Samurai Shodown 4 (Multiplatform)

Character Cameo: Gen-An and Earthquake from Samurai Shodown 2 appear in Genjuro's ending. (Credit: Ultimate Chicken)
Status: TRUE: screenshots at (www.vgmuseum.com) prove it.

Character Cameo: Caffeine Nicotine from Samurai Shodown 2 appears in Gaira Caffeine's ending, which is natural, since Nicotine is Gaira's sensei. (Credit: Ultimate Chicken)
Status: TRUE: screenshots at (www.vgmuseum.com) prove it.

Character Cameo: To see Wan Fu and Seiger, both from Samurai Shodown 2, beat the ENTIRE game (including Amakusa, Zankuro and the rival) within the stipulated time limit. Apparently, they're pissed off about not being included in this game. (Credit: Ultimate Chicken)
Status: Unverified

Samurai Shodown 5 (Multiplatform)

Cross-Series (Various): Note: to see the ending cameos in this game, you will have to set the game to the Japan region code. There are no endings in the other region codes. Hayate (Savage Reign) and Ryuhakyu Todoh (Art of Fighting) challenge Kyoshiro in his ending. (Credit: Ultimate Chicken)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: Nicotine Caffeine, Wan Fu, Gen An and Nienhalt Seiger, all from Samurai Shodown 2, appear in Gaira's ending, ready to induct him into monkhood. (Credit: Ultimate Chicken)
Status: Unverified

San Francisco Rush (PS1)

Cross-Series (Rampage: World Tour): Rampage: World Tour is advertised on a billboard in the PS1 version of San Francisco Rush. (Credit: HonestGamer)
Status: Unverified

Saturday Night Slam Masters (Multiplatform)

Cross-Series (Final Fight/Street Fighter 2): First, there's the obvious appearance of Metro City mayor Mike Haggar from Final Fight. Chun Li, Ryu, and E. Honda from Street Fighter 2 can be found in the audience. (Note: I have seen Chun Li and Ryu, but E. Honda I'm not sure if I've seen or not. I think I have, but it's hard to tell). Also, Gunloc's profile says that he is rumored to be related to a famous street fighter. The hair looks familiar, plus he has a move called the sonic fist...sounds like Guile to me. And lastly, when Biff Slamkovich (Biff Bolshevik in the arcade game) is beaten in a 1-on-1 match, he says, "Comrade Zangief was right - you all fight cheap". (Credit: Mike Waters)
Status: Unverified

Saturn Bomberman (Saturn)

Cross-Series (Various): Higgins from the Adventure Island series, Milon from Milon's Secret Castle, and Bonk from Bonk's Adventure are in the battle mode. (Credit: Yoichi & Yashiro Nanakase)
Status: Unverified

Secret of Evermore (SNES)

Cross-Series (Final Fantasy 6): Locke, Mog, Relm, Strago, Terra, and Umaro from Final Fantasy 6 are in the audience when the announcer is speaking right before fighting Vigor. (Credit: Flying Omelette)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Cross-Series (Final Fantasy 4): Cecil from Final Fantasy 4 is in the town of Ebon Keep, and he says he lives there with his wife, Rosa. He also asks you if you've heard of his battle against Zeromus.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. I have a (Screenshot) of Cecil, but it's from beyond the point in the game where he describes who he is.

Cross-Series (Final Fantasy): One of the items you can trade for at the marketplace is a Chocobo Egg.
Status: TRUE: (Screenshot) proves it.

Secret of Mana (SNES)

TV Shows (Star Trek: TNG): The bald guy at the top of the lighthouse is named "Pecard". Could this possibly be a reference to Captain Picard of Star Trek: The Next Generation?
Status: Unproven: But it's a uncanny coincidence if it wasn't intentional. (Screenshot)

Cross-Series (Final Fantasy 4): The "Face on Mars" that was used on the moon in Final Fantasy 4 is hidden in the ocean at the top right-hand corner of the map, and in the mountains south of Empire Southtown.
Status: TRUE: Screenshots prove it: (Ocean Face) (Southtown Face)

Cross-Series (Final Fantasy): Moogles were originally from the Japanese Final Fantasy 3 for the Famicom. (Screenshot)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO & Neil Purcell.

Famous Person (Santa Claus): Santa Claus and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer are located somewhere in the Ice Country.
Status: TRUE: Screenshots prove it: (Santa Claus) (Rudolph)

TV Shows (Jeopardy!): One of the video crystals in the tower of Mandala gives a reference to the TV Game Show, Jeopardy!. This also doubles as a cameo for former president, Abraham Lincoln.
Status: TRUE: (Screenshot) proves it.

Secret of Monkey Island, The (PC/Sega CD)

Cross-Series (Loom): A pirate in the SCUMM Bar wears a button that says "Ask Me About Loom", which is another LucasArts game. He even actually tells you about Loom if you ask! (Credit: SlyDante)
Status: Unverified

Sega 4-in-1 Tennis (Game Gear)

Cross-Series (Sonic the Hedgehog): Sonic is the umpire. (Credit: Michael Morrissette)
Status: TRUE: (Screenshot) from MobyGames.com proves it.

Shadowgate (Multiplatform)

Cross-Series (Deja Vu): The music that you play on the flute is the first few notes of the main theme from Deja Vu. (Credit: Flying Omelette)
Status: TRUE: Although Shadowgate came to the NES first, Deja Vu was the first game ICOM Simulations made for various home computers. That's why this counts as a cameo for Shadowgate and not Deja Vu.

Mythology (Biblical): When you attack the Cyclops, you'll get a David and Goliath reference. (Credit: Flying Omelette)
Status: TRUE Verified by FO.

Shadow Man (Multiplatform)

Music (Beethoven): The music that plays during the opening sequence and in the London Station is Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata".
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Shadowrun (SNES)

Specific Reference: In the ending of Shadowrun for SNES, they show a screenshot of Shadowrun 2, which never came into existence. But there is a "sequel" on the Genesis. (Credit: bleusilence)
Status: TRUE: (www.vgmuseum.com) screenshots confirm it.

Shenmue (DC)

Cross-Series (Various): This game is LOADED with cameos, mostly in the form of small toys that you get from the vending machines. Characters and items from such games as Fantasy Zone, Space Harrier, Virtua Fighter, Sonic The Hedgehog, Galaxy Force, NiGHTS, and Alex Kidd, among other games, show up in the vending machines. The main theme music from After Burner, Outrun, Space Harrier and Hang-On can also be won in the form of cassettes in the convenience store raffles. For that matter, Hang-On and Space Harrier themselves, the full arcade games, are in the You Arcade. You can also play them in your Saturn (yes, the Saturn itself makes a cameo!) if you win them in the raffles. (Credit: Dire 51)
Status: Unverified

Shining Force 2 (Genesis)

Cross-Series (Sonic the Hedgehog): There's a secret Sonic-shaped map. (Credit: Michael Morrissette)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FlowingMindspin.

