"I am a prince before I am a son or brother."
Article by: Polo
Pictured from: Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon
Created by: Intelligent Systems
First appearance: 1990
Bio
Marth debuted as the primary protagonist in the medieval fantasy series Fire Emblem. In the first game, he is the sixteen-year-old prince of the island kingdom Altea, and he suffers a string of misfortunes when an opposing army suddenly attacks. Guided by the dragon Medeus, the invaders slay the boy's father, kidnap his sister, and effectively force him into exile. Disadvantaged but not bereft, Marth proceeds to amass his own army of followers in order to turn the tide of war and recover his land and his sister.
As a prince, Marth strives to uphold a sense of duty and nobility even in the face of danger. He battles opponents equipped with his trusty Falchion, and in his travels he receives the eponymous Fire Emblem, a shield with mystical properties that go beyond basic protection. More vital to Marth than a sword and a shield, however, is a certain armor called trust. More than once, the sting of betrayal teaches the young prince an important lesson about loyalty and alliances, and so those willing to fight alongside him and lay down their lives for his sake (some of them childhood friends) are among his most valued allies. In turn, his devotion to his subjects is so strong that the game is lost if he falls in battle.
Marth fleshed out his sword-swinging abilities in Super Smash Bros. Melee, his international debut. Slashes dominate his moveset, and they come in long-reaching and continuous flavors. The tip of his blade deals more damage than the hilt, emphasizing Marth's preference to attack from a distance. He can also use a move aptly named Counter, in which he assumes a stance that lures his opponents in to strike before he retaliates on the spot. Much like in his native series, Marth maintains a focused mindset and will stop at nothing to emerge victorious.
Selected game appearances
NES
Super NES
- Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem (1994)
GameCube
- Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)
Nintendo DS
- Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (2008)
- Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem: Heroes of Light and Shadow (2010)
References
