Character Analysis-Odessa Silverberg from Suikoden 1

It has been said by certain online critics whose names shall not be mentioned, that in the video game industry there is a shortage of female characters that are strong, independent, and who embody the ideals of feminism. They say that most female characters in gaming fall into a select few categories, including the much reviled Damsel in Distress. I respectfully, but strongly, disagree. I believe that for every female character that's little more than a plot device, there is another female character that is well rounded, with flaws and strengths. Today, I will look at one of these strong characters, female. Her name is Odessa Silverberg, and she hails from the game Suikoden 1.

This is not Princess Peach. 

Born into the nobility of the Scarlet Moon Empire, Odessa spent the early part of her life completely ignorant to the injustices her country were committing against the common populace. One day, she had met a young rural aristocrat named Achilles, who was a member of the Anti Imperial movement. They both fell in love and became engaged to be married. Before the wedding, the Captain of the Imperial Guard, a ruffian named Kraze Miles, arrested Achilles on accounts of treason. Sentenced to death, Achilles asked to marry Odessa, as a final request. On the day of their wedding, Odessa sneaked into Achilles' jail cell, wearing her wedding dress, stole a sword, busted Achilles out of jail and dragged him away while they were both shot by several archers. Though they had managed to escape, Achilles was far too injured. In his final moments, Achilles spoke his last words to his lady love: "Defeat the Empire!". He died in her arms shortly afterward.

Armed with a new resolve, Odessa wasted no time. She sought like minded individuals, people who also hated the Empire. She found quite a few: soldiers that were dissatisfied with their roles, angry citizens, the works. Some of the most important recruits she had found included Humphrey Mintz, former Imperial captain, who abandoned the Army after the Kalekka Incident. The Kalekka incident was where several Imperial soldiers massacred the people of the town of Kalekka and then blamed it on the invading country of Jowston, to spread a pro war sentiment among the war weary people. Another important recruit was Mose, chief of the Secret Factory, that made new, innovative weapons for Odessa's growing Army.

Pictured: Mose. Brilliant Blacksmith, devoted husband and father, and all around nice guy. His semblance to Hitler is most unfortunate.

From the get go, Odessa planned everything. Whereas most revolutionaries tend to be reactionary, Odessa was a visionary. She knew the day would come where her Liberation Army would be large enough to take on the Empire directly in battle. She knew who she'd face, so she purchased from the neutral Dwarfs of the Great Forest the plans for a brilliant weapon: a type of flamethrower called a Fire Spear. She knew the Liberation Army would need it. She was right.

With a few skirmishes here and there, the name of Odessa spread like a flame among the dissatisfied and angry populace of Scarlet Moon. She went from the being known as Leon Silverberg's niece to a few people, to the biggest dissident in the Scarlet Moon Empire. Her name became known to all, even in the highly remote village of Sarady and the bandits of Mt Tigerwolf.

One day, she met someone. He was the son of Teo McDohl, the Undefeated General of Scarlet Moon. His name was Tir, and it was he who'd eventually inherit Odessa's position. Tir, betrayed by the Empire, was taken in by Odessa, and given the choice by her to join her army. With time, Odessa helped open Tir's eyes to the true nature of the Empire: corrupt, brutal, inhuman.

One day, as Tir and Odessa returned to the Liberation Army's hideout after a mission, only to find that the Empire was attacking. Tir and Odessa enter the hideout, in an attempt to drive off the attackers. Odessa, however, saw something she did not like: a child was in danger. A few imperial soldiers surrounded the child, perhaps with the intention to kill him. With her bow and arrow in hand, she leaped into action, saving the child. However, she was outnumbered, and the soldiers proved to be more than she could handle. She was fatally injured, but the child was saved. Sadly, she was beyond saving. With her last breath, she turned leadership into Tir's hands, her final request being that he not allow the hope offered by the Liberation Army to die. Per her request, her body was thrown into the sewers, never to be discovered. As far as ANYONE was concerned, Odessa was still alive, leading from the shadows.

Odessa formed and led an army of rebels to overthrow a corrupt Empire. She was an icon of the people, a real living legend. She was a woman who walked the walk and talked the talk. She touched the lives of hundreds, and inspired thousands. Her actions helped topple an Empire rotten to the core and replace it with a new, representative Republic. And she was only 25 when she died.

Odessa Silverberg: She's awesome.