References to Sega/Video games

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The following is a list of references to Sega in video games.

For references specific to Sonic the Hedgehog, see References to Sonic in video games.

Video games

Game System Release date Description Screenshots
Star Wars Family Computer 1987-12-04 Namco's 1987 Famicom game Star Wars is largely a clone of Alex Kidd in Miracle World, released one year prior. In particular, both games feature identical gameplay mechanics, enemy patterns, items, graphical effects, destructible block types, and even a motorcycle segment with identical controls. The games' project manager, Shinichiro Okamoto, had previously taken inspiration from the original film in his 1985 Famicom game Star Luster (which features a cameo from the Death Star.[1]

References StarWars1987 FC gameplay.png

Axel's Magic Hammer Amiga, Atari ST 1989 The 1989 Core Design action-platform game Axel's Magic Hammer is largely a clone of the earlier Alex Kidd in Miracle World, even taking direct inspiration from Alex's name in the title.[2]

References AxelsMagicHammer AMI gameplay.png

Summer Carnival '92 Recca (サマーカーニバル'92 烈火) Family Computer 1992-07-17 An unused introduction sequence with a familiar "S?GA" logo and jingle exists in the game. It comes onto the screen, explodes and is replaced with a "Nint?ndo" one.

To re-enable the sequence, use the Game Genie codes IEUSTGAA, AXUSYKGG, NKKIAGEI and KSKIPGUI. Then hold  START  before the Naxat Soft logo appears.

Recca Famicom Sega.png

Tom and Jerry: The Movie Master System 1992-10-01 The Master System version of the game features posters of both Sonic the Hedgehog adorning a few walls besides a "Restaurant Sega" in the game's third level, while the Game Gear version features posters of Sonic and Fantasy Zone's Opa-Opa.

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References TomandJerryTheMovie SMS US Sonic OpaOpa.png

Disney's Aladdin Mega Drive 1993-11 Sega Mega Drives can be seen among the various objects in the background of the Inside the Lamp stage.

Aladdin MD InsidetheLamp.png

Torarete Tamaruka!? Game Gear 1994-06-03 An in-game store features Sonic the Hedgehog and Dr. Eggman plushies, alongside boxed Japanese Mega Drive systems.

References TorareteTamaruka GG MegaDrive Sonic.jpeg

Uniracers/Unirally Super Famicom 1994-12 If the user attempts to call themselves "SEGA" (or "SONIC"), a "NOT COOL ENOUGH" message appears.

Uniracers SNES Sega.png

Tenchi Muyou! Ryououki Gokuraku CD-ROM for Sega Saturn Saturn 1995-09-29 One scene presents the character Washuu in Virtua Fighter-esque polygons, doing Pai's crane stance win pose against the background of Jacky's stage, and quoting Akira by saying "Juu Nen Hayaindayo."[3]

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Pocket Monsters: Red / Pocket Monsters: Green Game Boy 1996-02-27 Development material for the released game reveals the first generation of Pokémon games was originally intended to include a trainer by the name of Jack - a reference both in name and design to the popular Virtua Fighter character Jacky. Said trainer was likely intended to be the trainer counterpart to the virtual polygon Pokémon Porygon.[4][5]
References PokemonRGBY GB Jacky.png
Super Mario RPG Super Famicom 1996-03-09 In the first battle against the enemy Jackie, the Japanese enemy message is a direct quote from Virtua Fighter, a popular game in Japanese arcades at the time of Super Mario RPG's development. One of Akira's victory quotes, "10年, 早いんだよ!" (juunen hayainda yo!, literally "you're 10 years too early!"), isn't entirely rare in Japanese entertainment, but its appearance here is written exactly as Akira uses it.[6]

References SuperMarioRPG SNES VirtuaFighter.png

Burning Rangers Saturn 1998-02-26 The game features a number of references to Sonic Team's previous titles, including NiGHTS into Dreams. The characters Elliot and Claris appear as rescuable characters, and in-game locations are named after Twin Seeds, Spring Valley, Frozen Bell, and a "Pian Alley" (named after the Nightopians).

