Saints Row 4: Top 5 References

As if “Saints Row 4” wasn’t crazy enough already, the developers have also included some references in the game. Great fun for gamers.

References in “Saints Row 4”: Top 5

Various references to other games, series or movies provide laughs and entertainment. You’ll find quite a few in “Saints Row 4.” You can look forward to the following in particular:

• Right at the beginning of the game, in the “Steelport” of the 1960s, you come across a “SpongeBob” reference. Right after you get out of your car to greet your fans, you hear a familiar melody in the background. The song is an instrumental version of “Men Like Us” from the “SpongeBob SquarePants Movie”. It was composed by Will Schaefer.

• On the spaceship, you can talk to Keith David, the Vice President of the United States. Do this several times. At some point, the Vice President will complain that he had already spent 12 hours in the zombie game “Dead Island” when the aliens attacked. “Dead Island” was released by ‘Deep Silver’ like ‘Saints Row 4’.

• The 13th mission, called ‘With Love from Asha’, parodies the stealth game ‘Metal Gear Solid’. Quiet approach including shooting out lamps is of course not to be missed. One of the “Metal Gear Solid” classics is also included: the box. You hide under it, crawl forward slowly and kill the guards one by one. Thanks to your ingenious camouflage, you remain undetected. It works just like in the original.

• “Matrix” also appears in “Saints Row 4”: In “Null cool” (8th mission), you have to choose one of two doors shortly before the end. You either choose the red or the blue door. Neo had to make the same choice in the first part of the “Matrix” trilogy. However, in his case it was not doors, but small pills.

• In a crazy game like Saints Row 4, which features aliens and lots of references, a nod to the movie Men in Black is a must. South-west of Steelport, you’ll find a Let’s Pretend store in New Baranec. Shoot open the Employees Only door and enter the room. Next to pictures of the developers, you will find the “Loud Locust”. This small weapon looks exactly like the “Chirping Cricket” in “Men in Black” and has the same properties. So be prepared for a big bang when you fire it.

Allusion or Easter Egg? That’s the difference

Even though the terms are sometimes used synonymously, there is a big difference between an “Easter Egg” and an “allusion”.

• Allusions are directly related and obviously recognizable to all players. They are displayed or even named directly.

• An Easter Egg, on the other hand, is often a hidden element that was intentionally placed in the game but is not part of the plot. Often you can only see it, but not interact with it.

• A reference is something that a wide range of people can understand and is very easy to perceive and recognize. By contrast, an Easter egg requires a certain amount of insider knowledge. However, when an Easter egg is discovered, it is an exciting surprise.

• Developers often hide clues to their work in a game. For example, they might insert their name or portraits that are not immediately recognizable to everyone. Allusions, on the other hand, refer to well-known facts from movies, television and culture.