Dance Dance Revolution (PS1/Arcade)

Programmers: The song "Make a Jam" from the very first mix might as well be called "The Konami Song". During the chorus, you do the Konami code with your feet (the steps go U, U, D, D, L, R, L, R) and you can also hear the music for the walking Konami logo. I believe you can see a Konami logo in the background graphics as well. (Credit: Yashiro Nanakase)
Status: Unverified

Cross-Series (Gradius): The song "Gradiusic Cyber". Besides the name, there is also a voice sample from Gradius 2 in the beginning. (Credit: Yashiro Nanakase)
Status: Unverified

Cross-Series (Salamander): The song "Salamander Beat Crush Mix" in Konamix. I'm guessing the music in the beginning is from Salamander. This song is also originally from Beatmania. (Credit: Yashiro Nanakase)
Status: Unverified

Cross-Series (Silent Hill): There is a song called "Silent Hill" which is actually NOT related to the game in any way. (Credit: Yashiro Nanakase)
Status: Unverified

Music (Beethoven): The song "End of the Century" uses Beethoven's Ninth Symphony for the basis of the chorus. The artist credited for the song is "No. 9". (Credit: Yashiro Nanakase)
Status: Unverified

Music (Chopin): On the 7th Mix, there is a song called Kakumei, which means Revolutionary, and the song is a remix of Chopin's Revolutionary Etude. (Credit: PenguinMan26)
Status: Unverified

Music (Vivaldi): On the 8th Mix, there is a song called V, which is a remix of the Winter movement in Vivaldi's Four Seasons. (Credit: PenguinMan26)
Status: Unverified

Music (Gradius 2): On the 7th Mix, there is a song called Burning Heat!, which is a remix of a song in Gradius 2. (Credit: PenguinMan26)
Status: Unverified

Cross-Series (Castlevania): There's a small, slightly distorted sample from Vampire Killer, the first level music from Castlevania, about 20 or so seconds into the song 'PARANOiA'. It's not in any of the subsequent remixes, though. (Credit: Will B)
Status: Unverified

Music (Various): The song called Sobakasu is a remake of the theme song "Freckles" from the anime show, Ruroni Kenshin. Also, "Dream A Dream" is a spin-off of "In the Hall of the Mountain King". (Credit: WelcmeOblvion465 & Will B)
Status: Unverified.

Dark Savior (Saturn)

Movie (Predator): The boss called "Blade" (who appears in Parallels 4 and 5, and only as a frozen statue in the others) is definitely based on the Predator. It looks just like the Predator, the only real difference is that it's bright purple. (Screenshot 1) (Screenshot 2)
Status: TRUE: Resemblance too strong to be coincidence. Screenshots prove it.

Movie (Alien3): Dark Savior reminds me a LOT of Alien3. Both start out with people on a ship carrying a monster/alien and everyone on board except one person is killed. The monster in Dark Savior, Bilan, can burn through metal walls with acid, just like the Aliens' blood. Both take place on an all-male prison world, and the monster roams around the prison killing everyone. Finally, in both, there's an "evil company" wanting to use the monster for a weapon.
Status: Bizarre Coincidence?: Could be coincidence, though I doubt it.

Cross-Series (LandStalker): There is a bar called "Stalker" in JLO town. This is a reference to Climax's earlier Sega Genesis game, LandStalker. Inside the bar, "Stalker" is written on the back wall in the same color and font as it is on LandStalker's boxart and title screen.
Status: TRUE: (Screenshot) proves it.

Dark Silhouette: Silent Scope 2 (Arcade)

Cross-Series (Metal Gear): After you complete the first phase of the second level, the second guy (the guy with sunglasses) says "Now let's play Metal Gear for real!", a reference to the Metal Gear video game series. (Credit: Deven711)
Status: Unverified

DarkStalkers 3 (PS1)

Bizarre Coincidence? (Pokemon): One of the people behind the "Scroll Design" is called "POKKEMON". (Credit: Pokejedservo)
Status: Unverified

Movie (The Wolf Man): John Talbain, the werewolf character, must have been named after John Talbot, which is the name of the man who becomes a werewolf played by Lon Cheney Jr. in the classic movie, The Wolf Man.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. Too similar to be coincidence.