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Daytona USA 2: Battle on the Edge Sega Model 3 Step 2.1 1998-05 The game's second track, Joypolis 2020 Amusement Park, is a direct reference to the Joypolis chain of Sega amusement arcades. The Daytona USA 2 Official Guide curiously identifies the track as being GameWorks Studio-themed instead.

DaytonaUSA2 Advanced.png

Sonic Adventure Dreamcast 1998-12-23 The stage Casinopolis features a NiGHTS into Dreams pinball table, complete with an Ideya capture mechanic. Additionally, the game introduces Chaos (a concept taken from NiGHTS' A-Life system) which players can raise to resemble the characters NiGHTS and Reala.

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ChuChu Rocket! Dreamcast 1999-11-11 The Nightopians from NiGHTS into Dreams are an unlockable skin for the Chuchus, acquired by completing all 50 courses.

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Sonic Adventure 2 Dreamcast 2001-06-23 The stage City Escape features NiGHTS into Dreams posters, and Radical Highway contains a hotel named after the titular character. Radical Highway's cameos were later replaced for the stage's inclusion in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games. Like the previous game, the player can also raise Chaos with resemble the characters NiGHTS and Reala.

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Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos Windows 2002-07-03 Two in-game cheat codes, allyourbasearebelongtous and somebodysetupusthebomb, both reference the popular meme All Your Base Are Belong To Us from the infamous English translation of Zero Wing.

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Futurama PlayStation 2 2003-08-01 By unlocking a very obscure easter egg[7], players are able to display Zero Wing's famous All Your Base Are Belong To Us, complete with accompanying speech.

References Futurama PS2 ZeroWing.png

Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution GameCube 2003-11-27 A number of the game's Cards feature direct cameos from Sega characters and products, such as a Chu Chu and Kapu Kapu from Chu Chu Rocket, Opa-Opa from Fantasy Zone, and a Nightopian from NiGHTS into Dreams (known in-game as a Pian), alongside a Mega Drive, Saturn, and Dreamcast.

References PhantasyStarOnlineEpIII GC ChuChu.png



References PhantasyStarOnlineEpIII GC KapuKapu.png



References PhantasyStarOnlineEpIII GC OpaOpa.png



References PhantasyStarOnlineEpIII GC Pian.png



References PhantasyStarOnlineEpIII GC MegaDrive.png



References PhantasyStarOnlineEpIII GC Saturn.png



References PhantasyStarOnlineEpIII GC Dreamcast.png

Feel the Magic: XY/XX Nintendo DS 2004-12-02 A number of unlockable accessories are available, such as one based on NiGHTS from NiGHTS into Dreams, Amitie from Puyo Puyo, Sonic the Hedgehog and a Chao from Sonic the Hedgehog, and Ulala from Space Channel 5.

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3rd Super Robot Wars Alpha: To the End of the Galaxy PlayStation 2 2005-07-28 Ryuusei Date, member of the SRX Team and pilot of the Real Personal Trooper Type-1 mech, has adapted some of Virtua Fighter's Akira's lines in his battle phrases - in fact, the two share the same voice actor.[3]

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Project Gotham Racing 3 Xbox 360 2005-11-22 As the game attempts to recreate real-world locations, GameWorks Las Vegas (then owned by Sega) is fully modelled. GameWorks is also advertised throughout the game (including in London and Tokyo, despite GameWorks not trading in the UK or Japan).

References X360 ProjectGothamRacing3 GameWorksLasVegas.png

High Voltage Software games PlayStation 2 2006 The introductory cutscene which accompanies the developer's logo features a child playing a Dreamcast.[8]

References HighVoltageSoftware logo2006 Dreamcast.png

World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade Windows 2007-01-16 The quest Setting Up the Bomb references the popular meme All Your Base Are Belong To Us from the infamous English translation of Zero Wing.

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Super Robot Wars: Original Generations PlayStation 2 2007-07-28 Ryuusei Date, member of the SRX Team and pilot of the Real Personal Trooper Type-1 mech, has adapted some of Virtua Fighter's Akira's lines in his battle phrases - in fact, the two share the same voice actor.[3]

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Project Gotham Racing 4 Xbox 360 2007-10-02 Las Vegas returns from Project Gotham Racing 3, along with GameWorks Las Vegas.

