Marth


 * For fighter info, see Marth (SSBM) and Marth (SSBB).

Marth (マルス, Marusu) is the main playable hero in the first, third and eleventh installments of the Fire Emblem series of tactical role-playing games. Previously well-known primarily in Japan for a game series that was never localized abroad, Marth was included in all language versions of Super Smash Bros. Melee as a playable character, and his popularity in the game (along with that of his similar counterpart Roy) influenced Nintendo's decision to release all subsequent Fire Emblem titles internationally.

Character description
The first game in what would become the long-running tactical-roleplaying medieval high fantasy series Fire Emblem, released on the Japanese Famicom (NES) and titled Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryuu to Hikari no Tsurugi ("The Dark Dragon and Sword of Light"), introduced Marth as the main character. His design was noticeably different from his modern-day incarnation. The second game in the series, Fire Emblem Gaiden, took place on the same fictional world but on a different continent and was only tangentially related to the first and did not feature Marth. The third game however, titled Fire Emblem: Monshō no Nazo ("Secret of the Crest") and released on Super Famicom (Super NES) early in 1994, was both a remake of the original game and a continuation of that game's story. Marth underwent a character redesign to resemble the more "bishōnen" prince he is portrayed as in today's modern image of him, and he became the only FE -series main character to feature in a starring role from the start of the game in more than one FE title. In both these games, his in-game unit is the only one that belongs to the Lord character class, and that became tradition with all main starring characters of subsequent FE titles, being units that must be kept alive and start out weak but become very powerful over the course of each game.

Marth's canonical Fire Emblem story is comprised of the two big parts ("books") of Secret of the Crest for Super Famicom in Japan. In the first book, Marth is the upstanding and noble prince of the kingdom of Altea on the continent of Akaneia, and is a direct descendant of the legendary warrior Anri who slew the dark dragon Medeus in the past. However, the neighboring kingdom of Dolua invades Altea under the direction of the evil priest Garnef, and Marth's father the king is killed in battle while his sister, Ellis (or "Alice"), is taken hostage. Marth himself is forced to become an exile in another neighboring nation named Talis. Marth must now set out on a quest to revolt against Garnef by finding the sacred sword Falchion (or "Falcion") and the Fire Emblem shield that will allow him to wield the blade. With the help of the Altean knight Jeigan (or "Jagan"), the Talisian princess Sheeda (or "Shieda"), and other allies including one named Hardin, Marth completes his quest by finding the divine equipment, and he uses it in his final battle against Garnef and his resurrection of Medeus. He defeats the villains, wins back the kingdom of Altea from the Doluan Empire, rescues Ellis, and ultimately becomes the new ruler of Altea.

Book II of Secret of the Crest takes place five years later, after Marth has returned the Falchion and Fire Emblem whence they came and while he is still in the process of reconstructing the kingdoms. But then Marth's former ally Hardin begins to conquer the various countries in Akaneia with the help of the Manaketes, and Marth must leave his rule to regain his equipment and confront Hardin, reuniting with his allies from before in the process. Hardin's forces conquer Altea during his absence, but Marth returns to drive them back. He takes the fight to Hardin's forces in the latter's fortress in the kingdom of Gra, and discovers that Hardin was in fact possessed by Garnef, who has now finished Hardin off. Marth returns to Dolua where Garnef lurks and slays the latter for good using Starlight dust, but Medeus has been resurrected again, so Marth defeats Medeus once and for all with his Falchion. Order restored, Marth returns to Altea with the intention of rebuilding all of Akaneia, and that is likely where he lives peacefully for the rest of his life.

Marth's first appearance in media brought to America was not in Super Smash Bros. Melee, but in the two episodes of an extremely short-lived Fire Emblem anime series that was dubbed by ADV films and released on VHS in 1997. Production stopping after only two episodes, this anime essentially came and went. The first episode focuses on Marth and his friend princess Sheeda, and he and his group must save her city from marauding pirates. The second episode focuses on a deadly and troubled mercenary named Navahl, who joins a bandit group to be close to a princess named Rena. Marth's group meanwhile accepts a job to rescue Rena from the bandits, and after a chaotic clash at the bandit's lair ensues and concludes positively, Navahl is allowed by Sheeda to join Marth's group and Navahl is willing for the sake of seeing what fighting for honorable purposes looks like. Marth's name in the dub version was translated as "Mars", and some might consider that his "proper" name because of that. His Japanese voice actor was Hikaru Midorikawa (Who returned to role in Super Smash Bros. Melee) and English voice actor was Spike Spencer.

When Super Smash Bros. Melee was being developed, requested character polls posted by Japanese fans placed Marth as one of the most popular characters, so HAL Laboratory included Marth as a playable character in the fighting game, and also placed the main character from the then-upcoming sixth Fire Emblem game, Roy, as another playable character alongside Marth. Nintendo of America feared that these characters would not have appeal to American gamers and thus would have to be removed, but there was enough stateside approval of Marth and Roy that they were kept. Marth and Roy were introduced along with the Fire Emblem franchise through the U.S. release of Melee, and the result was immensely positive, causing Fire Emblem games from installment seven onwards to be released internationally. Marth and Roy were not given dub voices in the game, retaining their Japanese-language voice samples (with Midorikawa reprising his role as Marth's voice actor). For his bishōnen character design and exotic flavoring, coupled with his effectiveness as a fighter, Marth remains one of the most popular characters in Melee.

As a playable character

 * Main article: Marth (SSBM)

Marth makes his Smash-series debut as an unlockable character in Melee. He can be unlocked one of three ways: using all fourteen starter characters at least once each in Vs. Mode matches, beating Classic mode with all fourteen starter characters on any difficulty, or playing 400 Vs. mode matches. In each of these cases, after fulfilling the conditions Marth must be battled one-on-one to be unlocked. Once unlocked, after playing through either Classic or Adventure once with Marth on any difficulty, you can battle and unlock Roy.

Most of Marth's B and A moves involve him using his sword, the Falchion.

Marth's B-moves are his B-move Shield Breaker, a chargeable sword strike that can charge for up to two and a half seconds before landing with a blow strong enough to shatter an opponent's shield; his forward-B-move Dancing Blade, which can perform four successive light attacks pressing the B button multiple times, with each strike influenced by the direction of the control stick; his up-B Dolphin Slash, which sends him fast upward with a fast sword slash; and his down-B move is Counter, where Marth remains immobile for one second in a defensive pose with his sword. At the first short period of time Marth after Marth uses Counter, he will glow, during which if an enemy attack connects with him, he will be shielded and he will automatically slash forward.

Many would instinctively agree that Marth is one of the game's most effective fighters and best characters for use in the competitive meta-game. Pros include the long reach of his sword attacks and the very good damage and knockback specs of the "sweet spot" on the tip of his blade, his moderately fast dash, long grab, usefully floaty wavedash, excellent edgeguarding capabilities, easy and efficient combos, and great SHFFL, with main cons being his lack of a projectile attack and laggy up-B recovery. Marth's clone, Roy, has attacks that are almost identical in appearance, and many Marth vs. Roy debates ensued in the years following Melee ' s release but professional analysis places Marth in a higher tier than Roy because Roy lacks Marth's subtle but vital advantages.

In Single-player
Marth does not appear specifically in the game's single-player Adventure mode. He is only featured in some of the Event Matches:
 * Event 40: All-Star Match 4: Marth is the first opponent you must fight in this series of staged battles. Your character battles him on the Hyrule: Temple stage, and your character has 2 stock while Marth has 1. With a timer of four minutes, you must defeat him and the other four characters one-by-one with the overall time and life you have: Luigi, Jigglypuff, Mewtwo, and Mr.Game & Watch.
 * Event 41: En Garde!: A one-on-one battle between you as Marth and an enemy Link on the Hyrule: Temple stage, with the two characters having 2 stock each and unlimited time. Survivor wins.
 * Event 46: Fire Emblem Pride: Your character battles and must defeat a team of Marth and Roy in an untimed match in the Hyrule Temple stage, with all three characters receiving 3 stock.

Trophies
By tradition, Marth as a playable character is featured on his personal 3 trophies. His normal trophy is acquired by beating the Classic mode with Marth on any difficulty, and his Smash Red and Smash Blue trophies are acquired the same way by beating the Adventure and All-Star modes, respectively.

Japanese Translations

 * Marth's taunt in battle is "みんな、見ていてくれ!" "Minna, miteite kure!" which translates to "Everyone, please look!".
 * Marth's counter move is performed while saying "そこだ!" "Soko da", which roughly translates to "There it is!"; which means, he sees an opening to counter.
 * Marth's three possible statements he makes with a victory pose after he wins a match are:
 * "今回は僕の勝ちだね. " "Konkai wa boku no kachi da ne?" which translates to "This time it's my victory, isn't it?"
 * "今日も生き延びることが出来た. " "Kyou mo ikinobiru koto ga dekita", which translates to "Today I have survived."
 * "僕は負ける訳には行かないんだ. " "Boku wa makeru wake-ni wa ikanainda!" which translates to "There's no way I can lose!"


 * In the master sound test room (that can be accessed through the debug menu), Marth has an additional phrase players can listen to that he does not say in the game: "レッツダンス!" "Let's Dance!"

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl

 * Main article: Marth (SSBB)

The recently leaked intro to brawl shows Marth engaging several Primid along side Meta Knight, but little else is known.