Cross-Series (Street Fighter 2): One of Hsien-Ko's victory texts says, "Use your weapons if you have to. This isn't a street fight." (Credit: Devin de Gruyl)
Status: Unverified

Daytona USA (DC/Saturn)

Cross-Series (Virtua Fighter): There's a statue of Jeffrey from Virtua Fighter. (Credit: Travis Fahs)
Status: Unverified

Cross-Series (Sonic the Hedgehog): There is a Sonic statue on the Beginner Course. (Credit: Travis Fahs)
Status: TRUE: (Screenshot) from The Killer List of Video Games (www.klov.com) proves it.

Cross-Series (Various): Certain high score initials in the Saturn version will trigger various songs from other Sega games, such as Virtua Fighter, Afterburner, the Alex Kidd series, Sonic the Hedgehog, Super Hang-On, Virtua Cop, and Michael Jackson's Moonwalker. (Credit: Travis Fahs)
Status: TRUE: Multiple sites confirm it.

Dead or Alive (PS1)

Cross-Series (Ninja Gaiden): Ryu Hayabusa from Ninja Gaiden is a playable character.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Dead or Alive 2/Dead or Alive 2: Hardcore (DC/PS2)

Cross-Series (Ninja Gaiden): Dead or Alive 2 contains Ryu Hayabusa from Ninja Gaiden as a playable character. (Credit: Yashiro Nanakase)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Famous Person (Hulk Hogan): The character Bass is VERY obviously modeled after Hulk Hogan. (Credit: Yashiro Nanakase)
Status: Unverified

Cross-Series (Deception/Monster Rancher): Some of Helena's secret costumes are taken from the Deception games. And two of the items in survival mode are "False Suezo" and "Suezo" from Monster Rancher. (Credit: Yashiro Nanakase)
Status: Unverified

Death Gate (PC)

Literature (Dragonlance): You can meet a character on Pryan called Zifnab. This character is a direct rip-off of Fizban from the Dragonlance books. (Credit: ShadOtterdan)
Status: Unverified

Defender (Atari 2600)

Programmers: There is a way to turn all the enemies on-screen into the letters "BP", which stand for "Bob Polaro", the game's programmer. (Credit: Kairobi King)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Defender 2 (NES)

Cross-Series (Punch-Out!!): The level introduction music for the NES version of this game is CLEARLY ripped off of the boxer introductions from NES Punch-Out!!.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. I'm absolutely not joking about this one. I don't know what HAL was thinking.

Devil May Cry (PS2)

Literature (The Inferno): The names of Dante and Virgil are taken from The Divine Comedy by Dante, otherwise known as Dante's Inferno. (Credit: ShadOtterdan)
Status: TRUE: Verified by Crawl and 1000.

Diddy Kong Racing (N64)

Cross-Series (Banjo-Kazooie/Conker): You can play as Banjo from the Banjo-Kazooie games and Conker from Conker's Bad Fur Day & Pocket Tales. Even though, technically, they appeared in this game before the others were released, I'd still consider it a cameo because those games were in the planning stages at the time. (Credit: Sedgewick)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Dino Crisis (PS1)

Cross-Series (Resident Evil): Some of the crates in the facility basement have the Umbrella logo on them. Umbrella is the company in Resident Evil responsible for the viruses. (Credit: Ace Whatever)
Status: Unverified

Disgaea: Hour of Darkness (PS2)

TV Shows (Star Trek): Captain Gordon looks a LOT like Captain Kirk. He acts just like a hybrid of Captain Kirk and Flash Gordon. (Credit: FeyerbrandX)
Status: TRUE: Similarity too strong to be coincidence. See Oddities 35 for picture comparisons.

TV Shows (Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers): The Prism Ranger spoofs the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. (Credit: FeyerbrandX)
Status: TRUE: Similarity too strong to be coincidence. See Oddities 35 for picture comparisons.

Anime (Revolutionary Girl Utena): During one of the next chapter preview sequences, Etna calls herself "Evolutionary Girl Etna". This is a reference to the anime series "Revolutionary Girl Utena". (Credit: MJB817)
Status: Unverified

Anime (Mazinger-Z): During another one of the next chapter preview sequences, there is a giant robot called "Pringer Z". This is a reference to the anime series "Mazinger Z". (Credit: MJB817)
Status: Unverified

Disney's Aladdin (Genesis)

Character Cameo: In the dungeon level, you can see Mickey Mouse ears on some skeletons. You can also see Sebastian from The Little Mermaid chained to the wall. (Credit: MJB817)
Status: Unverified

