Criticism of Amnesty International and Marth (Fire Emblem): Difference between pages

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{{General CVG character
'''Criticism of Amnesty International''' may be classified into two major categories: [[selection bias]] and [[ideology|ideological]] bias. As part of the latter, many governments, including those of, [[Israel]], the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]],<ref>"[http://www.namibian.com.na/Netstories/2000/January/Africa/aggression.html DR Congo blasts Amnesty International report on repression]", ''The Namibian'', [[14 January]] [[2000]]. Retrieved [[15 May]] [[2006]].</ref> the [[People's Republic of China]],<ref>[http://www.uscpf.org/news/2001/02/021601.htm The U.S. and China This Week], U.S.-China Policy Foundation, [[16 February]] [[2001]]. Retrieved [[15 May]] [[2006]].</ref> [[Vietnam]],<ref>"[http://www.thienlybuutoa.org/Misc/cream_of_the_diplomatic_crop.htm The Cream of The Diplomatic Crop from Ha Noi.]", THIÊN LÝ BỬU TÒA. Retrieved [[15 May]] [[2006]].</ref> [[Russia]]<ref>"[http://www.hrvc.net/news8-03/23b-8-03.html Russian official blasts Amnesty International over Chechnya refugees]", Human Rights Violations in Chechnya, [[22 August]] [[2003]]. Retrieved [[15 May]] [[2006]].</ref> and the [[United States]],<ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/05/20050525-3.html#l Press Briefing By Scott McClellan], The White House, [[25 May]] [[2005]]. Retrieved [[30 May]] [[2006]].</ref> have attacked Amnesty International for what they assert is one-sided reporting or a failure to treat threats to security as a mitigating factor. The actions of these governments — and of other governments critical of Amnesty International — have been the subject of human rights concerns voiced by Amnesty. The [[Catholic Church]] has also criticized Amnesty for its stance on [[abortion]]. <ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6807754,00.html |title=Furor Over Amnesty's Abortion Stance |publisher=[[The Guardian]] |date=[[2007-07-26]] |accessdate=2007-07-15 |last=Crary |first=David }}</ref>
|width=200px
|name=Marth
|image=[[Image:MarthSNES.jpg|200px|Marth's design from ''Monshō no Nazo''.]]
|caption=Marth's design from ''Monshō no Nazo''.
|series=[[Fire Emblem|''Fire Emblem'' series]]
|firstgame=''[[Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Ken]]'' (1990)
|creator=[[Shouzou Kaga]]
|voiceactor=[[Spike Spencer]]
|japanactor=[[Hikaru Midorikawa]]
|motionactor=
|inuniverse=
}}
{{nihongo|'''Marth'''|マルス|Marusu}} is a character from [[Intelligent System]]'s ''[[Fire Emblem]]'' series of [[video game]]s. More specifically, he is the central protagonist and Lord-class character of the original game<ref name="Fire Emblem 1 translation">{{cite news|title='Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryu to Hikari no Ken'|url=http://nindb.classicgaming.gamespy.com/hvc-vx.shtml|accessdate=2007-09-23|date|work=[http://nindb.classicgaming.gamespy.com Nintendo Database]|author}}</ref> ''[[Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Ken]]'', the third game, ''[[Fire Emblem: Monshō no Nazo]]'',<ref name="IGN FE 3 summary">{{cite news|title='IGN: Fire Emblem: Monshou no Nazo'|url=http://uk.cheats.ign.com/objects/015/015911.html|accessdate=2007-09-23|date|work=[http://uk.ign.com/ IGN]|author}}</ref> and the upcoming remake ''[[Fire Emblem: Shin Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Ken]]''.


Although Marth's ''Fire Emblem'' titles were released only in [[Japan]],<ref name="''List of Fire Emblem games and their platforms''">{{cite news|title='Fire Emblem Series List'|url=http://nindb.classicgaming.gamespy.com/fran-fireemblem.shtml|accessdate=2007-09-23|date|work=[http://nindb.classicgaming.gamespy.com Nintendo Database]}}</ref> He has acquired more widespread international attention through his recurring appearances in Nintendo's ''[[Super Smash Bros. (series)|Super Smash Bros.]]'' series of fighting games<ref name="Marth is in Brawl">{{cite web|title=Super spoiler Bros. Brawl|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/29/super-spoiler-bros-brawl-major-leaked-roster-update-videos-a/|date=2008-01-29|accessdate=2008-01-29|author=Kyle Orland|publisher=Joystiq}}</ref>. The appearance of Marth and [[List of characters in Fire Emblem: Fūin no Tsurugi#Roy|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 [[Fire Emblem (video game)|the seventh title in the series]].<ref name="Fire Emblem Details">{{cite news|title='Fire Emblem (GBA)'|url=http://nindb.classicgaming.gamespy.com/agb-ae7.shtml|accessdate=2007-09-23|date|work=[http://nindb.classicgaming.gamespy.com Nintendo Database]}}</ref>
==Selection bias==
AI admits to reporting disproportionately on relatively more democratic and open countries. AI’s intention is not to produce a range of reports which statistically represents the world’s human rights abuses. Instead, its aim is (a) to document what it can, in order to (b) produce pressure for improvement. These two factors skew the number of reports towards more open and democratic countries, because information is more easily obtainable, these countries have usually made strong claims and commitments to uphold human rights, and because their governments are more susceptible to public pressure. AI also focuses more heavily on states than other groups. This is due in part to the responsibility states have to the citizens they claim to represent.


