his land of Dolua, ready to invade Akanea once again. After an attack from Dolua, Marth is forced into exile in the island nation of Talis. His father, Cornelius, is killed battling Garnef, an evil priest and a devout follower of Medeus, and his elder sister Ellis is taken hostage.^[13] With the help of the Altean knight Jeigan, the Talisian Princess Sheeda, and others, Marth embarks on a quest to defeat Medeus, reclaim the kingdom of Altea, and rescue his sister. Marth meets Niena, the princess of Akanea—the most prominent kingdom—who gives him the country's national treasure, the Fire Emblem. Marth later obtains the Falchion sword, which was stolen from his father by Garnef, which he uses to confront Medeus.

[edit] Role in Fire Emblem: Monshō no Nazo

After the defeat of Medeus, Marth spent his days peacefully in Altea. It wasn't until rumours had it that Hardin—a former ally and friend of Marth—had begun to conquer various countries in Akanea with the help of the Mamkutes (Manaketes in the West)^[15] that Marth was forced to leave his rule of Altea to investigate. When Marth and his men gathered at Grunia, several of his former allies were fleeing, or some were murdered during the pillages of Hardin. Marth then travelled to Macedonia where he met Linda, a mage of Akanea, who had been keeping the Fire Emblem safe from harm. He discovers that several gems are needed for the Fire Emblem to regain its true power. Marth retrieves most of the gems, only to realise that Hardin had conquered Altea in his absence. He leaves to see Gra, a kingdom that had seen a similar fate to what happened to Altea.

After reaching his palace, Marth defeats Hardin,^[16] obtaining the last gem. The gems are placed on the Fire Emblem, which becomes the Shield of Seals. Marth discovers that Hardin wasn't really evil and was possessed by the evil priest Garnef himself through the Dark orb. He then heads to Dolua where Garnef lurks. After Garnef is defeated, all that remains is the new reborn Medeus, guarded by Earth Dragons and possessed clerics. The Shield of Seals emits a power that forces the Earth Dragons to retreat, giving Marth's army the opportunity to save the clerics and for Marth to defeat Medeus once and for all with a slash of Falchion.^[17] Afterwards, Marth marries Sheeda and spends his time rebuilding Akaneia.

[edit] Reception

Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.

Though his role in the Fire Emblem series is mostly unknown to Western gamers, Marth is very popular character in the Super Smash Bros. series. Marth's inclusion popularized Fire Emblem in the West; it was in part because of his inclusion that Nintendo began releasing the games internationally beginning with the seventh title in the series.^[5] Nintendo of Japan had originally intended to make him playable only in the game's Japanese release, but when he garnered favorable attention during the game's North American localization, Nintendo of America decided to keep both him and fellow Fire Emblem protagonist Roy in the North American and European versions.

[edit] References

v • d • e Fire Emblem series Titles Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Ken  • Gaiden  • Monshō no Nazo  • Seisen no Keifu  • Akaneia Senki • Thracia 776  • Fūin no Tsurugi  • Fire Emblem (video game)  • The Sacred Stones  • Path of Radiance  • Radiant Dawn  • Shin Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Ken Characters Marth  • in  Monshō no Nazo  • in  Seisen no Keifu  • in Thracia 776  • in Fūin no Tsurugi  • in Fire Emblem (video game)  • in The Sacred Stones  • in Path of Radiance  • in Radiant Dawn Other Anime series