References 360 ProjectGothamRacing4 GameWorksLasVegas.png

The Simpsons Game Xbox 360 2007-10-30 One challenge features Lisa Simpson platforming through a reference to the classic arcade game Frogger.

References TheSimpsonsGame 360 US Frogger.png

Sega Splash! Golf Windows PC 2008-04-23 The game features a number of golf caddies from popular Sega franchises, such as Sonic and Tails from Sonic the Hedgehog, NiGHTS from NiGHTS into Dreams, Ulala from Space Channel 5, Opa-Opa from Fantasy Zone, and a Puyo from Puyo Puyo.

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World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Windows 2008-11-13 The sewers of the city of Dalaran are home to a shark named Segacedi with the title Sewer Shark, a reference to both the Sega CD and the infamous FMV rail shooter Sewer Shark.

Additionally, two of the game's achievements are titled Set Up Us the Bomb (10 player) and Set Up Us the Bomb (25 player), references to the popular meme All Your Base Are Belong To Us from the infamous English translation of Zero Wing.

References WorldofWacraft PC Segacedi.png



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Sonic Unleashed Xbox 360 2008-11-20 During the game's introductory cutscene, a Dreamcast in briefly seen within Dr. Eggman's Egg Mobile.

References SonicUnleashed 360 Dreamcast.png

Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA PlayStation Portable 2009-07-02 One of Megurine Luka's available costumes is the "VF Suit" - Sarah's original outfit from Virtua Fighter.[3] References HatsuneMikuProjectDIVA PSP VFSuit.png
Bayonetta Xbox 360 2009-10-29 Bayonetta can perform the attack Tetsuzankou (performed by Virtua Fighter 2's Akira), which uses the same button combination and attack quote of “Juunen Hayaindayo!"[9]

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No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise PlayStation 3 2010-04-15 In the PlayStation 3 port of No More Heroes, the Nintendo 64 in Travis' apartment has been replaced with a Mega Drive CD 32X combo, with accompanying control pad.[10] References NoMoreHeroesParadise PS3 MegaDriveCD32X.png
Alpha Protocol Windows 2010-05-27 Located in both the Saudi Arabia and Rome safehouses is a fictional video game console based on the Saturn, but curiously boasting a mismatched black frontplate with four Dreamcast controller ports.[11][12]

References AlphaProtocol PC US Saturn.png

Game Type Xbox Live Arcade 2011 One of the stage backgrounds features a video game system similar to a Dreamcast. References GameType XBLA Dreamcast.jpg
Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure Nintendo 3DS 2012-01-19 One of the game's secret overworld sounds is titled "Merry-Go Round", which plays a brief section of the NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams song "Merry Memory Go Round". Additionally, minigames themed around Space Channel 5 and Samba de Amigo are able to be played.

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Skullgirls Windows PC 2012-04-10 A 2021 update introduced an easter egg in which Umbrella's living umbrella Hungern turns into the boss Gillwing (from NiGHTS into Dreams for a single frame while attacking. This cameo seemingly went unnoticed until revealed by the artist responsible on April 5, 2022.

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Saints Row IV Windows 2013-08-20 A virtual reality simulation created by the enemy, Saints of Rage, serves as a fairly-developed minigame later throughout the story, and takes obvious inspiration in name, gameplay, and style from the popular Streets of Rage series.[13]

References SaintsRowIV PC SaintsofRage.png

Gran Turismo 6 PlayStation 3 2013-12-06 On the modern Fuji Speedway tracks (F, GT), there are advertisements for Sonic the Hedgehog and Sega Sammy on the billboard bridge directly following the finish line. References GranTurismo6 PS3 Sonic SegaSammy.png
Sonic Robo Blast 2 Windows PC 2014-03-15 Version 2.1 of the popular Windows PC fangame Sonic Robo Blast 2 (released March 15, 2014) introduced a series of bonus stages directly based on NiGHTS into Dreams in both gameplay and appearance.[14]

References SonicRoboBlast2 PC NiGHTS.png

Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax Arcade 2014-03-18 Alongside various Sonic the Hedgehog references, the 2014 fighting game Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax features cameo appearances from NiGHTS, Opa-Opa, a Morolian, and a bevy of Sega-produced hardware.

References DengekiBunkoFightingClimax Segastage.jpg

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Nintendo 3DS 2014-09-13 Bayonetta can perform the attack Tetsuzankou (performed by Virtua Fighter 2's Akira), which uses the same attack quote of “Juunen Hayaindayo!"[9]

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Bayonetta 2 Wii U 2014-09-20 Bayonetta can perform the attack Tetsuzankou (performed by Virtua Fighter 2's Akira), which uses the same attack quote of “Juunen Hayaindayo!", and the After Burner Kick, a reference to the Sega series of the same name.

References WiiU Bayonetta2 Tetsuzanko.jpeg

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Wii U 2014-11-21 Bayonetta can perform the attack Tetsuzankou (performed by Virtua Fighter 2's Akira), which uses the same attack quote of “Juunen Hayaindayo!"[9]

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Rodea the Sky Soldier Wii 2015-04-02 The 2015 Wii title Rodea the Sky Soldier, developed by Yuji Naka of Prope, features a gameplay style loosely inspired by his earlier game NiGHTS into Dreams. References RodeatheSkySoldier Wii NiGHTSintoDreams.png
Duck Game Windows 2015-06-04 The game draws heavy influence from the Sega Mega Drive in its presentation, even displaying a parody of the TradeMark Security System screen at startup while using a font based on the screen for its menus. Its soundtrack heavily uses instruments and samples from a variety of Mega Drive games, including Comix Zone, ToeJam & Earl, Earthworm Jim and Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

DuckGame PC TMSS.png

The Lab Windows 2016-04-05 One of the game's "relics" is the arcade game Xortex 26XX, which boasts a name and cabinet design inspired by Zaxxon.[15] References TheLab PC Xortex26XX Zaxxon.png
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Wii U, Nintendo Switch 2017-03-03 The pedestals which update Link's Sheikah Slate are covered with runes reading "All Your Base Are Belong To Us" in the in-game language - a reference to the infamous English translation of Zero Wing.[16]

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The Last of Us Part II PlayStation 4 2020-06-19 One of the more memorable locations visited throughout the course of the game is the decaying GameWorks Seattle.[17] References PS4 LastofUsII GameWorksSeattle.jpeg
Balan Wonderworld Windows 2021-03-26 Yuji Naka's 2021 action platform game Balan Wonderworld takes thematic inspiration from Sonic Team's 1996 Sega Saturn title NiGHTS into Dreams, particularly in regards to its character designs and overall story.

References BalanWonderworld PC SonicAdventurepose.jpeg

Security Breach: Fury's Rage Windows 2021-04-28 The Five Nights at Freddy's spin-off game Security Breach: Fury's Rage drawn thematic inspiration from the Streets of Rage series, featuring similar story scenes, character appearances, and an emphasis on neon-lit streetscapes, among others.

References SecurityBreachFurysRage PC StreetsofRage.png

Deltarune: Chapter 2 Windows 2021-09-17 One of the game's areas features multiple Chu Chu Rocket-inspired puzzles.[18]

References DeltaruneChapter2 PC ChuChuRocket.png

Shin Megami Tensei V Nintendo Switch 2021-11-11 The game features a number of fictional in-universe video game consoles, such as the Segata III and CX-1000 II.

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Pizza Tower Windows 2023-01-26 The game's soundtrack features a number of references to the music of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, particularly by building its own soundtrack with similar motifs and utilizing the same samples used by Sega's composers. Among these allusions is the reuse of the "I don't understand what's going on here" sample (taken from the 1953 film Donovan's Brain) used by the Jet Set Radio song "Sneakman" in the Pizza Tower song "Yeehaw Deliveryboy", and a compiled medley of Jet Set samples featured in "The Noise's Jam-Packed Radical Anthem".

References PizzaTower PC YeehawDeliveryboy.jpg

The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog Windows 2023-03-31 A Super Monkey Ball arcade cabinet is found broken in the train's saloon, and serves as one of the investigation's minor plot points. Additionally, the character NiGHTS (from NiGHTS into Dreams) makes an appearance on the ceiling of the game room, seemingly advertising the game NiGHTS Pinball.

References MurderofSonic PC US SuperMonkeyBall.png



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Hyenas Windows Unreleased The cancelled game Hyenas would have featured a character cosplaying as Sonic the Hedgehog, boasting a sticker of the Sega logo on their helmet.

References Hyenas PC Soniccosplay.png

Hidden and deleted references

Game System Release date Description Screenshots
Captain America and the Avengers Game Boy 1994-02 Stored with the copyright text at 000XC0D1 is the following string[19]:
LICENSED BY SEGA ENTERPRISES, LTD.

Similar text can be found in the Game Gear port, but instead referencing Nintendo, seemingly used a catch-all for both versions.[20]

Pizza Tower Windows 2023-01-26 The unused stage Kung Fu takes thematic inspiration from Sega's popular Streets of Rage series, including gameplay staples common to beat-'em'up games - like requiring the defeat of oncoming waves of enemies before being able to progress.

References PizzaTower PC KungFu.gif

References

  1. https://upsilandre.over-blog.com/2020/06/quand-star-wars-mime-alex-kidd.html (Wayback Machine: 2023-10-19 08:26)
  2. https://forums.sonicretro.org/index.php?threads%2Fgeneral-questions-and-information-thread.26211%2Fpage-100#post-1006106 (Wayback Machine: 2023-10-19 09:12)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 https://virtuafighter.com/threads/virtua-fighter-references-in-pop-culture.15419/ (Wayback Machine: 2021-01-23 10:48)
  4. @tracker_td on Twitter
  5. The Cutting Room Floor: Development:Pokémon Red and Blue
  6. https://legendsoflocalization.com/the-pop-culture-obsessed-monsters-in-japanese-super-mario-rpg/#jackie-jinx-1st-fight (Wayback Machine: 2023-07-07 04:01)
  7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtxphpWcvaQ
  8. https://forums.sonicretro.org/index.php?threads/sega-references-in-pop-culture.22988/page-7#post-819467
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 https://www.destructoid.com/--534711.phtml
  10. https://forums.sonicretro.org/index.php?threads/sega-references-in-pop-culture.22988/page-6#post-810936
  11. https://forums.sonicretro.org/index.php?threads%2Fsega-references-in-pop-culture.22988%2Fpage-14#post-1043769 (Wayback Machine: 2023-06-14 04:26)
  12. https://forums.sonicretro.org/index.php?threads%2Fsega-references-in-pop-culture.22988%2Fpage-14#post-1044244 (Wayback Machine: 2023-06-17 01:14)
  13. https://segabits.com/blog/2014/03/20/sega-in-the-media-saints-row-ivs-homage-to-streets-of-rage/ (Wayback Machine: 2023-04-10 01:09)
  14. https://wiki.srb2.org/wiki/Version_2.1 (Wayback Machine: 2023-10-19 10:55)
  15. https://forums.sonicretro.org/index.php?threads%2Fsega-references-in-pop-culture.22988%2Fpage-7#post-857157 (Wayback Machine: 2023-06-17 01:15)
  16. https://www.digitalspy.com/videogames/legend-of-zelda/a798219/legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wilds-ancient-language-has-been-translated-already/ (Wayback Machine: 2020-09-28 18:35)
  17. https://www.escapistmagazine.com/the-last-of-us-part-ii-arcade-the-turning-is-a-monument-to-moving-on/
  18. @digi_valentine on Twitter (Wayback Machine: 2023-06-17 01:15)
  19. https://tcrf.net/Captain_America_and_The_Avengers_%28Game_Boy%29 (Wayback Machine: 2023-09-10 01:25)
  20. Captain America and the Avengers (Game Gear)/Hidden content