Miscellaneous: The dog with the key in his mouth from Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean ride can be found in the Sultan's Dungeon stage. (Credit: SlyDante)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: In the Desert stage, you'll come across a pair of Mickey Mouse ears hanging on a clothesline. Not only that, but if you position it so that it looks like Aladdin is wearing the ears, a 1-up will appear! (Credit: SlyDante)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: Goofy's face can also be found on a pillar in the Desert stage as well. If you stand behind it and wait a few seconds, you'll be lifted up to a secret area. (Credit: SlyDante)
Status: Unverified

Dizzy 1: The Ultimate Cartoon Adventure (C64)

Programmers: The debug code is "TROWBRIDGE" after the place in the UK where the game was made. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Dizzy 3: Fantasy World of Dizzy (PC/C64)

Real Place (Australia) The screen "A Strange New World" is supposed to represent Australia. The way you fall through the center of the Earth and end up in a bizarre upside-down world where everyone wears hats with corks dangling off of them. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Donkey Kong (GB)

Character Cameo: This game seems to bridge the gap between Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Junior and Super Mario Bros. DK Junior was never in the original DK, but in this extended version he is in subsequent levels as an enemy and general mischief maker. (Credit: Aaron Campbell)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Specific Reference: There are shrinking mushrooms, which appeared in Super Mario Bros. 2j (aka The Lost Levels). The ending features Mario eating a super mushroom and growing, with SMB-style pipes and "?" blocks in the background. In the finale, DK eats a super mushroom and becomes a super-huge boss. Also, the keys look like the ones in Super Mario Bros. 2. (Credit: Aaron Campbell & Crawl and 1000)
Status: TRUE: Screenshots at (www.vgmuseum.com) prove it.

Movie (King Kong): Donkey Kong's building climbing, woman-kidnapping antics, not to mention his name, are totally based on the classic King Kong of movie legend. (Credit: Aaron Campbell)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. There's an interesting story behind this. MCA Universal tried to sue Nintendo for copyright infringement. However, Nintendo won the lawsuit when they proved that the King Kong story was public domain and, in fact, MCA Universal had previously proven it to be public domain so that they could use it, too.

Donkey Kong 64 (N64)

Cross-Series (Jetpac): You can unlock Jetpac, an old game made by Rare that's a predecessor of sorts to Solar Jetman.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Cross-Series (Banjo-Kazooie): The gorillas can throw oranges for weapons, an idea begotten from Conga the gorilla in Banjo-Kazooie.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Specific Reference: You can also unlock the original Donkey Kong arcade game.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Console (Gamecube): On the wall of DK's treehouse, there is a photo of a Dolphin. One of the endings also had the characters auditioning for a Dolphin Donkey Kong game. (Credit: Fenrir X)
Status: Unverified

Specific Reference: The red steel girder and phonograph from Donkey Kong Country are in DK's treehouse. (Credit: Fenrir X)
Status: Unverified

Donkey Konga (GCN)

Music (Hamtaro): The Japanese Hamtaro theme is one of the songs. (Credit: Deven711)
Status: Unverified

Donkey Kong Country (SNES)

Specific Reference: In the opening sequence, Cranky Kong is standing on one of those red "floors" from the original Donkey Kong arcade game, and playing the original Donkey Kong theme on a phonograph. Cranky also makes lots of references to the arcade game when you talk to him.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES)

Cross-Series (Killer Instinct): There's a Killer Instinct arcade game in Cranky's Cabin. (Credit: Crawl and 1000)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Cross-Series (Super Mario World): Mario and Yoshi are on the pedestals in the ending sequence. (Credit: Crawl and 1000)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Cross-Series (The Legend of Zelda): If your percentage is too low when you complete the game, Link will be on the 3rd pedestal.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Cross-Series (Sonic the Hedgehog/Earthworm Jim): In the Cranky's Hero Ranking thing, there is a trash can in the lower right-hand corner with a sign saying "No Hopers" on it. Sonic's shoes and Earthworm Jim's gun can be seen by the side. (Credit: Codie Martin)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble (SNES)

Cross-Series (Super Mario 64): Wrinkly Kong plays an N64, and you can hear music from Super Mario 64 when she does. (Credit: Crawl and 1000)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Cross-Series (The Legend of Zelda): If you tell Bazaar you don't want to hear what he has to say about the castle, he says something about a "cheeky kid named Link". (Credit: Codie Martin )
Status: Unverified

Donkey Kong Junior (Multiplatform)

Music (Bach): Bach's Toccatta & Fugue plays at the very beginning as the Mario Bros. hoist up Donkey Kong's cage. (Credit: Kairobi King)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

DOOM 2 (PC/GBA)

Cross-Series (Wolfenstein 3D): Two hidden levels, entitled Wolfenstein and Grosse, are respectively the first and last levels from the first episode of Wolfenstein 3D. "Grosse" is named after the boss character Hans Grosse. Also, the only enemies found in these levels are the SS guards. (Credit: Andrew Rae)
Status: TRUE: (Screenshot) of SS guards confirms it.