==Localization==
According to "[[Moynihan's Law]]", after the late [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] and former [[United States Ambassadors to the United Nations|Ambassador to the United Nations]] [[Daniel P. Moynihan|Daniel Patrick Moynihan]], first stated during a speech at the [[United Nations]], the number of complaints about a nation’s violation of human rights is inversely proportional to their actual violation of human rights.
{{Expand-section|date=June 2008}}
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, his name is listed as "Mars".<ref name="FDebug">{{cite news|title='SSBM Debug'|url=http://ssbm.detstar.com/debug/versus/dairantou.html|accessdate=2007-09-23|date|work=[http://ssbm.detstar.com/debug/index.html Super Smash Bros. Melee DebugGuide]|author}}</ref>


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.<ref name="Voice actors">{{cite news|title='Fire Emblem (Dub)'|url=http://www.amazon.com/Fire-Emblem-Dub-J%C3%BBr%C3%B4ta-Kosugi/dp/cast-crew/6304824807/ref=imdbdpccs_castcrew_1/002-2715727-6160004?ie=UTF8&cast-crew.tab=cast#cast_crew|accessdate=2007-09-23|work=[http://www.amazon.com/ref=topnav_gw_v/002-2715727-6160004 Amazon.co.uk]|author}}</ref>
Critics charge that since openness causes violation incident reports, AI policy pushes countries to be less open while undermining the moral authority of those countries working hardest to spread human rights.


==Appearances==
==Israel and Sudan==
===Video games===
In 2004, [[Don Habibi]], a Professor of [[Philosophy]] at the [[University of North Carolina at Wilmington]], condemned Amnesty International, among others, for their alleged obsession with Israel, to the exclusion of other, supposedly worse violators. He writes:<ref name="Habibi">{{cite paper|author=Don Habibi|date=[[July 2]], [[2004]]|url=http://people.uncw.edu/turrisip/par292/Sept04JHR%20draft.doc|format=Word document|title=What's Wrong With Human Rights|publisher=|version=|accessdate=2007-08-09}}</ref>{{quotation|This obsession would make sense if Israel was among the worst human rights offenders in the world. But by any objective measure this is not the case. Even with the harshest interpretation of Israel’s policies, which takes no account of cause and effect, and Israel’s predicament of facing existential war, there can be no comparison to the civil wars in Sudan, Algeria, or Congo. Like the UN, the policies of AI and HRW have more to do with politics than human rights.|Human Rights NGOs and the Neglect of Sudan|Don Habibi}}
====Fire Emblem series====
Marth debuted with the [[April 20]], [[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 21]], [[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.
AI defenders respond by asserting that all nations should aspire to absolute respect for human rights, that they do focus on Sudan, and that the difficulties associated with monitoring 'closed' countries should not mean that 'open' countries should receive less scrutiny.


Marth also appears as the main character in ''[[Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon]]'', 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.<ref name="Appearance change">{{cite news|title='Screenshot: Fire Emblem DS'|url=http://n-europe.com/screenshot.php?gid=femblemds&nr=2|accessdate=2007-09-23|work=[http://www.n-europe.com/index.php Nintendo Europe]|author}}</ref>
Between 2003 and 2006, a period of time corresponding with the beginning of the [[Darfur conflict]], AI issued 110 reports per year on Sudanese issues during a time of genocide in Sudan<ref name = "Amn Sdn">[http://web.amnesty.org/library/eng-sdn/index Sudan], Amnesty Web Library.</ref>, compared with under 50 articles per year for Israel and the Palestinian Authority<ref name = "Amn Isr">[http://web.amnesty.org/library/eng-isr/index Israel], Amnesty Web Library.</ref>. One of the main campaigns of Amnesty during this time was helping the situation in Darfur, evident in events such as the April 13th, 2008 protest Amnesty held to raise awareness of Darfur on the mall in Washington, D.C.{{Fact|date=October 2008}}


====Super Smash Bros. series====
== Freedom of expression vs. hate speech ==
[[Image:Hidden02.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Marth as he appears in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'']]
Amnesty International has endorsed restrictions on speech which incites hatred towards any group of people, whether racial, religious, or otherwise. In reference to the [[Muhammad cartoon controversy]], the organization stated:
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 fights with the original fourteen characters.<ref name="SSBM unlockables">{{cite news|title='Super Smash Bros. for GameCube Cheats'|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/gamecube/action/supersmashbrosmelee/hints.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=tabs&tag=tabs;cheats|accessdate=2007-09-23|date|work=[http://uk.gamespot.com/gamecube/index.html?tag=header;logo Game Spot]|author}}</ref> He appears on the basis of the official ''Fire Emblem: Monshou no Nazo'' artwork and in-game appearance. His appearance was considered a factor in causing ''Fire Emblem'' to go stateside.


