Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy brings forth the beloved ragtag team once more with one of the best Guardians stories in the past few years. The game captures the same charm as their comic counterparts with no shortage of those 80s references and pop culture tidbits that remind you of Peter Quill's slight obsession with the world of media.
Many super cool references can be found around the world, with things like posters, callbacks, and mementos spread throughout the ship. Some of the best additions to Square Enix's Guardians game are these extra elements that find footing in our reality.
8 References To Marvel Characters
Given that Guardians Of The Galaxy is based on Marvel characters, there are many references to these characters, like in this database found during chapter seven, 'Canine Confusion.' In this database, you'll find files on characters like Gamora, Rocket, Drax, Groot, and Peter Quill but also files on others like Ronan, Richard Rider, and Yondu.
Each file has information on things like indictments committed and who their affiliations are. It's like flipping through the pages of a Marvel character encyclopedia — but one that's only for the characters in space! If Guardians gets a sequel, these characters mentioned (but not shown) would be great additions to the roster or as a quick cameo.
7 Quill's Stereo And Love For 80s Music
I think we all knew there would be some 80s goldies in Guardians Of The Galaxy since music is such a prominent part of Quill's character. And lucky for us, some great, recognizable songs will put you right into the space jamming mood. With gems like Take On Me, Holding Out For A Hero, Bad Reputation, and Everybody Wants To Rule The World, there's a whole new side to the space adventure with the added atmosphere of the 80s.
Music and its connection to Quill's memories of his mother make it especially bittersweet when taken back to flashbacks during the game.
6 Tron 1982 Poster
Found in Peter Quill's room (which is practically a time vault for all things pop culture) is a poster of the 1982 movie Tron. The poster is the official one for the movie and has a couple of details like creases, and smudges, which make it look well used. It's the tiny details like this that make the world feel lived in.
After all, it wouldn't make much sense for the poster to look brand new, since it's an almost 40-year-old film. And after seeing this sci-fi staple in Quill's room, we're curious about his thoughts on the Alien franchise.
5 Dazzler Poster - Mutant Alison Blaire
Arguably one of the most underutilized X-Men characters, Dazzler makes quite the dazzling appearance in Guardians Of The Galaxy as a poster on Quill's wall. It's only something small but one of the most excellent parts of the game.
Dazzler is used all too rarely in comics yet still manages to shine with this minor appearance. And since we know Quill is a lover of music, it's sweet knowing this also extends to mutant Alison Blaire, who just so happens to be a singer.
4 Deus-Ex Passcode - Code 0451
In all the Deus Ex games with unlockable doors, the first door you unlock requires the code '0451.' This code is also used early into Guardians Of The Galaxy when entering the code to access your ship terminal. This code appears in other games, too, like The Last Of Us 2, Bioshock, Dishonored, and Prey.
Surprisingly, many games have references to other forms of media through numbers and door codes alike. It's a strange pattern that developers have picked up, but a welcome one.
3 Pac-Man Cake
Quill has been a fan of the pop culture world for a long time, as shown here during a flashback of Peter's childhood on Earth, where he has a Pac-Man cake for his birthday. Being one of the most well-known and long-standing games with its impact upon the genre, Pac-Man continues to be referenced throughout games.
After playing Pac-Man, it's hard to forget the identifiable solid bright yellow of the mascot and the sound of eating those delectable dots. Maybe this is your sign to boot up that dusty Atari and play a game (or five).
2 Marvel's Avengers Easter Egg
During one of the missions in Guardians, there's a short but sweet moment where you can hear conversations from alternate realities. One of these is a line of Captain America shouting "Avengers, assemble!" in reference to Square Enix's Avengers game.
A little later into this section, you can also hear an unknown voice stating, "Hey, look! It's Spider-Man!" Spider-Man is confirmed to be a DLC of the Avengers game but is still yet to be released. So, the Spider-Man line we hear is most likely connected to the Avengers game and is a cool slight nod of what's to come in that DLC.
1 The Collector's Vault - References Aplenty
While perusing the Collector's vault, there are a ton of items that fans of Marvel Comics will recognize. Sections like this in video games provide the perfect opportunity to showcase some fantastic items and weapons from universes that we wish we could get our hands on.
Maybe you're thinking that's not how you'd feel until you spot Richard Rider's Nova helmet just a glass pane away from you or the Mandarin's rings that provide the wearer with many different abilities. Taking a trip around the vault will be any comics fan's dream as there's a lot here, even including some lesser-known items like Snowbird's Tiara worn by the superhero of the same name.