Cross-Series (Return to Castle Wolfenstein): In the GBA version, the swastikas found on the walls of the hidden levels are replaced by the stylized "W" found on the cover for Return to Castle Wolfenstein. (Credit: Andrew Rae)
Status: Unverified

dot.hack//Infection (PS2)

Cross-Series (Tail Concerto/Silent Bomber): When reading news reports, there are ads for Tail Concerto and Silent Bomber, two games made by the same developers as this game. (Credit: MJB817)
Status: Unverified

Double Dragon (NES)

Programmers: The throwable boxes bear the initials "TJC". Technos Japan Corporation? (Credit: Andrew Rae)
Status: TRUE: (Screenshot) proves it.

Double Dragon Advance (GBA)

Movie (The Matrix): One type of enemy is very obviously modeled after Agent Smith from The Matrix movies. (Credit: MJB817)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. Numerous sources have confirmed this.

Dragon Quest 5 (SFC)

Character Cameo: Esturk of Dragon Warrior 4 is the optional super-boss. (Credit: Yoichi)
Status: Unverified

Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (SNES/Gen)

Programmers: The walls of one level have Virgin posters on them. (Credit: Andrew Rae)
Status: Unverified

Dragon Warrior (NES)

Comics (Nintendo Power): Two of the townspeople are named after Howard and Nester from the Nintendo Power comics.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Dragon Warrior 3 (NES)

Real Place (Planet Earth): The outerworld map is very much shaped like planet Earth. Many of the towns are named after real-life locations, based on where they are on the map. Edinbair is named after Edinborough, which makes sense since it's located on an island that looks like the UK. Greenlad is named after Greenland, and it's located on an island that looks like Greenland. Romaly is named after Rome, and it's located on a part of the overworld that looks like Italy. Portoga is named after Portugal, and it's located on what might be the overworld's "approximate location" of Portugal. Noaniels is named after Norway, and it's located on what might be the overworld's "approximate location" of Norway. (Credit: Yoichi)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Specific Reference: The Dark World is basically Alefgard of DW1/2 fame. (Credit: Yoichi)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. Note: This area has an absolutely beautiful harpsichord version of the Dragon Warrior Overworld Theme.

Dragon Warrior 7 (PS1)

Character Cameo: At Verdham, there are two townspeople who bear a striking resemblance to Nara and Mara from Dragon Warrior 4. (Credit: Yoichi)
Status: Unverified

Drakkhen (SNES)

Specific Reference: The ending of the game says, "Coming soon...Drakkhen II!" The weird thing is, there are two different Drakkhen II's. The first Drakkhen II was for the PC, and since SNES Drakkhen was ported from a PC game, that's most likely the one it's referring to. However, the Super NES never got that game, but it did get Dragon View. Dragon View's copyright information screen does indeed call this game "Drakkhen II", also, but it's not the same game as the PC Drakkhen II.
Status: TRUE: (Screenshot) proves it.

Dr. Franken (GB)

Music (Beethoven): Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata is the main theme, and plays through almost the entire game. The opening/ending theme may also be classical, but I don't know its title. (Credit: Ragnorak-X)
Status: Unverified

Driv3r (PS2/XBOX)

Cross-Series (Grand Theft Auto: Vice City): To unlock certain mini-games, you have to hunt down criminals called "Timmy Vermicelli". Not only does the name sound like that of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City main character Tommy Vercetti, but the criminals look just like Tommy as well. (Credit: SlyDante)
Status: Unverified

Dr. Muto (GCN/PS2/XBOX)

Programmers: Dr. Muto's planet is called Midway which is a reference to the company that made the game. There's also a giant Midway symbol on the floor in the lab. (Credit: Deven711)
Status: Unverified

Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (Genesis)

Character Cameo: Scratch and Grounder from the weekday Sonic cartoon series appear in the game's opening sequence, and you fight against them, too. (Credit: ShadOtterdan)
Status: TRUE: VGmuseum.com proves it.

Famous Person (Davey Crocket): Davey Sprocket is based on the historical figure Davey Crocket. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Literature (Humpty Dumpty): Humpty is based on the children's nursery rhyme character, Humpty Dumpty. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: Coconuts from the Sonic Saturday AM cartoon series turns up as an enemy. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Duck Hunt (NES)

Miscellaneous: This game is actually a sequel to one of Nintendo's old Kousenjuu (beam gun) toys. Images of ducks were reflected off a wall and you had to shoot them. I don't think the infamous dog was in it though. (Credit: Mark Kelly)
Status: Unverified

Duke Nukem 3D (PC)

Music (867-5309 (Jenny)): Somewhere on a bathroom wall in one level of the first episode, the phone number 867-5309 can be found, an obvious reference to Tommy Tutone's "867-5309 (Jenny)". You have to get up really close to the wall to see it. (Credit: Andrew Rae)
Status: Unverified

Cross-Series (DOOM): In a hidden room of a church in one level, the main character from DOOM can be found, dead and with his legs torn off. Duke will even comment "Hmm. That's one 'doomed' space marine!" (Credit: Andrew Rae)
Status: TRUE: (Screenshot) from MobyGames.com proves it.

Movie (Aliens): In certain levels, you can find women encased in pods. Examine them and they will weakly say "Killlll...meeee...", a possible reference to Aliens. (Credit: Andrew Rae)
Status: Unverified

Music (Born to Be Wild): A level in the third episode has a karaoke bar. Examine the microphone and Duke will (rather badly) spout "Borrrn to be wiiiiiild..." The large monitor there also displays those words below a scene from inside a car. (Credit: Andrew Rae)
Status: Unverified

Movie (They Live): There is a line at the beginning of the third episode that goes, "I'm here to kick ass and chew bubble gum, but I'm all out of gum". That is probably a reference to a similar line in the movie "They Live". (Credit: ShadOtterdan)
Status: Unverified

Famous Person (O.J. Simpson): In the beginning of level 1-1, there is a billboard saying "Innocent?," which is a reference to the O.J. Simpson trial. (The game was made in 1996.) Also, in the bar, you can see O.J. Simpson's white Ford Bronco being chased on TV. (Credit: Cheap Alert)
Status: Unverified

Cross-Series (Balls of Steel): In the arcade in level 1-1, there is a pinball machine called "Balls of Steel", which is both a reference to another game by Duke Nukem 3D creators 3D Realms, and the pinball game by Apogee that inspired it. (Credit: Cheap Alert)
Status: Unverified

Specific Reference: In the arcade in level 1-1, there is an arcade machine with the boxart from Duke Nukem 2 on the screen. When you use it, Duke says, "I don't have time to play with myself." (Credit: Cheap Alert)
Status: Unverified

Cross-Series (Rise of the Triad): Near the blue key slot, and outside of its kiosk, there is a sign that says "3D Realms Destruction Co." 3D Realms made the game. Hanging from the chapel roof of the church is a monk from the 3D Realms game series "Rise of the Triad." (Credit: Cheap Alert)
Status: Unverified

Movie (Star Wars): One of the secrets is Luke Skywalker wearing an Imperial Stormtrooper uniform. When you find it, Duke will say, "Now this is a Force to be reckoned with." (Credit: Cheap Alert)
Status: Unverified

Movie (Indiana Jones): In the cave area, you can see Indiana Jones's body impaled on a wall. When you see it, Duke says, "We meet again, Dr. Jones!" Also, when you grab the atomic health power-up on the pedestal, the cave starts to collapse, a Raiders of the Lost Ark reference. (Credit: Cheap Alert)
Status: TRUE: (Screenshot) from MobyGames.com proves it.

Movie (The Terminator): After unlocking the blue key door, go down the conveyer belt as far as possible. When you come to a rocket propelled grenade, you'll also see a blue, metallic corpse which happens to be the exoskeleton of the Terminator (T-800). When you see it, Duke will say, "Terminated!" (Credit: Cheap Alert)
Status: Unverified

Dungeons and Dragons: Tower of Doom (Arcade)

Cross-Series (Final Fight): Final Fight's Haggar is the Inn Keeper. (Credit: amitrius17)
Status: TRUE: (Screenshot) proves it.

Dynamite Headdy (Genesis)

Music (Tchaikovsky): The second boss music is the Nutcracker. Also, in the first boss background, you can see Nutcrackers changing backgrounds. (Credit: Deven711)
Status: Unverified

Movie (Various): Many level names are parodies of movie titles: