There are few action heroes in gaming as iconic as Marcus Fenix, the badass chainsaw-wielding COG soldier has become a symbol of modern shooters. Not unlike Master Chief, he's reached a level of status only eclipsed by the likes of Mario, Sonic, and a handful of other gaming staples.
Fenix has become a fan favorite for his ass-kicking demeanor, bulky build, and battle smarts that's made him a force to be reckoned with against the Locust. Yet, beyond the over-the-top alpha image, he also contains some depth and demons that make him relatable. He bares some baggage, with his rough upbringing and an even rougher life that unfolds during the 4 main Gears of War games. The grizzled war vet comes with a richer past and character traits than one might think.
10 Was Sentenced To 40 Years In Prison
It's established right off the bat in Gears of War that Marcus has a troubled past, as we find him confined to a jail cell. As it happened, Marcus had abandoned his COG brethren to help save his father and was slapped with a steep sentence of 40 years in a maximum-security prison.
However, the rising threat of the destructive Locust proves both a blessing and a curse for the ex-soldier. Early on in Gears, his good friend Dom yanks him out of prison by order of the COG in order to help turn the tide and overcome the Locust hordes. Thus, his massive 40-year sentence is cut short at just 4. Convict or not, the circumstances require the services of one of the best soldiers around. Given the events of the Gears series, the COG made the right choice!.
9 Born Of Very Influential Parents
Marcus may appear to be a grizzled brute fighter who's led a rough life, yet his parentage shows otherwise. As it happens, Marcus is the product of a pretty wealthy family thanks to the intelligence and influence of both his parents. The luxurious Fenix Estate illustrates just how wealthy his family once was.
His father, Adam, is a former professor and a member of the Defense Research Agency. He fought with and participated in weapon designs for various wars. He even helped design one of the most powerful weapons on Sera, the Hammer of Dawn. His mother was a prominent Biologist and an expert in morphology. She was the first to uncover the details and secrets behind Imulsion and the Lambency, both of which were mutagens that helped form the Locust and Lambent.
8 Went Through Various Design Changes
Many gaming protagonists go through a number of changes in the design phase. After all, the designers want to make sure that their hero the fans spend hours looking at has an appealing look that fits the game.
Marcus Fenix, as it turns out, was no stranger to receiving face-lifts and design tweaks. In fact, it took over a year to bring the soldier from concept to completion. Before he sported his beefy, roided-up figure, he was actually set to have a thinner, more average build. He was also given scars to make him look more rugged and worn, which would better convey his veteran status as a COG soldier. It also makes sense given the violent, destructive nature of Sera.
7 A Young Marcus In Gears Of War: Judgment
Sure, you get to play as an old, grey-bearded version of Marcus in Gears 4. Though, if you wanted to go the opposite way and play as the COG soldier during his younger years, you can do so in Gears of War: Judgment. This version sees Marcus at a time during the key event of Emergence Day; a period before his jail time had aged him and given him his trademark grizzled look.
To land this skin, though, you had to get a pre-order code from Gamestop or a number of other retailers. Despite the pretty average gameplay that comprises Judgment, going into battle as a prime version of Marcus makes for a neat incentive. Here's hoping we get this as an unlockable skin in the upcoming Gears 5 at some point.
6 Man Of A Thousand Voices
A Distinct quality and trademark of Marcus has to be his deep, gritty voice. The voice acting is stellar throughout and stands out as a memorable quality that adds richness to his personality.
It should be no surprise, then, that Marcus' versatile voice actor, John DiMaggio, is a veteran of voice acting in video games, just like Marcus is a veteran soldier and Locust slayer. His performances have been featured in countless games and animations alike. These include Gonza from Princess Mononoke, Kaiser from The Animatrix, Migelo/Gilgamesh from Final Fantasy XII, and even a Brute Chieftan in Halo 3.
5 Has Lost Many Loved Ones
Marcus clearly isn't the only hero of Gears that has experienced loss; it's a common theme in the world of Sera as humans must fight for their very survival against the Locust and Lambent. Just ask Dom during the depressing moments that sees him "reunite" with his wife near the end of Gears of War 2.
Yet, Marcus, in particular, has a good reason for his cynical and often grumpy personality. He's had the misfortune of losing two of his best friends, Carlos and Dominic Santiago, both of his parents, and eventually his wife Anya, as well. It's no wonder he possesses such a bloodlust when it comes to fighting the Locust. It's these factors that further drive him to overcome and take out these threats.
4 Featured In Lost Planet 2
It seems Gears of War isn't the only popular game series Marcus inhabits. Another action shooter, Lost Planet 2 actually features both Marcus and his good friend Dom as playable characters in the multiplayer mode of the game. These characters will be unlocked following completion of the campaign in the Xbox 360 version. It's an odd crossover, to be sure, but is merely the result of Capcom and Epic being mutual fans of each other's work.
It's certainly a weird clashing of worlds, as the game's multiplayer also features Dead Rising's Frank West and Resident Evil's Wesker. You can even play as The Monster Hunter in the PS3 version.
3 Comes In Many Varieties In Gears Of War 4
Yes, you get to play as an older, even more grizzled version of the iconic action hero in Gears 4. Yet the multiplayer modes further adds to the diversity of Marcus varients by providing more skins than ever to unlock. They can be obtained through in-game unlockables like crafting scrap, as well as through various DLC packs.
These include a biker, old man, Day of the Dead, V-Day, Armored, and vintage versions of Marcus. This brings the total available Marcus skins in Gears 4 to seven. So, if JD and Kait aren't really your bag, you can always bust out a classic Gears session with an army of Marcus soldiers from different eras sporting different styles.
2 Killed The Locust Queen With A Little Help From Dom
One thing you never want to do is cross the vengeful, battle-hardened, Marcus Fenix. After his best friend Dom died at her hands and finding that the Locust Queen Myrrah had been holding Marcus' father captive, Marcus is the one to finally end her reign by destroying her—fittingly using Dom's commando knife. This epic scene marks an emphatic ending to the first Gears trilogy, and cements his legacy as a hero of Sera.
It will take many years, but the human colonies begin to rebuild following this monumental victory. It's a nice way for Fenix to complete his arch as he mounts his revenge and redeems himself after ditching the COG before the events of Gears.
1 His Name's An Inspirational Homage To The Game's Creator
Developers often put a lot of thought into visual elements of their prized game characters. Yet sometimes, details are even injected into the names of these protagonists. This is the case with Marcus Fenix.
While it comes off as a rather stock macho soldier name, the last name "Fenix" actually holds meaning, as it has significance to the series' creator, Cliff Bleszinski. It's meant to represent Cliffy B's "rising from the ashes" of the hardships following a failed first marriage. This is fitting, as the "Phoenix" is a mythological bird representation of resurrection through fire.