10 Hidden Movie References in Nintendo Games
Couch Potato
“Pokemon” series (1996-) Some of the most famous Easter eggs in the “Pokemon” games are the different Nintendo consoles that appear in your bedroom in each new installment. However, there are more references in the other electronic appliances across the series, specifically with TV sets. Interact with one, and the game will describe the movie playing. Some movies that have been featured include “Big”, “Stand By Me”, and “The Wizard of Oz”. Yeah, not exactly movies we’d expect Pokemon to reference, but there are stranger references in the franchise.
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“Paper Mario” (2001) & “Luigi’s Mansion” (2001) The “Star Wars” franchise has been referenced several times across not just video games in general, but specifically Nintendo games. While many will point to the Beam Sword in “Smash Bros.”, we’d like to turn our attention to a couple other games. In the first “Paper Mario” game, Bowser starts your second fight against him saying “Now witness the power of this fully operational Star Rod!”, which is a line borrowed from Emperor Palpatine in “Return of the Jedi”. As for our spectral tyrant in “Luigi’s Mansion”, King Boo utters a line remarkably similar to what Jabba the Hutt utters in the same movie - "I will not give up my favorite decoration, I like Mario just where he is".
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“Paper Mario: Color Splash” (2016) (Yes, the Mario games are going to have a frequent presence on this list, so strap in.) While the “Paper Mario” games do feature a plethora of movie references in general, this one certainly caught us off guard. To see it for yourself (if your Wii U is still working), head to the Indigo Underground and find the Shunned Guy at the end of the tunnel. [show scene] This creepy encounter is very clearly a nod to the 1973 horror film, “The Exorcist”, albeit much more family-friendly than its source material. Paper Mario: Color Splash - Creepy Slurp Guy Encounter (Shunned Guy) - YouTube
Kirby the Weeb?
“Kirby Super Star” (1996) The “Kirby” games have borrowed a few ideas from various films for boss fights and levels, but they have been few and far between. One that may have flown under your radar is the ending to “Revenge of Meta Knight” in “Kirby Super Star”. As the credits play, Kirby will ride Wheelie across the desert in a similar fashion to the ending sequence shown in “Lupin III, Part 1”. One could easily dismiss this as just a cool idea for a generic shot, but the shot tells us a different story.
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“Animal Crossing” (2001) When it comes to Easter eggs, the “Animal Crossing” series tends to stick to referencing other Nintendo games through special furniture. However, they do pay respect to other forms of entertainment with quotes and phrases. In the original “Animal Crossing”, Kapp’n will pause his songs with a brief interlude. During one of these interludes, he will ask the player if they have ever been to a Hyrulean prison. Some might think it’s a simple “Zelda” reference, but if you’ve seen the movie “Airplane!”, you’ll know it’s actually a reference to a question Captain Clarence asks young Joey.
Bwah is the Word
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“Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle” (2017) To find this one, you will have to reach the second world in the game - the Sherbet Desert. In the area where you free Rabbid Mario from his ball form, you can find a hidden ice cave where a puzzle awaits you. Dangling from the ceiling is a sparkling disco ball. Examine it, and Beep-O will say, “Bwah is the word. It’s got groove, it’s got meaning.” This is a nod to the hit musical, “Grease”, where the titular song says nearly the exact phrase. There are loads of other Easter eggs to find in “Mario + Rabbids” as well, paying tribute to “Peanuts”, “The Incredibles”, and many more films.
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“Star Fox 64” (1997) One of the best levels in “Star Fox 64” is Katina, the planet that houses a Cornerian Defense Force base, which is invaded by a massive saucer sent by the Venomian Army. If this saucer looks vaguely familiar, it should, as it looks very, very similar to the saucer featured in the legendary sci-fi picture “Independence Day”. Adding to this homage are the various camera shots of the saucer positioning itself above the base and when it obliterates the base. The devs must have been huge fans of the film to base an entire level off of it.
Words From Another Galaxy
“Pokemon Diamond & Pearl” (2006) As we mentioned earlier, “Pokemon” holds a wealth of nods and references to film, TV, and gaming. Thing is, we weren’t expecting a straight up callback to sci-fi comedy flick “Galaxy Quest”. Fantina, one of the Gym Leaders of “Diamond & Pearl”, is obviously a fan. When her last Pokemon is at critical health, she’ll briefly interrupt the fight and say, “Never give up, never surrender!” This is the same line said by Tim Allen’s character and echoed by several others throughout the movie.
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“Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island” (1995) To spot this, you will need to play the German version of “Yoshi’s Island” as no other version contains this super specific homage. Those who have played the game will recall the Naval Piranha, a massive, thorny Piranha Plant that is arguably the most famous boss of the “Yoshi” games. However, it boasts a different name in the German version, dubbed “Audrey”. Coincidentally, “Audrey” is the same name as the singing plant monster featured in the horror-comedy “Little Shop of Horrors”. Unfortunately, no singing takes place in this boss fight.
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“Luigi’s Mansion 3” (2019) Horror fans and movie buffs will find plenty of clever nods made in “Luigi’s Mansion 3”, but these few were our absolute favorites. The first one you can find is in one of the rooms on the second floor, where a wardrobe conceals a hidden room containing four outfits that oddly resemble the clothes of Edmund, Susan, Lucy, and Peter from “The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe”. The second of our favorites is in the movie studio; one puzzle will require you to drop a bucket down a well. If done right, a drenched, zombified woman will emerge from the well, referencing Sadako from “The Ring”. Lastly, head to the Boilerworks floor (B2) to find a pipe you can walk into. At the end, a lone, blue balloon sits. Has the embodiment of evil checked into the hotel before? If you’ve seen “IT”, you’ll know where everyone floats down to.
