What is the Marker in Dead Space? The Mysterious Obelisk Behind the Horror

Publish date: 2024-05-03

Dead Space is a sci-fi horror game series that revolves around the discovery and effects of a mysterious obelisk called the Marker. The Marker is the source of a deadly infection that transforms humans and other life forms into grotesque creatures known as Necromorphs. The Marker also influences the minds of those who come near it, causing hallucinations, paranoia, and madness. But what is the Marker in Dead Space, and what is its origin and purpose? In this article, we will explore the lore and secrets of the Marker, and how it shapes the events and characters of the Dead Space saga.

The Origin and Types of the Marker

The Marker is an alien artifact that was created by an ancient race of beings called the Brethren Moons. The Brethren Moons are massive Necromorphs that have consumed entire planets and civilizations. They use the Markers to spread their infection across the galaxy, and to create more of their kind through a process called Convergence

There are two types of Markers: Black Markers and Red Markers. Black Markers are the original ones that were sent by the Brethren Moons to various worlds. They are made of unknown materials and have a black color. Red Markers are artificial copies of the Black Markers, created by intelligent species that were influenced by the Marker signal. They are made of human-made materials and have a red color

Both types of Markers have the same shape and function. They emit a powerful electromagnetic signal that affects the nearby organic matter and the minds of the living beings. The signal causes the dead tissue to reanimate and mutate into Necromorphs, and the living tissue to experience dementia and hallucinations. The signal also contains information and instructions that compel the affected beings to create more Markers and to protect them from harm

The Role of the Marker in Dead Space

The Marker plays a central role in the plot and gameplay of Dead Space. The first game begins with the discovery of a Red Marker on a remote planet called Aegis VII. The Marker was created by the Earth Government as part of a secret project called the Marker Program, which aimed to study and replicate the Black Marker that was found on Earth centuries ago. The Marker Program hoped to use the Marker’s energy and technology for the benefit of humanity, but instead unleashed a Necromorph outbreak and a wave of madness on the planet

The protagonist of the game, Isaac Clarke, is an engineer who is sent to repair the communications system of the USG Ishimura, a spaceship that was orbiting Aegis VII and that brought the Marker on board. Isaac soon finds out that the Ishimura is infested with Necromorphs and that most of the crew are either dead or insane. Isaac also learns that he has a personal connection to the Marker, as his girlfriend Nicole was part of the team that excavated it on Aegis VII. Isaac begins to see visions of Nicole, who guides him to the Marker and tells him to return it to the planet

However, Isaac eventually realizes that Nicole is actually dead, and that the visions are caused by the Marker. The Marker was manipulating Isaac and others to bring it back to Aegis VII, where it could trigger a Convergence event and create a new Brethren Moon. Isaac manages to destroy the Marker and escape from the planet, but not without suffering severe psychological trauma

The second game, Dead Space 2, takes place three years later, on a space station called the Sprawl. Isaac is held captive by the Earth Government, who want to use his knowledge of the Marker to create more of them. However, a cult called Unitology, who worship the Marker and the Necromorphs, sabotages the project and unleashes another Necromorph outbreak on the Sprawl. Isaac escapes from his cell and tries to find a way to stop the Marker and the Necromorphs. He also discovers that he has a Marker inside his mind, which was implanted by the Earth Government during his captivity. The Marker inside Isaac’s mind is the source of his visions and his dementia, and also the blueprint for the creation of more Markers

Isaac meets a woman named Ellie, who helps him to survive and to fight against the Earth Government and the Unitologists. Isaac also meets a man named Nolan Stross, who claims to know how to destroy the Marker. Stross was also part of the Marker Program, and has a Marker inside his mind as well. However, Stross is unstable and violent, and tries to kill Isaac several times. Isaac eventually kills Stross and learns that the only way to destroy the Marker is to confront it and to reject its influence. Isaac reaches the Marker, which is located in the heart of the Sprawl, and faces his inner demons. He sees Nicole again, who tries to convince him to join her and the Marker. Isaac refuses, and manages to destroy the Marker and the one inside his mind. He then escapes from the Sprawl with Ellie

The third game, Dead Space 3, takes place two years later, on a frozen planet called Tau Volantis. Isaac is contacted by a man named Robert Norton, who tells him that Ellie has gone missing on a mission to find the source of the Markers. Isaac agrees to help Norton and his team, who are part of a resistance group called the Sovereign Colonies Armed Forces (SCAF). Isaac learns that Tau Volantis is the home of a Black Marker, and that the planet was once inhabited by an alien race that was infected by the Marker and the Necromorphs. The aliens tried to stop the Convergence event by freezing the planet and destroying their civilization

Isaac also learns that the Earth Government and the Unitologists are after the Marker on Tau Volantis, and that they have a traitor among Norton’s team. Isaac faces many dangers and enemies on the planet, and eventually reunites with Ellie, who has discovered the secret of the Marker and the Necromorphs. She tells him that the Marker and the Necromorphs are part of a cycle of extinction, and that the only way to end it is to destroy the Brethren Moons, the source of the Marker signal. Isaac and Ellie decide to activate the alien machine that froze the planet, and to use it to destroy the Brethren Moon that is orbiting Tau Volantis

However, they are confronted by Jacob Danik, the leader of the Unitologists, who wants to complete the Convergence event and to join the Marker and the Necromorphs. Danik sabotages the machine and unleashes the Necromorphs on the planet. Isaac and Ellie manage to fix the machine and to activate it, but not before the Brethren Moon awakens and attacks them. Isaac sacrifices himself to save Ellie, and uses the machine to freeze the Brethren Moon and to send a shockwave across the galaxy, which disables all the Markers and the Necromorphs. Ellie escapes from the planet, and mourns Isaac’s death. However, Isaac is revealed to be alive, and contacts Ellie through the radio, asking for help

Conclusion

The Marker in Dead Space is a mysterious and sinister object that is responsible for the horror and the tragedy that befall the characters and the worlds of the game series. The Marker is an alien device that creates and controls the Necromorphs, and that manipulates the minds of the living beings. The Marker is part of a cosmic scheme that aims to wipe out all life in the galaxy, and to create more Brethren Moons, the ultimate form of the Necromorphs. The Marker is the enemy and the challenge that Isaac Clarke and his allies have to face and to overcome, in order to survive and to save humanity. We hope that this article has helped you understand what is the Marker in Dead Space, and how it affects the story and the gameplay of the game series.

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