I think this is the first time I've ever complained about a unit coming to FEH that ISN'T Awakening/Fates pandering... but...
Marth should have been the last legendary hero.
I LOVE Ephraim as a character, he is my 3rd favorite Fire Emblem character, and I like him even better than Marth, but Marth deserved the spot SO much more. I'm pretty sure Intelligent Systems ran the Choose Your Legends poll after they had already decided Ephraim would be the last legendary hero, which was a very poor choice. They should have already known Ephraim would win a top spot.
Now, because of this, Ephraim is going to have 3 variations of himself, while Marth, who is the series' VERY FIRST lord, the WHOLE REASON people outside Japan got interested in Fire Emblem because of his inclusion in Super Smash Bros, gets only one version of himself. Pathetic. Also, like Eliwood, his artwork in FEH is debatably even accurate to his own canon appearance, so it BEGS the need for a new Marth.
On top of that, Marth's nickname is "The LEGENDARY HERO-King"! It's in the name people, this man is a living legend! I know Marth doesn't have the most riveting personality outside of being the quintessential main character, but Marth has had too huge of an impact on Fire Emblem for him to get this little treatment!! Top it all off, now HALF of the Legendary Hero cast are voiced by Greg Chun! (Bring back Jason Adkins for Ike PLEASE! He was in Fates, what happened to him???)
So thats what, like, FIVE reasons why it should have been Marth instead of Ephraim? I suppose Marth being a fire elemental wouldn't have made much sense, and Seigmund IS the "Flame Lance", but that one reason isn't enough when stacked up against Marth's overwhelming importance to the series. I'll still summon for Ephraim because I love him, but I still plan on being very vocal about this outrage.
I don't think you have much to worry about. Sure Ike and Ephraim are first up to bat, but I think all the main lords of each FE game will get a legendary form. No one said there would only ever be 4 legendary heroes after all.
And technically wasn't Leif first? He needs some love. :(
No, Marth was the first main character in the Fire Emblem series. He first appeared in Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light for the Nintendo Famicom in Japan only.
However, I do agree that Leif needs some love! He's the only main character not in the game yet, and I love his character in Genealogy of the Holy War!
I can only hope there might be a "Light" element for legendary heroes in the future! I think Marth would surely get a spot then, because I don't see him fitting into any of the other elements... :/
How could they have known Ephraim would take CYL 2 before even holding it?
I actually played the s*** out of Roy in Melee, I thought Marth was a girl lol.
His art is fine. At least it's not horrible like Arthur.
You're right, Marth doesn't have a personality.
I actually agree with you about the Greg Chun thing. I liked Ike's voice from Smash/PoR/RD better.
And like you said... Flame Lance *does* make much more sense than Falchion suddenly being on fire.
And to go back to your middle point... Marth is honestly one of the most forgettable FE characters. Yeah, he was the lord in the first couple games, but those didn't make it out of Japan until the remakes, and like you said, the only reason most people outside of Japan even know who Marth is is because he was in Smash. Beyond that... what's his personality? His motivations never go beyond 'Dragon guy bad, Marth good, stab stab.'
Honestly... he's one of the most boring, one-dimensional characters in gaming (even if it is only because he was designed for such early, simple, NES-era games), and while his appearance in Smash did have a large hand in bringing FE to the west... I can't really see a way to give him more personality without violating whatever canon he has.
Even IS seems to know he's too outdated/boring to plug him in FEH.
Sorry, hombre.
You're right, there was no way they could have *truly* known Ephraim would win, but he was ranked pretty high the first round, so it was likely.
You're also right in that his artwork isn't bad. The shoulder armor just doesn't look like his other appearances, and makes me picky.
Honestly, I found his personality in New Mystery of the Emblem to be where Marth's true self truly shines. By that point in Marth's life, he is regarded as a hero, and a powerful but just ruler. Marth is very humble about this, and has lots of conversations with his friends about how he still has doubts about being king. These conversations, especially with the avatar, can be very heartwarming.
I'm one of the few who hates Greg chuns voice so it sucks for me :/ anywaay I don't really care for Marth at all, he's just popular because of smash it would make more sense though especially since he's got no variants but Eh Ephraims better than what I expected xD surprised there's no Camilla or something
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