Shining Soul 2 (GBA)

Cross-Series (Pengo): There is a person who tells you he has read a book called "I am Pengo", about a penguin living in a jungle of ice. This is a reference to Sega's classic arcade game, Pengo. (Credit: MJB817)
Status: Unverified

Shining the Holy Ark (Saturn)

Cross-Series (Clockwork Knight): If you try to open the door in the Aborigine Cemetary before defeating the Time Warrior, a message saying something like "To open this door, defeat the clockwork knight". "Clockwork Knight" is another Saturn game, although the boss is actually called the "Time Warrior" instead of "Clockwork Knight". (Credit: Codie Martin)
Status: Unverified

Real Place (The Mirage): The name of the inn at Mirage Village is called "The Mirage" after the Las Vegas Hotel/Casino. (Credit: Codie Martin)
Status: Unverified

Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne (PS2)

Cross-Series (Devil May Cry): Dante from Devil May Cry is a recruitable character. (Credit: MJB817)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Shivers 2: Harvest of Souls (PC)

Character Cameo: There's a book in the library that's apparently been written by Hubert Windlenot, the professor from the first Shivers game. (Credit: SlyDante)
Status: Unverified

Silent Hill (PS1)

Literature/Famous Person/Movie (Various): Street name cameos:

Literature/Movie (Various): The plot (people manifesting their fears into physical form) is the same plot as the film "Sphere". The plot is also similar to "The Regulators" by Richard Backman. Another aspect of the plot (a cult trying to bring about the birth of a demonic child) is that of the book/film "Rosemary's Baby". (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Literature (The Mist): The fog in the town is similar to that in Stephen King's novella "The Mist". The story features people stuck in a supermarket surrounded by demons created by the mist. Silent Hill makes several nods to "The Mist": It begins with a pterodactyl-like animal crashing through the supermarket window. It ends with the town's air raid siren sounding off (like in Silent Hill when the good world becomes evil and vice versa). And the main character picks up a notebook and says exactly the same thing that Harry says when he first encounters a save point. I forget the exact phrasing, but it's something to the effect of "Someday, someone might experience these strange things...they might find my notes useful". (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Movie (The Shining): On Bloch Street, the word "REDRUM" is scrawled across a garage door. This is a reference to "The Shining". (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Movie (Silence of the Lambs): In the newspaper stands around the town the papers read "Bill Skins Fifth!", which is a reference to "Silence of the Lambs". (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Movie (Carrie): Across the wall from the antique shop there is a poster for Carrie. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Movie (The Exorcist): On the wall of the nightclub El Encante there is a poster for The Exorcist. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Movie (Psycho): In the Police Station there is a poster reading "Drugs" that shows a man with a skull covering half of his face. This is reminiscent of the last scene from Psycho in which they superimposed a skull over the face of the institutionalized Norman Bates. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Programmers: Across the street from the hospital there is a small shop called "Konami Burger" which is named after the company that made the game. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Literature (Pet Sematary): Across the street from the alleyway where Cheryl vanishes at the start of the game there is a poster for Stephen King's "Pet Sematary". (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Musical (Gangsta's Paradise): There is a poster in the old district of Silent Hill for the Coolio track "Gangsta's Paradise". (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Famous Person (Portishead): There are posters around town for the rock band Portishead. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Music (Drifting Away): The music that plays when you first go into the eclipse is a reductionised remix of "Drifting Away" by Faithless. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Movie (Little Shop of Horrors): The florist (near the antique shop) has a poster in the window reading "Look for our fantastic new plant Audrey Junior!", which refers to the Little Shop of Horrors. In fact, the shop itself is called "Mushnick's Florist", though this is hard to see since it is obscured by the fog. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Movie (Psycho): There is a picture in the Indian Runner store: "Norman's Grand opening!" which refers to Norman's Motel...which itself refers to the Alfred Hitchcock film Psycho. The location parodies the film to such an extent that if you examine the motel's showers it comes up with the caption "No one inside". (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Famous Person (Stephen King): In the cafe where you start the game there are posters by the pinball table that show a bearded man holding a gun with the caption "STUDY, DAMMIT!". This was a poster that a young Stephen King made when he was working for his college newspaper. They put it in as a double spread in the weeks coming up to the finals in order to encourage people to study. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Movie (The Wizard of Oz): The keys to open the doghouse are Scarecrow, Woodman and Lion: characters from The Wizard of Oz who went to another world in order to search for something important, just like Harry. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Famous Person (Sonic Youth): The register of teachers in Midwich Elementary is a list of the members of the band Sonic Youth: Kim Gordon, Thurston Moore, and Leonard Renaldo. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

TV (Star Trek): In the library reserve in Midwich Elementary there is a poster reading "A WOMAN CAME DOWN FROM THE PLANET VULCAN!", which refers to Star Trek. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Literature (The Midwich Cuckoos): It has been suggested that the demonic image of the children in the school is based on the children in the video to Aphex Twin's "Come to Daddy". In the video, there are demonic schoolchildren that run amok through a run down council estate, attacking passersby and one another. This suggestion is probably unsubstanciated, and the children are far more likely to have been based on the Midwich Cuckoos, a story about aliens who replace unborn human babies with evil alien babies. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Literature (The Holy Bible): In the School Library and the Library Reserve the only books that survive (except for "The Monster Lurks") are titled "HOLY BIBLE". (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Literature (It): In the school bathroom the sinks are splattered with blood, a la Stephen King's "It". (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Mythology (Demonology): The Flauros is an item Harry picks up in the church. In demonology Flauros is a demon who has the body of a man but the head of a cat. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Literature (Phantoms): In "Phantoms" by Dean Koontz the characters find themselves alone in an empty town. On a bathroom mirror they find the words "Timothy Flyte - The Ancient Enemy", which later turns out to be a book in the town's library. There is a scene like this in Silent Hill; Harry finds the words "Leonard Rhimes - The Monster Lurks" in the toilets where he finds the shotgun, and this later turns out to be a book on Poultergeist activity in the school's library. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Movie (Night of the Creeps): The medical staff all have leeches attached to their backs. Similarly, Cybil swallows a leech, which makes her attack you. This is a reference to the B-Movie "Night of the Creeps" in which leeches attach themselves to people and control their brains. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Movie (The Exorcist 3): Lisa Garland looks exactly like one of the nurses from The Exorcist 3. Specifically, she looks like the nurse that gets beheaded by the patient who believes he's a ghost. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Movie (Carrie): The scene when Lisa dies is eerily reminiscent of the scene in Carrie where Carrie White begins to bleed copiously until it completely covers her body. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Literature (Alice in Wonderland): The four plates you need to use to open the door in the hospital are Queen, Turtle, Hatter and Cat: four characters from "Alice in Wonderland". (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Real Place/Movie (Virgin Megastores/Ringu): In the mall before you fight the giant maggot, the store with the TV's in front of it is called Vestal Gigastore, an obvious reference to Virgin Megastores (both shops have similar logos). Also, the video that plays is strangely reminiscent of the video that plays in the film Ringu (The Ring), specifically the bit at the beginning when the reporters watch police tape of Sada's victims. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Literature (Something Wicked This Way Comes): The imagery of Lakeside Amusement is based on that found in the Ray Bradbury novel "Something Wicked This Way Comes". (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Movie (Jacob's Ladder): The script to the bad ending (when you let both Cybil and Kaufmann die) exactly matches the ending to the film Jacob's Ladder. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Miscellaneous: In the UFO ending one of the pictures looks exactly like an old trading card. On the left is a capture of the picture as it appears in the game, on the right is the Topps "Mars Attacks!" trading card that the picture is based on. If you get the UFO ending and choose to replay the game you will have a Konami Hyperblaster in your inventory. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: TRUE: (Picture) proves it.