Marth is also a playable character in the major 2008 [[Wii]] title ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''.<ref name="Marth officially added">{{cite web|title=Marth's character page on Smash Bros. DOJO!! (Official site)|url=http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/characters/hidden02.html|date=2008-02-07|accessdate=2008-02-10|publisher=Nintendo}}</ref> sporting a more detailed and updated appearance. In the game's story mode, "The Subspace Emissary", he's seen teaming up with [[List of Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance characters#Ike|Ike]], the protagonist of ''[[Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance]]'' and ''[[Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn]]'' and [[List of Kirby characters#Meta Knight|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. According to the official Super Smash Brothers Brawl Guide, Marth received the highest overall character rating with a 9/10.
{{quote |The right to freedom of opinion and expression should be one of the cornerstones of any society. …However, the right to freedom of expression is not absolute — neither for the creators of material nor their critics. It carries responsibilities and it may, therefore, be subject to restrictions in the name of safeguarding the rights of others. In particular, any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence cannot be considered legitimate exercise of freedom of expression. Under international standards, such "hate speech" should be prohibited by law. …While AI recognises the right of anyone to peacefully express their opinion, including through peaceful protests, the use and threat of violence is unacceptable.<ref>[http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGPOL300072006?open&of=ENG-315 Freedom of speech carries responsibilities for all], Amnesty International, [[6 February]] [[2006]].</ref>}}
In ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'', Marth speaks Japanese rather than English, unlike Ike.


Due to his appearance in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', it has been a misconception by some fans that ''[[Fire Emblem: Fūin no Tsurugi]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s main character [[List of characters in Fire Emblem: Fūin no Tsurugi#Roy|Roy]] has a tie in with Marth. However, Marth's world and Roy's world are not connected.<ref name="When supports started">{{cite news|title='A History of Fire Emblem: Sword of Seals'|url=http://www.derekmiller.us/fireemblem/part7.html|date=January 2004|accessdate=2007-09-23|work=[http://www.derekmiller.us/fireemblem/index.html A History of Fire Emblem]|author=Derek Miller}}</ref> 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.
The proponents of AI argue that this position is consistent with international human rights law. Article 3 of the ''Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide'' ("[[The Genocide Convention]]"), for example, lists "direct and public incitement to commit genocide" as an act which should be punished alongside the actual commission of genocidal acts. This very clause has allowed for the prosecution of a number of top-level ''génocidaires'' who organized the [[Rwandan Genocide]] via public radio broadcasts, which provided the names and locations of prominent [[Tutsi]]s and encouraged ordinary civilians to take part in the mass killing. Critics, on the other hand, point out that the convention only refers to incitement of actual crime, and is therefore, much less broad than the hate speech restrictions AI endorses.


Despite the Fire Emblem shield being stated to be needed to properly wield the Falchion, it is absent in his Smash Bros appearances.
Amnesty International does not consider [[Ernst Zundel]] imprisoned for [[Holocaust Denial]] a prisoner of conscience, and stated they are not calling for his release.<ref>[http://www.holocaust-history.org/pamphlets/zundel/who-is-zundel-1.pdf Microsoft Wor<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Amnesty International has requested the Canadian Government to amend their criminal code and establish Holocaust Denial as a hate crime.<ref>[http://www.amnesty.ca/canada/un_cerd.php Amnesty International Canada - Priority Concerns - Canada<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> While Holocaust Denial is rejected by historians, [[Noam Chomsky]] and others have signed a petition in 1979 asserting that efforts to stop [[Robert Faurisson|Robert Faurisson's]] freedom of expression in denying the holocaust were "shameful".<ref>[http://www.paulbogdanor.com/guillaume.html Pierre Guillaume | A Clarification (Une Mise Au Point)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


===Ethiopia===
===Other media===
[[Image:Marth(anime).PNG|left|200px|thumb|Marth as he appears in the anime]]
====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. <ref name="anime">{{cite news|title='Absolute anime/Fire Emblem'|url=http://www.absoluteanime.com/fire_emblem/index.htm|accessdate=2007-09-23|work=[http://www.absoluteanime.com/index.html Absolute Anime]|author}}</ref>
Amnesty International is against hate speech in general. But the Ethiopian government criticizes it for being unable to distinguish such problems in regards to Ethiopian politics. Ethiopia is believed to have one of the most polarized politics in the world, and the government usually settles its problem with the opposition using brute force.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/11/AR2007061102062]</ref>. That has made Amnesty react critically towards the Ethiopian government, and the Ethiopian government in turn accuses the organization of supporting hate speech. In general, while the recent Ethiopian government made few reforms to the press law which severely curtails free speech, it continues to criticize Amnesty when the organization sides with those whose speech was stifled.


====Fire Emblem Trading Card Game====
== Mandela Crisis ==
In 1964 [[Nelson Mandela]] defended the right of violence of [[African National Congress]] during his trial in [[South Africa]], which caused major controversies and conflicts in the public and within AI because of its removal of Mandela's [[prisoner of conscience]] status. The decision is considered to be one of the most important turns in AI's early history. [[Jonathan Power]] in his book "Like Water on Stone: The Story of Amnesty International" explains;<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=njElm3dJLKwC&pg=PA125&lpg=PA125&dq=%22prisoners+of+conscience%22+1964+%22nelson+mandela%22+%22amnesty+international%22&source=web&ots=_e-bTu4KZH&sig=PZqi6a3SxyxJJ6WerlcKFOjd8OQ&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=8&ct=result#PPA125,M1]</ref>
{{cquote|He had been adopted as a prisoner of conscience in 1962 when he faced charges of trying to organize a [[strike]] of African workers and attempting to leave the country without a passport. He had been leading [[Nonviolence|non-violent]] campaigns against the government's [[apartheid]] system for almost a decade. At various times he had been banned from holding meetings and had restrictions imposed on his movement.
In 1964 he was convicted on a [[sabotage]] charge and sentenced to [[life imprisonment]]. The British group who had adopted him decided that his turn to [[Internal resistance to South African apartheid|violent opposition]] to the [[National Party (South Africa)|existing government]] meant they could no longer support him as a prisoner of conscience, although they kept up their campaign for him to be released one day. This triggered off a far-reaching debate that was settled only when Amnesty decided to poll all its members. The overwhelming majority decided in favour of maintaining the basic Amnesty rule that Amnesty should not adopt as prisoners of conscience those who used or advocated violence.}}
Since his release from prison in 1990, Mandela has long since acknowledged that Amnesty made its decision in good faith, and has thanked the organization for its work on behalf of thousands of other South African prisoners and detainees. Nevertheless the crisis still serves as a remarkable point of discussion over AI, criticized both from right political tendencies as a proof of AI's support of terrorists, and also from left political circles pointing to the weak and cowardy ideological-political positioning because of its orthodox liberal foundation.


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''<ref name="anime">{{cite news|title='Serenes Forest/Fire Emblem'|url=http://serenesforest.net/media/fetcg_5.html|accessdate=2008-02-07|work=[http://serenesforest.net/media/fetcg_6.html Serenes Forest]|author}}</ref><ref name="anime">{{cite news|title='Serenes Forest/Fire Emblem'|url=http://serenesforest.net/media/fetcg_6.html|accessdate=2008-02-07|work=[http://serenesforest.net/media/fetcg_6.html Serenes Forest]|author}}</ref> and also as a promotional card. <ref name="anime">{{cite news|title='Serenes Forest/Fire Emblem'|url=http://serenesforest.net/media/fetcg_p.html|accessdate=2008-02-07|work=[http://serenesforest.net/media/fetcg_6.html Serenes Forest]|author}}</ref>
== Guantánamo Bay comments ==
[[Image:Acto cerremos guantanamo.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Protest against human rights violation at Guantànamo Bay prison (June 2006)]]
In the foreword<ref>[http://web.amnesty.org/report2005/message-eng AI Report 2005 — ''Foreword''] Irene Khan, ''Amnesty International'' 2005</ref> to AI’s ''Report 2005''<ref>[http://web.amnesty.org/report2005/index-eng AI Report 2005] ''Amnesty International'' 2005</ref>, the Secretary General, [[Irene Khan]], referred to the [[Guantánamo Bay]] prison as "the [[gulag]] of our times, entrenching the practice of arbitrary and indefinite detention in violation of international law. Trials by military commissions have made a mockery of justice and due process." In the subsequent press conference, she added, "If Guantanamo evokes images of Soviet repression, "[[ghost detainees]]" – or the incommunicado detention of unregistered detainees — bring back the practice of "[[Forced disappearance|disappearances]]" so popular with Latin American dictators in the past. According to US official sources there could be over 100 ghost detainees held by the US. In 2004, thousands of people were held by the US in Iraq, hundreds in Afghanistan and undisclosed numbers in undisclosed locations. AI is calling on the US Administration to "close Guantanamo and disclose the rest".<ref>[http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGPOL100142005 Amnesty International Report 2005\r\nSpeech by Irene Khan\r\nat Foreign Press Association | Amnesty International<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The [[human rights]] organization [[Human Rights Watch]] also criticized the [[George W. Bush|Bush administration]] over the camp in its 2003 world report, stating: "[[Washington|Washington, D.C.]] has ignored human rights standards in its own treatment of [[terrorism]] [[suspects]]".<ref>[http://hrw.org/press/2003/01/wr2003.htm New Survey Documents Global Repression] Human Rights Watch, [[January 14]], [[2003]]</ref>


==Character==
Former U.S. Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]] called the comments "reprehensible", Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] said he was "offended", and President Bush called the report "absurd". The ''[[Washington Post]]'' editorialized that "lately the organization has tended to save its most vitriolic condemnations not for the world’s dictators but for the United States."<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/25/AR2005052501838.html?nav=mb American Gulag] ''Washington Post'', [[May 26]], [[2005]]</ref>
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.<ref name="Character Profile">{{cite news|title='Absolute Anime/Fire Emblem/Marth'|url=http://www.absoluteanime.com/fire_emblem/marth.htm|accessdate=2007-09-23|date|work=[http://www.absoluteanime.com/index.html Absolute Anime]|author}}</ref> 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.<ref name="anime">{{cite news|title='Absolute anime/Fire Emblem'|url=http://www.absoluteanime.com/fire_emblem/index.htm|accessdate=2007-09-23|work=[http://www.absoluteanime.com/index.html Absolute Anime]|author}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Falchion">{{cite news|title='Guides: Super Smash Bros Melee'|url=http://uk.guides.ign.com/guides/16387/page_27.html|accessdate=2007-09-23|date|work=[http://uk.ign.com/ IGN]|author}}</ref>


===Role in ''Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Ken''===
However, [[Edmund McWilliams]], a retired senior US Foreign Service Officer who monitored [[Soviet]] and Vietnamese abuse of prisoners in their "gulags", defended Amnesty International’s comparison. "I note that abuses that I reported on in those inhumane systems parallel abuses reported in Guantanamo, at the [[Bagram air base]] in Afghanistan and at the [[Abu Ghraib]] prison: prisoners suspended from the ceiling and beaten to death; widespread "[[waterboarding]]"; prisoners "disappeared" to preclude monitoring by the [[International Committee of the Red Cross]] — and all with almost no senior-level accountability."<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/01/AR2005060101674.html A U.S. Gulag by Any Name] ''Washington Post'', [[June 2]], [[2005]]</ref>
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.<ref name="Character Profile">{{cite news|title='Absolute Anime/Fire Emblem/Marth'|url=http://www.absoluteanime.com/fire_emblem/marth.htm|accessdate=2007-09-23|date|work=[http://www.absoluteanime.com/index.html Absolute Anime]|author}}</ref> 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.


===Role in ''Fire Emblem: Monshō no Nazo''===
[[William F. Schulz]], Executive Director of Amnesty International USA, defended the statement, saying, "What is 'absurd' is President Bush's attempt to deny the deliberate policies of his administration." and "What is 'absurd' and indeed outrageous is the Bush administration's failure to undertake a full independent investigation". Secretary General Irene Khan also responded saying, "The administration's response has been that our report is absurd, that our allegations have no basis, and our answer is very simple: if that is so, open up these detention centres, allow us and others to visit them."
After the defeat of Medeus, Marth spent his days peacefully in Altea. It wasn't until rumours had it that Hardin&mdash;a former ally and friend of Marth&mdash;had begun to conquer various countries in Akanea with the help of the Mamkutes (Manaketes in the West)<ref name="Localisation changes">{{cite news|title='Localisation changes 1'|url=http://serenesforest.net/general/local.htm|accessdate=2007-07-26|date=2007-07-26|work=Serenes Forest}}</ref> 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,<ref name="Go Marth!">{{cite news|title='Fire Emblem for SSBM players'|url=http://members.aol.com/rukesriese/fe/fe_for_ssbm.html|accessdate=2007-09-23|date|work|author}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Medeus dead">{{cite news|title='Fire Emblem: dark Dragon of Darkness and Sword of Light'|url=http://uk.cheats.ign.com/objects/015/015736.html|accessdate=2007-09-23|work=[http://uk.ign.com/ IGN]}}</ref>
Since the U.S. administration originally claimed that these prisoners were not entitled to the protections of the [[Geneva Conventions]], the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] has ruled against this interpretation (on [[June 29]], [[2006]]).<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/05pdf/05-184.pdf| title=Hamdan v. Rumsfeld| month=[[29 June]]| year=2006| accessdate = 2007-02-10}}</ref> Following this, on [[July 7]], [[2006]], the Department of Defense issued an internal memo stating that prisoners will in the future be entitled to protection under the Geneva Conventions.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5169600.stm|publisher=BBC|title=US detainees to get Geneva rights|date=[[2006-07-11]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/07/11/congress.guantanamo.ap/|title=White House: Detainees entitled to Geneva Convention protections|date=[[2006-07-11]]|publisher=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/11/politics/main1790470.shtml|title=White House Changes Gitmo Policy|publisher=CBS News|date=[[2006-07-11]]}}</ref>
==Reception==
{{Expand-section|date=June 2008}}
Though his role in the ''Fire Emblem'' series is mostly unknown to Western gamers, Marth is a 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 [[Fire Emblem (video game)|the seventh title in the series]].<ref name="Fire Emblem Details">{{cite news|title='Fire Emblem (GBA)'|url=http://nindb.classicgaming.gamespy.com/agb-ae7.shtml|accessdate=2007-09-23|date|work=[http://nindb.classicgaming.gamespy.com Nintendo Database]}}</ref> 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.


==References==
==AI's new abortion policies and the Roman Catholic Church==
{{abortion}}
{{reflist|2}}
In April 2007, Amnesty International changed its stance on abortion from one which was neutral to one supporting access to abortion in cases of [[rape]] and [[incest]], and when the life or the health of the mother might be threatened.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.amnesty.org/actforwomen/sexual_and_reproductive_rights-eng |title=To Stop Violence Against Women respect for women's human rights is essential |accessdate=2007-07-15 |publisher=Amnesty International }}</ref> Amnesty's official policy is that they "do not promote abortion as a universal right" but "support the decriminalisation of abortion".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGPOL300122007 |title=Amnesty International defends access to abortion for women at risk |date=2007-06-14 }}</ref> According to deputy secretary general Kate Gilmore, the debate over the change was difficult, but eventually the overwhelming majority of national Amnesty chapters supported the change.The change was opposed by several organizations, notably by senior figures in the Catholic Church, traditionally a strong supporter of Amnesty International,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com/columnists/article/240713 |title=Amnesty, Catholic Church go to war over abortion |date=[[2007-07-28]] |publisher=The Toronto Star }}</ref> and a group of US legislators. She admitted a small number of members had quit over the issue.<ref name=autogenerated1 />


{{Fire Emblem characters}}
The Roman Catholic Church's [[Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace]] in June 2007 issued a statement urging Catholics not to donate to Amnesty because of their abortion stance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6750887.stm |title=Vatican urges end to Amnesty aid |date=2007-06-14 |publisher=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal]] [[Renato Martino]] said that abortion was "murder" and "to justify it selectively, in the event of rape, that is to define an innocent child in the belly of its mother as an enemy, as 'something one can destroy'". In an interview to the [[National Catholic Register]], the Cardinal outlined that it was his belief that "if in fact Amnesty International persists in this course of action, individuals and Catholic organizations must withdraw their support, because, in deciding to promote abortion rights, AI has betrayed its mission".<ref>[http://ncregister.com/site/article/2904 National Catholic Register 12 June 2007: No Amnesty For the Unborn] Website last accessed [[19 June]] [[2007]]</ref>

At a meeting in Mexico 11-17 August 2007, the International Council decided to retain the stance laid down in April. Within days, this was decried by prominent leaders of the Catholic Church, including the highest-ranking Vatican cardinal Secretaty of State [[Tarcisio Bertone]] and the U.S. Bishops' Conference [[USCCB]] president [[Bishop William S. Skylstad]]. Cardinal Bertone said to [[Vatican Radio]] that "we cannot ever destroy life. We must always save life even if it is the fruit of violence"<ref>[http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/aug/07082005.html Lifesite.net (20 August 2007)] - Website last accessed 26 August 2007</ref>, and underlined that "all forms of violence against women must be opposed and that the inhuman violence of rape be stopped and society be mobilized to defend the dignity of women". The USCCB statement of 23 August called the change in the organization’s longstanding position divisive and an affront to "people in many nations, cultures and religions who share a consistent commitment to all human rights"<ref>[http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2007/07-136.shtml USCCB.com website (24 August 2007)] - Website last accessed 26 August 2007</ref>. An English Roman Catholic Bishop, [[Michael Evans (bishop)|Michael Evans]] of [[East Anglia Diocese|East Anglia]], who had been an officer in AI in the 1980s, revoked his 31 years membership, saying that the "decision makes it very difficult for Catholics to remain members of Amnesty or to give it any financial support" while reiterating that he remained "deeply committed to Amnesty’s original mandate: to work for freedom for prisoners of conscience, an end to torture and the death penalty, and fair trials for all."<ref>[http://www.eastangliadiocese.org.uk/bishop/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=3&MMN_position=78:78 East Anglia Diocese website - Bishop's Pages] - Website last accessed 26 August 2007</ref>In Australia, several Catholic schools and institutions withdrew from Amnesty International<ref>[http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=10373 Australian bishop urges Amnesty International to reverse new policy on abortion] - Website last accessed 21 September 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.cathnews.com/news/709/121.php Melbourne Catholic schools to cut ties with Amnesty]- Website last accessed 21 September 2007</ref>, and in its place set up the Benenson Society, which pursues a similar human rights advocacy agenda to Amnesty's, but without being pro-choice on abortion<ref>[http://www.staloysius.nsw.edu.au/associations/benenson/default.asp St Aloysius' College<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. The Australian Catholic bishops urged Catholics 'to seek other avenues of defending human rights', adopting a position that 'membership of Amnesty International is no longer compatible with Catholic teaching and belief' <ref>[http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=3757 Don't boycott pro-choice Amnesty - Eureka Street<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. There were also strong reactions from the Catholic church in [[Denmark]]<ref>[http://information.dk/141836 Katolikker bør ikke støtte Amnesty] - Website last accessed 21 September 2007</ref>, [[Northern Ireland]]<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2171353,00.html Amnesty faces ban in Northern Ireland's Catholic schools] - Website last accessed 21 September 2007</ref> and [[Scotland]]<ref>[http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=10231 Head of Catholic Church in Scotland resigns from Amnesty International] - Website last accessed 21 September 2007</ref> and several other countries.<br />
As of 10th December 2007, International Human Rights Day, an Amnesty-member led pressure group called 'Roll Back Amnesty' was established to co-ordinate membership opposition to the abortion policy initiative. The members of Roll Back Amnesty are of all faiths and denominations, and fall either side of the pro-choice/pro-life divide. Their website can be found at www.rollbackamnesty.com [http://www.rollbackamnesty.com].<br />
As of 20th December 2007, the Roll Back Amnesty Group was advised by the International Secretariat, via the Group's website provider, that the Group could not use the Amnesty logo on its website, nor use the word 'amnesty' in its domain name, and that the website provider should take all necessary steps to resolve the situation. Amnesty International went further, asserting that they would take legal action if both issues were not addressed within 14 days.

==Cricket ball campaign against Sri Lanka at the Cricket World Cup 2007==
{{Notability-section}}
AI launched its "Play by the Rules" campaign, timed to coincide with the [[Cricket World Cup 2007]] held in the [[Caribbean]] islands, to focus on Sri Lanka's alleged human rights violations. The Sri Lankan government protested to the [[International Cricket Council]] (ICC) and AI, saying the timing might undermine the morale of the [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka cricket team]] which was playing in round Super 8 of the tournament. The Sri Lankan government also accused AI of indirectly supporting the [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]]. The Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka said they got an assurance from the ICC that all steps would be taken to prevent AI from carrying out any campaign within the grounds targeting Sri Lanka or its players <ref>[http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070409_03 Sri Lanka: Amnesty knocked out of World Cup]</ref>; however, the ICC later said it is determined to focus on the World Cup and nothing else.

AI stressed that the campaign was not aimed at the Sri Lanka cricket team. According to an AI spokesman, "The campaign called on both parties as well as other militant groups in Sri Lanka to take steps to prevent civilians caught between as violence intensifies." "The signed balls will be delivered to the government of Sri Lanka as well as the LTTE", AI said in a statement.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2007/04/070408_icc_amnesty_rules.shtml BBC Sinhala: ICC rejects Sri Lanka claims]</ref>

==1991 Gulf War Press Release==
Critics have also claimed that AI had a role propagating disinformation in a press release before the 1991 Gulf War, in which it charged that Iraqi soldiers were responsible for the deaths of "scores of civilians, including newborn babies, who died as a direct result of their forced removal from life-support machines."<ref>Francis Boyle and Dennis Bernstein, [http://www.corkpsc.org/db.php?aid=4573 Interview with Francis Boyle: Amnesty on Jenin], Covert Action Quarterly, Summer 2002. Kirsten Sellars, op. cit., als has a description of this saga.</ref> It later transpired that this claim was a propaganda hoax, and AI's press release was used in the opening salvo of this propaganda campaign – [[POTUS|U.S. President]] [[George H. W. Bush]] showed AI's press release on a prime time interview. Prof. Francis Boyle, an AI director at the time, gives a detailed insider account of the way the AI press release was handled<ref>Boyle, ibid.</ref>. The normal process of double-checking and consultation was short-circuited in a rush to issue the press release. In an April 1991 statement, AI said that although its team was shown alleged mass graves of babies, it was not established how they had died and the team found no reliable evidence that Iraqi forces had caused the deaths of babies by removing them or ordering their removal from incubators.<ref>[http://www.amnestyusa.org/countries/kuwait/document.do?id=D45F2AF72CFB7A7E802569A600600E2C Kuwait: Amnesty International calls on emir to intervene over continuing torture and killings]</ref> Supporters of AI point out that such mistakes by AI are rare; and that in any case such propaganda claims are common in war, and AI was merely an unfortunate conduit for them in this instance.{{Fact|date=February 2008}}

==Other critics==
*[[Francis Boyle]], a professor of international law at the University of Illinois, Champaign, and a former member of Amnesty International USA's board of directors, left AI because he was excluded from the ballot for the board of directors by pro-Israel members of the board because of his disagreement with AI's lack of criticism of Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon in which over 20,000 Lebanese civilians were "exterminated", and other pro-Israel omissions over the [[Arab-Israeli conflict]]. In fact, he threatened to sue AI over the move, but at the last minute the lawsuit was settled out of court.<ref>Francis Boyle and Dennis Bernstein, [http://cosmos.ucc.ie/cs1064/jabowen/IPSC/articles/article0004573.html Interview with Francis Boyle: Amnesty on Jenin], Covert Action Quarterly, Summer 2002.</ref>

*[[Diana Johnstone]], in her book ''Fool's Crusade'', alleged that AI played an uncritical role during the various Balkan wars, and discusses the case of a woman who was taken on a 25 US-city tour with a film about her ordeal as an alleged rape camp victim. According to Johnstone, the alleged rape camp victim, [[Jadranka Cigelj]], was actually a senior propagandist in the Croatian government, and a close confidante of President [[Franjo Tudjman]].<ref>Diana Johnstone, ''Fools' Crusade'': Yugoslavia, NATO and Western Delusions, Pluto Press, 2002.</ref>

*[[Michael Mandel (law professor)|Michael Mandel]], a professor of international law at York University, criticizes AI's stance pertaining the wars in the Balkans and Iraq.<ref>Michael Mandel, ''How America Gets Away with Murder: Illegal Wars, Collateral Damage and Crimes Against Humanity'', Pluto Press, 2004.</ref>
*[[Paul de Rooij]] has published three articles discussing various aspects of AI's coverage of the Israeli abuse of Palestinian human rights.<ref>Paul de Rooij, [http://www.counterpunch.org/rooij1031.html Amnesty International & Israel: Say it isn't so!], CounterPunch, 31 October 2002.<br>&nbsp;Paul de Rooij, [http://www.counterpunch.org/rooij10132004.html Double Standards and Curious Silences / Amnesty International: A False Beacon?], CounterPunch, 13 October 2004.<br>&nbsp;Paul de Rooij, [http://www.counterpunch.org/rooij11262003.html Amnesty International: The Case of a Rape Foretold], CounterPunch, 26 November 2003.</ref>