Real Place (Burger King): There is a shop down the street from the cafe in which you begin the game named Queen Burger. This is a play on Burger King. It even uses a similar logo. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

TV Shows (X-Files/Magnum PI): Mulder and Scully from The X-Files have wanted posters hanging in the Police Station. There is also a picture of Magnum PI hanging above the door to the police director's office. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Miscellaneous: The eye on the back of the channeling stone has been used to represent the planet Uranus, however, some UFOlogists (people who study UFOs) claim it is a symbol for a planet in another sun system, called Ummo, some of whose inhabitants they say have been in contact with humans on our planet. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Silent Hill 2 (Multiplatform)

Famous Person (Various): Street name cameos:

Movie (Jacob's Ladder): In the apartment building there is an item called "Lyne house key", and on the door of the Lyne household there is a letter to Tim. These two are obviously a reference to the film Jacob's Ladder (another film that served as the basis for Silent Hill). Adrian Lyne was the director and Tim Robbins was the male lead. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Real Place (Brookhaven Hospital): Brookhaven Hospital is an actual place. A lot of sci-fi speculation regarding UFO research surrounds the place and it is the setting for quite a few hammer sci-fi stories. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

TV Shows (The Twilight Zone): Room 312 is the place where James discovers the truth about Mary as well as hearing Mary's voice over the radio...There is an episode of the Twilight Zone (entitled, I believe, "Room 312") in which a young girl goes into the hospital and has recurring nightmares about monsters coming from Room 312 and killing everyone. As she leaves she tells the doctor what room she was having nightmares about to which the doctor replies "Room 312!? But that's the MORGUE!" (A terrible ending, I know, but that episode wasn't very good anyway.) (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: Harry Mason from Silent Hill 1 turns up in the bonus UFO ending (PC version only). (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Movie (Blue Velvet): The scene in the apartment block when James first sees the Pyramid Head is based on the scene from Blue Velvet in which Frank Booth comes to his house and assaults Isabella Rossellini while a helpless Jeffrey watches from inside a closet. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Literature (The Lord of the Rings): In Brookhaven Hospital, the letter that talks about the copper ring calls it "My precious ring", making a reference to The Lord of the Rings. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Movie (The Shining): Stretching it somewhat, it could be said that the typewriter message "I am who I am is who I am who I am is who I am [ad infinitum]" is a reference to the "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" bit from The Shining. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Silent Hill 3 (Multiplatform)

Specific Reference: Some of the locations in the game are exactly the same as Silent Hill 1. Alessa's room, the carousel/snack area in Lakeside Amusements and Cheryl's hospital bed are some of these areas. Harry Mason from Silent Hill 1 makes an appearence in the game. You find him murdered when you first enter Heather's house. However, both Harry Mason (SH1) and James Sunderland (SH2) turn up in the UFO ending...as does one of the Aliens from the first two Silent Hill games. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Movie (Les Miserables): There are posters about the mall that feature the girl from Les Miserables. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Cross-Series (Tirn Aill): There are posters about the mall advertising "Tirn Aill" and "The Revolt of Tirn Aill". Tirn Aill is an old MMORPG and "The Revolt of Tirn Aill" is a webcomic. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Specific Reference: There's a poster for Silent Hill 2 up in the mall (near the phones, if I recall correctly). It's the one of Angela that they put up in video game stores when they were about to release SH2. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Specific Reference: If you play through SH3 with a completed SH2 save game on your memory card there will be several references to SH2 through the game. For instance, in Heaven's Night there is a poster advertising the return of Lady Maria. The funniest of these references is in the mall toilets. Heather notices there is something blocking it and asks the player if she should remove it. If you say yes, she gets on her hands and knees but refuses to put her hand in the toilet, instead standing up, glaring into the camera and saying "Forget it, it's way too gross. Who would even think of doing such a thing?", which is a parody of the scene in SH2 when James retrieves the safe combination from the toilet in the apartment. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Real Place (Borley Rectory): Borley Haunted Mansion is a reference to Borley Rectory, the most haunted house in England. In fact, the poster for the house has a picture of the rectory on it. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Music (Mad World): In the next to last cutscene (the big long one when Claudia and Vincent argue, then Heather turns up) a quiet piano version of the Gary Jules track "Mad World" plays in the background. Here's a (Midi) of the original version. That piano riff plays in the background of the video. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Specific Reference: Heather begins the game in "Happy Burger", a building that was in Silent Hill 2. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Movie (Star Wars): You can get a Star Wars Lightsaber as a secret weapon, although the game calls it a beam sabre. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Movie (Theatre of Blood): The Barbequed Dog in the Mall is a reference to the film "Theatre of Blood". In the film, an actor invites several critics to his house and tortures them in various ways. One of the critics is fed his own barbequed poodles. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Cross-Series (Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past): In the sewers you can throw away your steel pipe, at which point a fairy turns up and asks you which of her pipes you dropped: Gold, Silver or Steel. If you answer truthfully she lets you keep all three. This is a reference to the fairy in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Products (Minmo Catfood): There is a poster in the subway for Minmo catfood, an actual product in Japan. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Specific Reference: Two cutscenes from Silent Hill 1 appear in the game. #1: The clip Harry sees playing on the Mall TV's plays when Heather examines the TV shop. #2: At the end of the labyrinth in the hospital, Lisa's video plays. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Movie (Ringu): During the cutscene when Heather and Douglas are driving to Silent Hill, the following exchange takes place:
Heather: You see, that girl had special powers.
Douglas: Powers?
Heather: Her classmates called her a witch. She could make things happen with her mind. She could kill people just by wishing for it...
This exact exchange takes place in the Japanese sequel to Ringu (The Ring) when two characters from the asylum are discussing Sadako. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Products (Various): Several of Heather's jackets have advertisements for various Playstation magazines: EGM, Game Informer, Game Reactor, Gamespy.com, GMR, GN, IGN.com, OPM, OPS2, Play, PS2RO, and PSM. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Specific Reference: The pictures on Heather's "The Light" costume are the pictures that appeared in "Nowhere" in the original Silent Hill. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Movie (Donnie Darko): Robbie the Rabbit (the pink anthropomorphic rabbit that turns up in Lakeside Amusement Park) is a reference to Frank the Rabbit from Donnie Darko. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Silent Hill 4: The Room (Multiplatform)

Specific Reference: The Fruity Rouge posters from Silent Hill 3 make an appearance in the basement at the beginning, as do the "Havoc's Business Daily" posters. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: Eileen has a Robbie the Rabbit (Silent Hill 3) toy on her bed. Also, if you look out of the bedroom window you will sometimes see a dismembered Robbie the Rabbit head floating about in the sky. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Specific Reference: Jasper's T-Shirt has the conceptual artwork for Samael that was used in Silent Hill 1. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: In the hospital, one of the padded cells has a wire mesh that you can look through and see one of the Mannequin monsters from Silent Hill 2. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Movie (The Green Mile): **SPOILER WARNING*** The scene where Richard dies is reminiscent of a scene in the film "The Green Mile". (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Silent Scope (PS2)

Famous Person (Monica Lewinsky): The final boss, who is holding the president hostage, is called Monica! (Credit: PenguinMan26)
Status: Unverified: FO's Note: That's hilarious!

SimCity (SNES)

Cross-Series (Super Mario Bros.): Bowser is a natural disaster. You can get Mario Statues for accomplishing some goals, and Freeland is in the shape of Mario's face.
Status: TRUE: Verified in Nintendo Power.

Console (SNES): There's a Super Famicom logo on the typewriter. See under Super Mario World for more information on this.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Programmers: The character Dr. Wright is based on and named after SimCity creator Will Wright of Maxis Software. Note that Dr. Wright only appears in the SNES version of SimCity, not the PC version. (Credit: Troy Demetrius)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. Source, Nintendo Power.

Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants, The (NES)

Programmers?: Jump off the tool shop's window to the left, and you should land on a piece of the background at the top of the green area. Press down, and Bart will fall back down to the sidewalk and the letters "RK" will fall from the sky. If you walk to the left after that, you'll see that the bouncing red aliens have become the letters "LK" and "AK". Also, go to the second floor of the mall in Level 2 and jump repeatedly on the second trash can. After the Krusty the Clown head pops out, keep jumping on the trashcan and, eventually blocks with the initials "RW", "AW", "KW", and "JW" will pop out, too. (Credit: PING & ShadOtterdan)
Status: Unknown Reference: It's absolutely 100% true that these "Easter Eggs" exist, but we do not know what these initials stand for. They don't appear to match up to any of the initials of the game's programmers. Perhaps they were paying homage to friends and family? If anyone has an answer, let us know! (Screenshot 1) (Screenshot 2) (Screenshot 3)

UPDATE: 12/16/06

I received an email from Christopher DeMeo on the origin of this Easter Egg:

Hello, Flying Omelette.

In your cameo entry for "*Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants, The (NES)*" the letters RK, AK, and LK (among others) appear as mentioned on your site.

I know for a fact that they are the initials of family members of programmers and other people who worked on the game. I know this because my father worked on the game himself while he worked at Acclaim during the production of this title. I've asked them if I could provide you with their names, but unfortunately they declined.

-Chris

There you have it. Looks like my guess that they were paying homage to friends and family was pretty close to the mark. (Screenshot of Alex DeMeo's name in the opening credits.)

Simpsons Hit and Run, The (Multiplatform)

Comics (The Incredible Hulk): Sometimes, when Homer is losing a race, he yells "Homer is losing! Homer smash!!", a reference to the Incredible Hulk's, "Hulk mad! Hulk smash!". (Credit: Deven711)
Status: Unverified

Console (XBOX): In all versions, Bart owns an X-Box. Trust me. The video game system you see in the house IS an X-Box. Just have a close-up of the controller. (Credit: Deven711)
Status: Unverified

Simpsons Road Rage, The (Multiplatform)

Comics (Archie): In the Entertainment District, sometimes you pick up Bart wanting to go to the Ice Cream Shop. He'll say he's looking for Betty and Veronica, in reference to the girls from the Archie Comics. (Credit: Codie Martin)
Status: Unverified

Movie (Flubber): If you deliver Professor Frink with a Fast rating, he usually says, "You must have had Flubber in the gas tank". (Credit: Codie Martin)
Status: Unverified

TV Shows (The Dukes of Hazzard): Snake's horn plays "Dixie", like in Dukes of Hazzard. (Credit: Codie Martin)
Status: Unverified

Cross-Series (Pong): In the ending, Kang and Kodos are playing Pong. (Credit: Codie Martin)
Status: Unverified

Comics (The Incredible Hulk): Occasionally, Willy will say "Don't make me angry! You wouldn't like me when I'm angry!" which is likely a reference to the Hulk's "You wouldn't like me when I'm angry!" quote. (Credit: Codie Martin)
Status: Unverified

Skies of Arcadia (DC/GCN)

Movie (Superman 2): Admiral Galcian looks a lot like General Zod from Superman II. He has the same facial hair and hair style. He also says "Kneel before me!" when he uses his super move, Terminal. Anyone who's seen Superman II remembers General Zod's infamous quote, "Kneel before Zod!" Coincidence? (Credit: Iqniz)
Status: Unverified

Literature (Moby Dick): Captain Drachma, an old, weathered sailor endlessly hunts a giant arcwhale to avenge the loss of his son and his ship. This is obviously a reference to Captain Ahab of Moby Dick. Also, one of your crew members is named Ismael. (Credit: Iqniz)
Status: Unverified

Ski or Die (NES)

Famous Person (Rodney Dangerfield): The owner of the ski shop is Rodney Dangerfield! Besides the "Rodney" name tag and the likeness, he even acts like the real-life Rodney! (Credit: SlyDante)
Status: Unverified

Smart Ball (SNES)

TV Shows (Tom & Jerry): The main character's name is Jerry, and the main villain's name is Tom. A reference to the popular cartoon Tom & Jerry. (Credit: MJB817)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. These are the names of the characters. However, I think it's either coincidence or someone's strange idea of a joke. The reason the main character is called "Jerry" is because the Japanese version of Smart Ball was called "Jelly Boy". Because there is no difference between "L" and "R" in Japanese, "Jerry" and "Jelly" are the same thing.

Smash Court Tennis 2/Anna Kournikova Tennis (PS1)

Cross-Series (Splatterhouse): In the Exhibition mode a Splatterhouse building can be seen in the background. (Credit: Dire 51)
Status: Unverified

Snake Rattle n Roll (NES)

Console (Gameboy): The floors of one of the levels spell out "NINTENDO" and "GAMEBOY" in huge letters. (Credit: Fenrir X & SlyDante)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. See (Oddities 7) for screenshots. Also, here is a picture of the entire level provided by Fenrir X and edited by SlyDante: (Level Map)

Music (Shake Rattle and Roll): The title theme music is "Shake, Rattle and Roll".
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Movie (Jaws): When the shark comes after you in the water, you hear the Jaws theme.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Snatcher (Multiplatform)

Movie (Blade Runner): Snatcher borrows HEAVILY from Blade Runner. Gillian Seed looks a lot like Harrison Ford, and Random Hajile is the spitting image of Rutger Hauer. (Credit: Yashiro Nanakase)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Movie (Terminator): The SNATCHERS look just like Terminator endoskeletons. (Credit: Yashiro Nanakase)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Cross-Series (Various): Your sidekick throughout the game is a miniature version of Metal Gear known as "Metal Gear MK-II" and the Outer Heaven Club has lots of Konami cameos: Bill & Lance from Contra, Sparkster from Rocket Knight Adventures, Simon Belmont & Dracula, and Goemon (The Mystical Ninja). (Credit: Yashiro Nanakase)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Movie (Various): In the MSX and PCE version, the Outer Heaven club was full of various sci-fi characters such as Yoda. (Credit: Yashiro Nanakase)
Status: Unverified

SNK vs. Capcom: Chaos (NeoGeo)

Character Cameo: The hidden end boss on the Capcom side of the roster is a big red gargoyle called Red Arremer. This is an enemy from Ghosts 'n' Goblins, also known as Firebrand, and several of his special moves summon zombies, puchi devils and other enemies from Ghosts 'n' Goblins. The hidden end boss on the SNK side is Athena from the old NES game of the same title. This is the Greek Goddess Athena, however, not to be confused with Athena Asamiya from King of Fighters. (Credit: Iqniz)
Status: Unverified

Solaris (Atari 2600)

Movie (Star Wars): Some of the enemies in Solaris are clearly based on the TIE fighters of Star Wars fame.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. Too similar to be coincidence.

Movie (Close Encounters of the Third Kind): The three note signal that lets you know a planet is under attack is the exact same three notes the aliens used to communicate in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. (Credit: Crawl and 1000)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Cross-Series (Star Raiders): The enemies you are figting are the Zylons from Star Raiders. This may not really be a cameo because Solaris is a sequel of sorts to Star Raiders. Both were designed by Doug Neubauer and they both have the same exact label and box art! However, the strange this is, a true Star Raiders 2 was made and released for the Atari XE. So, if Solaris is truly a sequel, it must be Star Raiders 3.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Solar Jetman: Hunt for the Golden Warpship (NES)

Cross-Series (Jetpac): Solar Jetman reuses some graphics and items from Rare's early C64 game, Jetpac, such as the Diamonds and Fuel Canisters. (Rare was known as Ultimate back then). (Credit: SethraShnoo
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Solomon's Key (NES)

Cross-Series (Mighty Bomb Jack): There's a way to make Mighty Bomb Jack appear in one of the rooms.
Status: TRUE: Verified in Nintendo Power.