== Further reading ==
* Jonathan V. Last, [http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/002/477lfquo.asp?pg=1 Calling It Like They See It], [[FrontPageMag.com|FrontPageMagazine]], [[April 3]], [[2003]]. Alleges AI has anti-American/Israel bias.
* Nabeel Abraham, [http://www.corkpsc.org/db.php?aid=4414 Torture, Anyone?], ''Lies of Our Times'', May 1992, pp. 2 – 4. Claims AI and other groups are reticent in describing alleged torture on the part of Israel.
* Michael Mandel, ''How America Gets Away With Murder: Illegal Wars, Collateral Damage and Crimes Against Humanity'', Pluto Press 2004. Alleges AI is selective in defending "human rights", in particular, regarding the US-Iraq war 2003, and the War in the Balkans.
* Paul de Rooij, [http://www.counterpunch.org/rooij10132004.html AI: A false beacon?], CounterPunch, [[October 13]], [[2004]]. Contains a reading list. Alleges AI has anti-Palestinian bias.
* American Gulag at [[National Review Online]].[http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/rivkin_casey200505270804.asp ]

== References ==
{{citation style}}
{{reflist|2}}


[[Category:Amnesty International]]
[[Category:Fire Emblem characters]]
[[Category:Criticisms|Amnesty International]]
[[Category:Nintendo protagonists]]
[[Category:Super Smash Bros. fighters]]
[[Category:Fictional princes]]
[[Category:Fictional swordsmen]]


[[ja:マルス (ファイアーエムブレム)]]
[[fi:Amnesty Internationalin kritiikki]]
[[fr:Marth]]
[[sv:Marth]]

Revision as of 03:55, 12 October 2008

Marth
Fire Emblem series character
Marth's design from Monshō no Nazo.
Marth's design from Monshō no Nazo.
First gameFire Emblem: Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Ken (1990)
Created byShouzou Kaga

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]

Localization

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, his name is listed 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]

Appearances

Video games

Fire Emblem series

Marth debuted with the April 20, 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 21, 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.

Marth also appears as the main character in Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon, 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.[8]

Super Smash Bros. series

File:Hidden02.jpg
Marth as he appears in Super Smash Bros. Brawl

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 fights with the original fourteen characters.[9] He appears on the basis of the official Fire Emblem: Monshou no Nazo artwork and in-game appearance. His appearance was considered a factor in causing Fire Emblem to go stateside.

Marth is also a playable character in the major 2008 Wii title Super Smash Bros. Brawl.[10] 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. According to the official Super Smash Brothers Brawl Guide, Marth received the highest overall character rating with a 9/10. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Marth speaks Japanese rather than English, unlike Ike.

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.[11] 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, it is absent in his Smash Bros appearances.

Other media

File:Marth(anime).PNG
Marth as he appears in the anime

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]

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]

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]

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.

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]

Reception

Though his role in the Fire Emblem series is mostly unknown to Western gamers, Marth is a 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.

References

  1. ^ "'Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryu to Hikari no Ken'". Nintendo Database. Retrieved 2007-09-23. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help); Text "author" ignored (help); Text "date" ignored (help)
  2. ^ "'IGN: Fire Emblem: Monshou no Nazo'". IGN. Retrieved 2007-09-23. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help); Text "author" ignored (help); Text "date" ignored (help)
  3. ^ "'Fire Emblem Series List'". Nintendo Database. Retrieved 2007-09-23. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help); Text "date" ignored (help)
  4. ^ Kyle Orland (2008-01-29). "Super spoiler Bros. Brawl". Joystiq. Retrieved 2008-01-29.
  5. ^ a b "'Fire Emblem (GBA)'". Nintendo Database. Retrieved 2007-09-23. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help); Text "date" ignored (help)
  6. ^ "'SSBM Debug'". Super Smash Bros. Melee DebugGuide. Retrieved 2007-09-23. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help); Text "author" ignored (help); Text "date" ignored (help)
  7. ^ "'Fire Emblem (Dub)'". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2007-09-23. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help); Text "author" ignored (help)
  8. ^ "'Screenshot: Fire Emblem DS'". Nintendo Europe. Retrieved 2007-09-23. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help); Text "author" ignored (help)
  9. ^ "'Super Smash Bros. for GameCube Cheats'". Game Spot. Retrieved 2007-09-23. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help); Text "author" ignored (help); Text "date" ignored (help)
  10. ^ "Marth's character page on Smash Bros. DOJO!! (Official site)". Nintendo. 2008-02-07. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
  11. ^ Derek Miller (January 2004). "'A History of Fire Emblem: Sword of Seals'". A History of Fire Emblem. Retrieved 2007-09-23. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)
  12. ^ a b c d e "'Absolute anime/Fire Emblem'". Absolute Anime. Retrieved 2007-09-23. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help); Text "author" ignored (help) Cite error: The named reference "anime" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  13. ^ a b "'Absolute Anime/Fire Emblem/Marth'". Absolute Anime. Retrieved 2007-09-23. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help); Text "author" ignored (help); Text "date" ignored (help)
  14. ^ "'Guides: Super Smash Bros Melee'". IGN. Retrieved 2007-09-23. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help); Text "author" ignored (help); Text "date" ignored (help)
  15. ^ "'Localisation changes 1'". Serenes Forest. 2007-07-26. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
  16. ^ "'Fire Emblem for SSBM players'". Retrieved 2007-09-23. {{cite news}}: Text "author" ignored (help); Text "date" ignored (help); Text "work" ignored (help)
  17. ^ "'Fire Emblem: dark Dragon of Darkness and Sword of Light'". IGN. Retrieved 2007-09-23. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)

Template:Fire Emblem characters

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