Sonic 3D Blast (Genesis/Saturn)

Cross-Series (Fantasy Zone): The music that plays in the bonus stage is the main Opa Opa theme from the Fantasy Zone series. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. Source: www.vgmusic.com.

Sonic Advance (GBA)

Real Place (The Magic Kingdom): The castle in the background of the casino level looks like the Magic Kingdom. (Credit: Michael Morissette)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: Robotnik's Sonic 1 Ball and Chain Mech and Sonic 2 Drill Mech are the two first bosses in the "X-Zone". They are the first bosses of their respective games. (Credit: Michael Morissette & VGMaster96)
Status: Unverified

Programmers: The casino level has neon light-like platforms that spell out S-O-N-I-C and S-E-G-A. (Credit: Michael Morissette)
Status: Unverified

Specific Reference: The 5th level is one big cameo. The name of the level is "Angel Island", from Sonic 3 and Knuckles (though the level doesn't look like the original "Angel Island"), the boss is Mecha Knuckles, which is from Sonic R (and could be a reference to Knuckles being a guardian of the Angel Island), and the Mecha Knuckles's gloves are golden, a reference to one of Knuckles's older weapons. (Credit: Michael Morissette)
Status: Unverified

Sonic Advance 3 (GBA)

Music: The music in Sunset Hill Zone is a remix of the Green Hill Zone music from the 1st Sonic game. (Credit: MJB817 & Deven711)
Status: Unverified

Specific Reference: Eggman's robot, Gemerl, may be a reference to Emerl from Sonic Battle. (Credit: Deven711)
Status: Unverified

Sonic Adventure (DC)

Cross-Series (NiGHTS): In Casinopolis there's a pinball table based on the Saturn game NiGHTS into Dreams. The cards in the table that you play poker with feature the various characters (Nights, Puffy, Elliot, etc.) The background music is a dance remix of the "Night Completed" theme, and there are several places where Sonic falls out of the pinball table and into NiGHTS. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: Metal Sonic Mk1 (from Sonic 2) and Mk2 (from Sonic CD) can be found inside glass tubes in the egg carrier. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Music: The music that plays in the airborne part of the Windy Valley zone (Part 3 if you're Sonic, Part 1 if you're Tails) is the same music as Act 1 of the Green Grove music from Sonic 3D Blast on the Genesis. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. Source: www.vgmusic.com.

Music: The music that plays in the first part of Twinkle Park (when you play as Sonic) is a jazzed up version of Act 1 from the Panic Puppet Zone in the Genesis version of Sonic 3D Blast. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. Source: www.vgmusic.com

Sonic Adventure 2 (DC)

Programmers/Cross-Series (Various): In the City Escape stage, there are several posters for other Sonic Team products scattered about the place. There are ads for:

Specific Reference: If you collect all the Sonic Medals in the game, you unlock a 3D version of the Green Hill Zone from Sonic 1. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Sonic Adventure 2 Battle (GCN)

Cross-Series (Phantasy Star Online): In the first boss arena, in the background, you can see a "Phantasy Star Online" sign. (Credit: Deven711)
Status: Unverified

Movie (Planet of the Apes): Also in the first boss arena, there's a sign that says "Planet of the Chaos" which is a spoof of the movie, "Planet of the Apes". (Credit: Deven711)
Status: Unverified

Console (Gamecube): In the "City Escape", there's a poster with a cube in it that says "PLAYING IS A HABIT" and "DON'T TURN IT OFF!", a reference to the Gamecube. (Credit: Deven711)
Status: Unverified

Cross-Series (NiGHTS): There's also a poster of NIGHTs in "City Escape". And in "Radical City", there's a huge pole in the background with a purple clown's head which is another reference to NIGHTs. (Credit: Deven711)
Status: Unverified

Specific Reference: The "Radical Highway" level is based on the "Radical City" stage in Sonic R. (Credit: Michael Morissette)
Status: Unverified

Specific Reference: A 3D version of the Green Hill Zone from Sonic 1 is accessible by getting all 180 emblems. (Credit: Michael Morrissette)
Status: Unverified

Specific Reference: The Egg Golem is similar to Robotnik's golem in Sonic 3's Sandtopolis Zone. (Credit: Michael Morrissette)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: Tikal and Chaos Zero from Sonic Adventure 1/DX are playable through 2 player mode. (Credit: Michael Morrissette)
Status: Unverified

Specific Reference/Movie (Star Wars): The Space Colony ARK looks like both the Death Egg from Sonic 2 and the Death Star from Star Wars. (Credit: Michael Morrissette)
Status: Unverified

Specific Reference: The Kart Race Mode is a reference to Sonic Drift, which in turn, looks like Pole Position. (Credit: Michael Morrissette)
Status: Unverified

Specific Reference: The snowboarding parts of the stages City Escape and Metal Harbor is a reference to the first part of the Ice Cap Zone in Sonic 3. (Credit: Michael Morrissette)
Status: Unverified

Specific Reference: Crazy Gadget is a spinoff of Chrome Gadget, a time attack zone in Sonic 3. (Credit: Michael Morrissette)
Status: Unverified

Sonic Adventure DX (GCN)

Character Cameo: In Mission mode with Sonic, on one mission, you have to collect 100 rings and go to the Sonic billboard. The Sonic Billboard is the Sonic X logo with Sonic and Chris Thorndyke on it! There is a Sonic Pinball Party Sign in a different mission. (Credit: Deven711 & VGMaster96)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: After the cutscene that's after the Casino level, Cream from Sonic Advance 2 will fly by. It depends on which character you're using. Different times for different characters. (Credit: Deven711 & VGMaster96)
Status: Unverified

Sonic and Knuckles (Genesis)

Character Cameo: The second boss of Sky Sanctuary is the one with the eggs orbiting around it from the Metropolis Zone of Sonic 2. Metal Sonic is the one piloting the machine instead. As a side note, the ball-and-chain machine (also piloted by Metal Sonic) from the first Sonic the Hedgehog is the first boss there. (Credit: Andrew Rae & VGMaster96)
Status: Unverified

Sonic Battle (GBA)

Character Cameo: In the Sonic Clash 2-player minigame, you will sometimes see Big the Cat from Sonic Adventure fishing off the edge of the arena. (Credit: Heather)
Status: Unverified

Sonic Heroes (Multiplatform)

Specific Reference: When playing as Team Dark, if you get the most points with E-123 Omega and get an E, Omega says "I couldn't even Gamma or Beta." A reference to E-102 Gamma and E-101 Beta from Sonic Adventure. (Credit: Deven711)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: The real enemy is Metal Sonic from Sonic CD. (Credit: Deven711)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: Espio, Charmy, and Vector from Knuckles Chaotix all have a role in this game. (Credit: Deven711)
Status: Unverified

Specific Reference: In the casino level, Amy says "this reminds me of Casinopolis", a reference to the Casino Level from Sonic Adventure. (Credit: Kysy)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: Those Dr. Eggman robots found in every level represent the eggbots from Sonic and Knuckles. (Credit: Kysy)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: Froggy and the Dark Chao from Sonic Adventure 2 make an appearance. The Dark Chao appears during the balloon part of the bonus stages. (Credit: Kysy & VGMaster96)
Status: Unverified

Specific Reference: At the Final Fortress level, Amy says, "This reminds me of our last attack on the Egg Carrier!", a Sonic Adventure 1 reference. (Credit: Deven711 & Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Sonic Spinball (Genesis)

Character Cameo: One of the mini-games in the first level has you freeing the characters from the Saturday morning Sonic cartoon show. (Credit: ShadOtterdan)
Status: Unverified

Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis)

Cross-Series (Flicky): The blue birds that pop out of enemies in the Sonic the Hedgehog games are the flickies from an old Sega game called "Flicky". (Credit: JG Shady)
Status: TRUE: (Screenshot) from MobyGames.com proves it.

Music (Music to Watch Girls By): The main melody of the music in the Marble Zone sounds like Frank Sinatra's "Music to Watch Girls By". (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: TRUE: Too similar to be coincidence. Midis prove it: (Sonic Midi) (Music to Watch Girls By Midi)

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Game Gear)

Music: The theme for the Green Hills Zone is based on one from Sonic CD. The latter even had lyrics! (Credit: Andrew Rae)
Status: Unverified

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Genesis)

Movie (Star Wars): The Death Egg is based on the Death Star from Star Wars. (Credit: Deven711)
Status: Unverified

Music (Sweet Sweet Sweet): The music that plays during the ending sequence is a JPop song called "Sweet Sweet Sweet" and is performed by Dreams Come True. It was released on an album of theirs called "The Swinging Star". This explains why Dreams Come True has a credit in the ending. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Genesis)

Character Cameo: The classic ball-and-chain mech from Sonic 1 is the first boss in the Sky Sanctuary Zone. (Credit: Michael Morrissette)
Status: Unverified

Real Place (Space Needle): The are Space Needle throwbacks in the background of the Carnival Night Zone. (Credit: Michael Morrissette)
Status: Unverified

Specific Reference: When you enable the "level select" code, and go into the sound test selection in the title screen, on the bottom right of the screen, pictures of Sonic 2 Zones can be seen as you move to different levels. (Credit: Michael Morrissette)
Status: Unverified

Soul Blazer (SNES)

Cross-Series/Programmers: This was the first Enix game I know of to have the "Phoenix" as the ultimate power. (See under ActRaiser 2 for more info.)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Miscellaneous: The symbols on the Master's Emblems are symbols of the sun and planets. (Credit: ShadOtterdan)
Status: Unverified

Soul Calibur 2 (GCN/PS2/XBOX)

Cross-Series (Various): In the GCN version, Link from the Legend of Zelda series is a special character. In the PS2 version, Heihachi from Tekken is the special fighter, and on the X-Box version, it's Spawn. (Credit: Crawl and 1000)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Cross-Series (The Legend of Valkyrie): Cassandra's Soul Calibur weapon is called "The Valkyrie". This is most likely a reference to the old Namco arcade hit, "The Legend of Valkyrie". (Creidt: Iqniz)
Status: Unverified

Cross-Series (Blue Crystal Rod): Sophitia has a weapon called the Blue Crystal Rod. Namco released an RPG in Japan called Blue Crystal Rod on SNES where your hero/heroine uses, you guessed it, a Blue Crystal Rod. (Credit: Iqniz)
Status: TRUE: Info added by VGMaster96: I heard different. I actually heard that (and the red crystal rod) were from a game called Tales of Phantasia. FO's Verdict: It's possible the items also appear in Tales of Phantasia, but a game called "The Blue Crystal Rod" by Namco does indeed exist. I'm marking this one true.

Soviet Strike (PS1)

Famous Person (Boriz Yeltzin): Boris Yeltzin appears briefly after you rescue him from the Kremlin, and makes several hilarious comments as you escort him to safety. (Credit: Ragnorak-X)
Status: Unverified

Space Channel 5 Part 2 (DC/PS2)

Cross-Series (Rez): There's an unlockable Rez costume. (Credit: Travis Fahs)
Status: Unverified

Space Quest 3: The Pirates of Pestulon (PC)

Movie (Star Wars): In addition to all of the other ships you can find in the junk heap, you can also see a Tie-Fighter. (Credit: ShadOtterdan)
Status: TRUE: (Screenshot) from MobyGames.com proves it.

TV Shows (Transformers): You can also find Optimus Prime's head (from Transformers) amongst the wreckage in the junk heap. (Credit: Ultimate Chicken)
Status: Unverified

TV Shows (Looney Tunes): In addition to everything else that was already mentioned as being in the junk heap, there is also an ACME rocket which looks like the one from the Duck Dodgers Looney Tunes episodes. (Credit: Flying Omelette)
Status: TRUE: (Screenshot) from MobyGames.com proves it.

Space Quest 6: The Spinal Frontier (PC)

Movie (Soylent Green): In Space Quest 6, the food machine sings a song about Soylent Clear, a spoof of Soylent Green. (Credit: ShadOtterdan)
Status: Unverified

Spider-Man (GCN)

Movie (The Hunchback of Notre Dame): In Vulture's Tower, sometimes you can hear Spidey say "So who's your landlord, Vulture? Quasimodo?" Quasimodo is from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. (Credit: Deven711 & Flying Omelette)
Status: Unverified

Spider-Man 2 (Multiplatform)

Movie (The Day the Earth Stood Still): When fighting Mysterio for the first time in the theater, he may say "Klatuu Barataa Nikto", a reference to the classic sci-fi movie "The Day The Earth Stood Still". (Credit: SlyDante)
Status: Unverified

TV Shows (The Outer Limits): When fighting Mysterio at the Statue of Liberty afterwards, he may say "I control the horizontal...and the vertical", a reference to the opening line of the TV show "The Outer Limits". (Credit: SlyDante)
Status: Unverified

Programmers: You can find the logo for Activision, the developers of this game, posted on billboards throughout the city. (Credit: SlyDante)
Status: Unverified

Spider-Man & Venom in Maximum Carnage (SNES/Genesis)

Programmers: Most enemies are named after the game's staff, ie. Haydn, Champa, etc. (Credit: Andrew Rae)
Status: Unverified

Spy Hunter (NES)

Music (Peter Gunn): The music that starts the game was taken from the theme song of Peter Gunn. (Credit: Junus Crowe)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. Source: Nintendo Power.

Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly (PS2)

Famous Person (George S. Patton): The dragon who runs the tank minigame in the Dragonfly Dojo is named Patton and speaks like a drill seargent. He is named after the WWII General George S. Patton. (Credit: ShadOtterdan)
Status: Unverified

Star Fox (SNES)

Music (When the Saints Go Marching In): When you fight the Slot Machine in the secret "Out of This Dimension" level, the music that plays during the fight is "When the Saints Go Marching In".
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. Here is a (Star Fox SPC) and a (Midi) of "When the Saints Go Marching In" for comparison.

Music (Voices of Spring): The main theme for "Out of This Dimension" is Johann Strauss's "Voices of Spring".
Status: TRUE: Here is an (SPC) of the Out of This Dimension music. Or if you can't play SPC's, here's a (Midi) of it (sequenced by Master-G). And here is a midi of Johann Strauss's (Voices of Spring Midi) for proof.

Cross-Series (R.O.B.): The boss Great Commander's second form is obviously modeled after the R.O.B. Here are some screenshots: (Great Commander 1) (Great Commander 2)
Status: TRUE: Screenshots prove it.

Programmers: Did you ever notice how the voice in the beginning "Scramble" sequence says, "Wing-N Fighters, prepare for launch!"? Ever wonder why? My theory is that the ships were originally going to be called "Wing-N Fighters", with the "N" standing for "Nintendo", but were changed to "Arwings" after the company "Argonaut" which helped Nintendo develop Star Fox.
Status: TRUE: Even if my theory is incorrect, "Arwing" was still most assuredly named after Argonaut.

Movie (Star Wars): The title is a spoof of Star Wars and the main theme sounds kind of like the Star Wars theme. (Credit: Deven711)
Status: TRUE: It should be quite obvious that much of the look, feel, and sound of Star Fox was inspired by Star Wars. Also, the way you blow up the Atomic Core bosses is straight out of the Death Star battle in Return of the Jedi. Note: This entry was moved from Star Fox 64 to Star Fox, because it seemed more appropriate here since Star Fox came first.

Literature (Shakespeare): The planets Titania and MacBeth are named after Shakespeare characters.
Status: TRUE: (Screenshot) proves it.

Star Fox 64 (N64)

Cross-Series (R.O.B.): ROB64 is based on the NES R.O.B. (Credit: Crawl and 1000)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Movie (Independence Day): The giant, black UFO in that one level where you help Bill the Dog's squadron was inspired by the big alien ship in the movie "Independence Day". The game's manual even implies it, stating that Andross stole the technology for the ship from an Alien race. If you don't beat the UFO in time, it blows up the structure in the middle of the planet in the exact same way that the UFOs in "Independence Day" blew up the White House.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. Too many similarities to be coincidence, manual implies that it's true.

Movie (Star Wars): During the credits, the Star Fox team marches in front of the Cornerian Army saluting, much like the ending of the first Star Wars movie (Episode IV: A New Hope). (Credit: Bomberguy221)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Cross-Series (R.O.B.): HVC-09 is the Japanese name of the boss, Spyborg. This unfinished robot looks a little like R.O.B. Nintendo serial code HVC-12. Is this a model of an unfinished R.O.B. prototype? The real serial number HVC-09 wasn't used on any released product, so it's likely. (Credit: Mark Kelly)
Status: TRUE: FO's Note: I do not know if the serial number/prototype issue is true, but I do believe this boss was based on the R.O.B. The fact that the Great Commander in Star Fox (SNES) was based on the R.O.B. makes it even less of a coincidence. (Screenshot) from MobyGames.com proves it.

Star Ocean (SFC)

TV Shows (Star Trek): The "Interplanetary Protection Treaty" in Star Ocean echoes the "Prime Directive" in Star Trek. It's the one that goes "personnel and spacecraft are prohibited from interfering in the normal development of any society". (The Star Ocean one is not so heavily enforced, however...) (Credit: Ultimate Chicken)
Status: Unverified

Movie (Star Trek 6): The sequence at the very beginning of the game where a planet explodes, buffetting Ronixis's starship with the resultant shockwave, completely parallels the events at the beginning of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Just replace Ronixis's starship with the Excelsior, and Ronixis with Sulu. (Credit: Ultimate Chicken)
Status: Unverified

Movie (Star Trek 3): In Star Ocean, Ronixis and Iria (with Ratix and Milly tagging along) jeopardize their careers by stealing a starship to rescue a petrified Dorn's body and soul. In Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Kirk jeopardizes his career by stealing the Enterprise to rescue a dead Spock's body and soul. (Credit: Ultimate Chicken)
Status: Unverified

TV Shows (Star Trek): What did the foursome in Star Ocean use to go back in time? Yes, the 'Gate'. Or more like, the game's approximation of the 'Guardian of Forever', from the episode "The City on the Edge of Forever" in Star Trek (TOS). Both are essentially time gates, both are created by 'unknown, now dead civilizations with fantastically advanced technology' and both are also sentient devices, able to respond to questions. (Credit: Ultimate Chicken)
Status: Unverified

Star Soldier (NES)

Cross-Series (Milon's Secret Castle): There are some secret tiles in Star Soldier that strongly resemble Milon from Milon's Secret Castle. (Credit: PING)
Status: Unverified

StarTropics (NES)

Cross-Series (R.O.B.): Navcom is the R.O.B. (Robotic Operating Buddy).
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Movie (Indiana Jones): Hmm...so your uncle is an archaeologist named Dr. Jones? Now where have I heard that before? :)
Status: TRUE: Please don't even try arguing that this is coincidence.

Music (My Country Tis of Thee): In StarTropics you hear a part of the English anthem "God Save the Queen" when Captain Bell's ship is sinking. (Credit: Ruudos)
Status: TRUE: Correction by Jon Wigington: The English anthem was written to be sung using the exact same notes of "My Country Tis of thee". Therefore, if the words aren't audible, the song is technically "My Country Tis of Thee".

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (XBOX)

Cross-Series (Baldur's Gate): In KOTOR, when you try to enter a new area and your party members aren't close behind, the following text appears, "You must gather your party before venturing forth". This phrase was used in Baldur's Gate II (and probably in the original BG as well). The way it's worded seems slightly out of place in a Star Wars game (The BG titles were in a fully fantasy world). I believe Bioware developed all these games, and I think the phrase is only in there as a little joke for fans of those titles. (Credit: CB007)
Status: Unverified

Street Fighter 2 (Multiplatform)

Famous Person (Mike Tyson): M. Bison was originally modeled after Mike Tyson, and the names of the three special fighters were changed around in the U.S. release to avoid lawsuits. M. Bison became Balrog, Balrog became Vega, and Vega became M. Bison. (Credit: Deathspork)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. Numerous sources have confirmed this.

Famous Person (Mikhail Gorbachev): Mikhail Gorbachev appears in Zangief's ending. (Credit: Ragnorak-X)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Movie (Tarzan): Blanka's ending is a spoof of Tarzan. (Credit: Kairobi King)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Street Fighter Alpha 2 (Multiplatform)

Cross-Series (Final Fight): In Street Fighter Alpha 2, in Guy's level, several Final Fight characters can be seen. The ones I noticed the most are Haggar and Andore. (Credit: Mike Waters)
Status: Unverified

Street Fighter Alpha 3 (Multiplatform)

Cross-Series (Final Fight): In Street Fighter Alpha 3, in Guy's level, several Final Fight characters can be seen, such as Andore and Poison or Roxy, I'm not sure which. (They are the female characters in the arcade game of Final Fight who were replaced by Billy and Sid in the US SNES version). (Credit: Mike Waters)
Status: Unverified

Streets of Rage (Genesis)

Famous Person (The Ultimate Warrior): The Ultimate Warrior turns up as the boss of Level 3. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Streets of Rage 2 (Genesis)

Character Cameo: Adam Hunter from Streets of Rage 1 is the person who the main characters are trying to rescue. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: TRUE: VGmuseum.com confirms it.

Famous Person (The Ultimate Warrior): The Ultimate Warrior turns up again as the boss of Level 4. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Specific Reference: The enemies in the arcade are playing on Bare Knuckle arcade machines. Bare Knuckle was the Japanese name for Streets of Rage 1. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Streets of Rage 3 (Genesis)

Cross-Series (Sonic the Hedgehog): Sonic can be seen on a sign in a deleted level. (Credit: Michael Morrissette)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Character Cameo: Max Thunder (Streets of Rage 2) makes a guest appearance in the ending, as does Adam Hunter (Streets of Rage 1). (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: TRUE: VGmuseum.com confirms it.

Strider 2 (PS1)

Cross-Series (Various): One of the bonus icons you can pick up for extra points is actually Son Son, from the early Capcom arcade game of the same name. The other bonus icons have also appeared in earlier Capcom games (the barrel, the cow, the star, the robot and the Yashichi). (Credit: Dire 51)
Status: Unverified

Stunt Race FX (SNES)

Cross-Series (Various): There are billboards throughout the game with Mario, Kirby and Fox (from StarFox) on them. The Night Cruise stage also has billboards with the StarFox logo on them. Knock them down and a single Arwing will fly overhead and drop a power-up for you. (Credit: Flying Omelette & Mark Kelly)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Super C (NES)

Movie (Aliens): Once again, we have the Alien references here! In Stage 7, the "pods" that produce those Facehugger/Scorpion things look like the eggs in the Alien movies. Some of the enemies on the final stage look similar to Alien, also.
Status: TRUE: See (Oddities 22) for screenshots.

Super Dodge Ball (NES)

Cross-Series (Renegade): In Super Dodge Ball, at least 2 songs from Renegade (NES and arcade) are used in the game's soundtrack. When starting a match, the game plays Renegade's start of level theme. In addition, when a player wins the match, the game plays Renegade's end of level theme. I believe, also, that Super Dodge Ball's theme for a CPU controlled player winning a match is the "Game Over" theme from Renegade, and that the ending theme for Super Dodge Ball is a revamped version of Renegade's end of game (played upon beating game) theme. Also, the song that plays during bean ball mode is a revamped version of the NES Renegade's song where you fight inside the subway train. (Credit: Mike Waters)
Status: Unverified

Super Fantasy Zone (Genesis)

Real Place (Niagara Falls/Grand Canyon): The levels Niagro and Grandius are named after Niagara Falls and The Grand Canyon. This is obvious because the imagery in the two levels is based on these two locations. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Super Hero (C64)

Music (Thank You Very Much): The music that plays when you lose a life is "Thank You Very Much". (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Super Hunchback (GB)

Music (Puttin' on the Ritz): "Puttin' on the Ritz" is the title theme. (Credit: Andrew Rae)
Status: Unverified

Superman (NES)

Music (Webb): Kemco/Seika apparently had a Christian programmer. In Superman for NES, when you leave the office of the Daily Planet, if you go back later to get a password, the song being played is, "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus", a classic hymn. (Credit: Mike Waters)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. Here is a (Midi) of "Webb" aka "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus".

Super Mario 64 (N64)

Literature (Alice in Wonderland): Mips the rabbit quotes the white rabbit from "Alice in Wonderland". ("I'm late...I'm late!") (Credit: Flying Omelette)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES/SNES/GBA)

Music: The original Super Mario Bros. theme plays in Subspace.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Character Cameo: GBA Version Only: If you collect all the Yoshi eggs in the game, you'll get a bouncing Yoshi on the title screen. (This is considered a cameo because Yoshi was not in the original version of SMB2 and he has no effect on your game.)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Character Cameo: The Spark enemies that circle around the platforms are from Donkey Kong Junior and the POW blocks are from the original Mario Bros. game. (Credit: SethraShnoo)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Music: The title screen music is a remixed version of the underwater theme from Super Mario Bros. (Credit: ShadOtterdan)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Cross-Series (Doki Doki Panic): You probably knew this already, but this was originally a non-Mario game called Yume Koojoo Dokidoki Panic. Very few changes took place between the Japanese and U.S. versions. (Credit: Mark Kelly)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. Numerous sources have confirmed this.

Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES/SNES)

Cross-Series (Legend of Zelda): The warp whistle is actually an item from The Legend of Zelda. They both play the same tune and they both summon a whirlwind.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Music: The music box plays the original Super Mario Bros. theme.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Famous Person (Various): Ludwig von Koopa was probably named after Ludwig von Beethoven, and Morton Koopa Jr. may have been named after Morton Downey Jr. It is believed that Wendy O. Koopa is named after Wendy O. Williams from The Plasmatics, and Roy Koopa is named after Roy Orbison (due to the sunglasses). Following the music theme, Lemmy may be named for Lemmy Killmister from Motorhead (not a lot of Lemmys to choose from). Iggy Pop could possibly be a name source for Iggy Koopa. Boo Diddley is, of course, named for Bo Diddley. (Credit: Flying Omelette & Fenrir X)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. I don't think this could possibly be coincidence. I even remember the Nintendo Power strategy guide making coy references to "canceling Morton's show", or something like that.

Famous Person (Larry King): Larry Koopa may have possibly been named after Larry King to go along with Morton Koopa Jr. (Both talk show hosts). (Credit: Facilitypro)
Status: Unproven: Larry is a generic name, so it's hard to say for sure. But even the Super Mario Bros. 3 player's guide hinted that it might be true.

Character Cameo: In the NES version, the animals that the kings are transformed into are characters from other Mario games. (Like the snake from Mario 2, for example.) Also, in the All-Stars version of SMB3 for S-NES, the kings are different creatures, but STILL creatures from the Mario universe. (Such as Yoshi, Monty Mole, and DK Jr.) (Credit: JG Shady)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Specific Reference: In the ending, after you beat Bowser and rescue the Princess, she says, "I'm sorry, but our Princess is in another castle. Ha! Ha! Just kidding!", which is a spoof of that infamous line from Super Mario Bros. Although there are a lot of things from SMB1 in this game, this line seems like it's specifically referencing or poking fun at SMB. (Credit: James FP)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Miscellaneous: I think it's worth noting that Bob-ombs are the ONLY enemy from Super Mario Bros. 2 to appear in this game. This was the first time we saw something from SMB2 appear in a true Mario game. (Credit: James FP)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Super Mario Land (GB)

Music (Can-Can): The invincibility theme is the "Can-Can".
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Character Cameo: The Fly enemy is taken from arcade classic Mario Bros. (Credit: Mark Kelly)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (GB)

Music/Programmers: Lose all of your lives and wait on the Game Over screen. Once the music has looped a few times, Kazumi Totaka's famous signature tune will play (the "Mario Paint tune"). (Credit: Mark Kelly)
Status: Unverified

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES)

Cross-Series (Legend of Zelda): Link appears in a bed at the Rose Town Inn.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Cross-Series (Metroid): Samus Aran appears in a bed at the Mushroom Kingdom Castle. She also appears as a toy in Booster's toybox.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Cross-Series (Star Fox/F-Zero): There are models of Star Fox Arwings and F-Zero cars in Hinopio's Inn at the Barrel Volcano.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Cross-Series (Donkey Kong): The "Kong" enemy looks like Donkey Kong, and one of the rooms in Bowser's Keep is set up like the old Donkey Kong arcade game.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

TV Shows (Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers): The Axem Rangers are a reference to the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Cross-Series (Final Fantasy): In Final Fantasy 6, there is a boss called CzarDragon (sometimes translated Czar Weapon), that didn't show up in the American version of the game because of a glitch. There exists a boss of the same name in Super Mario RPG. (Credit: Yoichi)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Console (Gameboy): There's a boy in the Mushroom Kingdom playing a Gameboy. You can later buy this item from him to play the Beetle game.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Music (Mack the Knife): Talk about obscure references! The first major boss you fight is a small sword named "Mack". This is a possible reference to the classic Louis Armstrong song, "Mack the Knife".
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. I know it's obscure, but by no means a longshot.

Specific Reference: In Booster's Tower, there is a curtain you can walk behind to change Mario into his original sprite form from Super Mario Bros., and the 8-bit Super Mario Bros. theme plays while you are stuck in that form. It also plays the "running out of time" music when you're about to revert to normal. You'll revert to normal when you try to leave the room. (Credit: Flying Omelette & Codie Martin)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Cross-Series (Final Fantasy): The Crystals you fight during the Culex battle are from Final Fantasy games in the past. (Credit: Joe Cottle)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Music (Various): FO's Note: I was listening to this game's soundtrack and decided to list all the songs that came from other games and what games they originally came from. Here is a complete list of all the songs: