History Expy / Videogames

** KOS-MOS, one of the principal characters of the ''Xenosaga'' trilogy, appears in ''Xenoblade Chronicles 2''; in both narratives, she is a [[TinMan Tin Woman]] variety of RobotGirl and a prototypical LivingWeapon who [[BecomeARealBoy slowly learns to feel]] and eventually discovers a [[IdentityAmnesia hidden past]].

** [[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic Bastila]] is essentially a carbon copy of [[VideoGame/NeverwinterNights Aribeth]],

* While their personalities are distinct, Sion of ''VideoGame/TheBouncer'' saw his design (down to the style and preferred colors on their clothes) almost completely recycled for Sora in ''Franchise/KingdomHearts''. In particular, the excess [[ChainedByFashion chains]] and [[{{Zipperiffic}} zippers]] are shared by both characters. [[spoiler: Heightened in ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts358DaysOver2'' -- Xion (whose name in Japanese, Shion, is shared with Sion) is an element of Sora that is ultimately absorbed back into him.]]

** A pretty weird example from ''Contra: Hard Corps'', were there is an expy of an attack, rather than a character. [[spoiler: The first form of]] Colonel Bahamut [[spoiler:after fusing with Alien Cell]] uses an attack that is pretty much the [[TheWorfBarrage Continuous Energy Bullets attack]] from ''Anime/DragonBallZ''. His second form [[spoiler:after he loses control over the Alien Cell]] looks like Slave Beast Taka aka the giant turtle boss from ''Alien Wars'' and ''Shattered Soldier''.

%%** [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsCompact2 Persoenlichkeit]] -> [[spoiler: Wahrschein Lichkeit]]
%%** [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsOriginalGeneration Wodan Ymir]] -> [[spoiler: Gagun Laos/Gymnos Basileus]]

** In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'', characters such as Caeldori, Rhajat, and Asugi are all dead ringers for characters in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'' (Cordelia, Tharja, and Gaius respectively) and share very similar personality traits. [[spoiler: Then again, Caeldori could possibly be the granddaughter of Cordelia (depending on if her father marries Cordelia's daughter), and it's hinted that Rhajat and Tharja are part of the same reincarnation cycle (just who reincarnates into who is up for debate) so it strays a little from this trope.]]

** The Son from [[VideoGame/HotlineMiami2WrongNumber the second game]] is one of Tony Montana's character in ''Film/Scarface1983''; they are both infamous criminals with noticeable facial scars who become drug kingpins of Miami by ruthlessly murdering their rivals, [[spoiler: and they are both killed while desperately fighting off assaults on their respective compounds while extremely high on drugs]].

* Each of the playable classes of ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'' is a clear analog to a iconic ''Franchise/StarWars'' character from the films to one degree or another:

** It's ''really'' transparent that the Smuggler is Han Solo in all but name. One of your first companions is a Wookie who owes you a life-debt, the love-interest for Light-Side Male Smugglers, Risha, is [[spoiler: secretly a princess]] with BelligerentSexualTension with the Smuggler, you're being hounded by a crime-lord whose cargo you lost early on, and even your ship looks like a boxier and less advanced Millennium Falcon. Of course, for some people that's the appeal...

* Russian browser-based game League 17 used to contain actual Pokemon, but, after being hit with cease-and-desist, they have replaced them with blatant (even occupying the same dex slots and having similar names) substitutes. [[https://wiki.league17.ru/001 See for yourself]].

** The champion Revali from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'', a cocky, bluish-feathered [[BirdPeople Rito]], is pretty much a medieval version of [[VideoGame/StarFox Falco]].

** [[RichBitch Linda]], of [[AlphaBitch Mira Kagami]]: they have the same hair color, the same [[AlphaBitch haughty voice]] [[WellExcuseMePrincess and attitude]], a similar NoblewomansLaugh, and [[spoiler: comparable HiddenDepths]]);

*** ''Ruby and Sapphire'' was a similar case, even though the Pokédex was only partially wiped. One can easily see the first-gen inspiration from Beautifly and Dustox[[note]]Both going through cocoon metamorphosis similar to the Butterfree line, with Dustox taking after Venomoth[[/note]], the Shroomish line[[note]]Mushroom-based Pokemon similar to the Paras line which also has access to the otherwise exclusive Spore; [[DecompositeCharacter one could also make a case for the Nincada line]], which also includes an undead cicada similar to Parasect in Shedinja[[/note]], the Aron line[[note]]Rock-type mineral kaiju resembling a dinosaur similar to the Rhyhorn line[[/note]], Seviper[[note]]Venomous snake used by Jessie of Team Rocket, who replaced Arbok[[/note]], and the Corphish line[[note]]Crustacean Pokemon similar to the Krabby line, both caught by Ash[[/note]].
** In ''VideoGame/PokkenTournament'', Pikachu's mannerisms and fighting style are reminiscent of Heihachi and Kazuya Mishima from the ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' series.
** A lot of Pokemon are inspired by Japanese pop culture, but in particular there's a surprising amount of Pokemon directly based on {{Kaiju}} movies--Nidoking and Nidoqueen are clear parodies of the subterranean monster Baragon, right down to having [[DishingOutDirt the Ground-type]]; Aerodactyl has a lot in common with the pterosaur-like Rodan, including the fact that both their Japanese names are derived from the word "''Pteranodon''" ("Ptera" for Aerodactyl and "Radon" for Rodan); Tyranitar is just a straight up expy of Godzilla himself; and Generation Five would introduce the quasi-divine, mothlike Volcarona and destructive three-headed dragon Hydreigon, clear expies of Mothra and King Ghidorah respectively. Additionally, Butterfree's Gigantamax form introduced in Generation Eight resembles Mothra as she appears in ''Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019''.

** To Trevor Philips. Both are [[ChaosIsEvil chaotically]] AxCrazy [[PsychoPartyMember members of their respective game's main gang/family unit, and are more than likely to kill on a whim]]. Additionally, [[spoiler: Micah starting his own gang after selling out Dutch mirrors Trevor's small criminal empire, Trevor Phillips Enterprises]]. That's where their similarities begin, and they quickly end with Micah lacking many of Trevor's redeeming and/or comedic traits. Trevor has many {{Cloudcuckoolander}} tendencies and a HairTriggerTemper while Micah is more well-composed and is rather serious in his acts. Trevor is ThePigPen while Micah keeps a well-groomed gunslinger image. Both are also opposites in regards to racial views and moral codes in their respective stories. Trevor is EqualOpportunityEvil and cares little for the ethnicity and gender of those he works with or hurts, while Micah is an [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain unapologetic bigot]]. And most of all, Micah lacks Trevor's main virtue: [[spoiler:[[UndyingLoyalty Loyalty]]. He sells out his gang, friends and surrogate family to the Pinkertons so he can branch out on his own]].

** Zetterburn is heavily based on the "Spacies" archetype (that is, [[VideoGame/StarFox Fox, Falco, and Wolf]]) that has historically been exceptionally popular in the ''Smash'' competitive scene. This is especially evident in his Up and Neutral Special Moves -- his Up-Special is Fox's "Fire Fox" with no change in function, and his Neutral-Special is based on his Reflector -- without the reflection capabilities, instead focusing on its [[NotTheIntendedUse unintended offensive capabilities as one of the fastest attacks in the series]]. In addition, many of his standard attack animations are taken directly from Wolf's moveset in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl''.[[note]]In a HilariousInHindsight move, their movesets did [[DivergentCharacterEvolution split]]... on Wolf's end, when he returned in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''.[[/note]] When the series began to expand, he [[DivergentCharacterEvolution drifted apart from Fox personality-wise]], but in the original game, the inspiration remains clear.
** Wrastor's moveset takes attacks from [[VideoGame/FZero Captain Falcon]], [[VideoGame/{{Kirby}} Meta Knight]], and [[VideoGame/StarFox Falco]]. Along with his being a bird, his characterization as a rude, cocky flier is based on Falco as well, and his Brooklyn accent in promotional materials is based on the voice Falco had in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl''.

* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'':

** The Sonic games also have many similarities to ''Anime/DragonBallZ''. Sonic, Shadow and Silver are essentially expies of Goku, Vegeta and Future Trunks, respectively. There's also the super forms and the seven magical Chaos Emeralds. Unsurprising, considering the manga influenced quite a bit of the overall franchise.

%%** G. Kaiser = Anime/{{Mazinger Z}}
%%*** Junpei Todoriki = [[Anime/{{Mazinger Z}} Kouji Kabuto]]

%%*** Simon Harvard = [[{{Anime/Robotech}} Roy Fokker]]

%%** Bolon = [[Anime/{{Mazinger Z}} Boss Borot]]

* Leo from ''Videogame/{{Tekken}}'' is an homage to Rock Howard from ''[[VideoGame/FatalFury Garou: Mark of the Wolves]]''. Both characters are young, slender {{Bishonen}} (well, {{Bifauxnen}} in Leo's case) with short blond hair and outfits consisting of a red and white jacket worn over a black top.

** [[spoiler: The Moon Lord]] is obviously [[spoiler:Cthulhu]].[[labelnote:note]]According to WordOfGod, he is Cthulhu's brother.[[/labelnote]]

* Reno from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' and Axel from ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII''. Confirmed by {{Word Of God}}.

** ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'' is no exception. As one of many examples, Minamoto no Raikou has a startling resemblance to [[BleachedUnderpants Suzuhara Misae from Zettai Junpaku Mahou Shoujo]] -- they have the same character designer: Honjou Raita.

** The Anti-Pope is an expy of the Archbishop. Both are enemy mages and serve the BigBad as TheDragon.

* ''VideoGame/BookOfDemons'' has everyone and mirroring the characters from ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'':

** While not referencing a previous FF game, ''Shadowbringers'' features a HumongousMecha that features prominently in a post-game questline called "G-Warrior", which is colored in a manner similar to a Franchise/{{Gundam}}, makes a similar pose to the [[Anime/MobileSuitZZGundam ZZ Gundam]], and gets an upgrade later on with a rename to "Film/GSaviour''.

* ''VideoGame/DeadIslandRiptide'' introduces us to Australian sailor John Morgan. Here's a [[http://images.wikia.com/x-men/images/3/30/Wolverine-marvel-huge-jackman.jpg photo]] of [[Characters/WolverineJamesLoganHowlett who he looks like]] and how [[https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ag9ys2c1ZW0/maxresdefault.jpg he actually appears in game.]]

*** ''Black and White'' was known for completely wiping the pokédex up to that point to fill the region with new species. While this has had [[BrokenBase different results depending on who you ask]], the Roggenrolla[[note]]Expy of Geodude, a three-stage rock-type that had the ability Sturdy and had its final stage evolve by trade[[/note]], Woobat[[note]]A [[GoddamnedBats very common bat]] that confused opponents like Zubat[[/note]], Audino[[note]]A pink, fluffy MetalSlime that spreads joy and commonly works in medicine, like Chansey[[/note]], Timburr[[note]]A three-stage fighting-type with very high attack and has the last stage evolve through trade, like Machop[[/note]], Throh/Sawk[[note]]Hitmonlee/Hitmonchan, twin fighting types which looked similar but had different focuses, along with the fact that you could only have one of the two[[/note]], and Bouffalant[[note]]A normal-type bovine that strongly resembles Tauros with an afro[[/note]] lines seem oddly familiar.

** EVA from ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3'' was stated by Kojima to be his take on Fujiko Mine from ''Franchise/LupinIII''. She's a similarly powerful motorcycle-riding ActionGirl who disguises herself and uses sex to get an advantage, and also her ultimate action is to stab Snake in the back and steal a legendary item from him.
** Snake himself is VERY similar to ''Creator/KurtRussell'''s character Snake Plissken from ''Film/EscapeFromNewYork''. For his part, [[WordOfGod Kojima]] has said the resemblance is intentional, as ''Film/EscapeFromNewYork'' is one of his favorite films. Snake also uses the alias "Iroquois Pliskin" in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2''.

** Genbei "Jaguar" Yagyu, is obviously based on the historical Samurai Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi.

* Dr. 0 in the ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' expansion ''Old World Blues'' is based on Rusty Venture from ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' Not only do they share the same voice actor -- and yes, James Urbaniak makes sure to use the same voice and inflections -- but they also share similar personalities as well. Both are inventors of dubious competence with a deep inferiority complex towards a superior scientist (Mr. House and Jonas Jr. respectively) as well as drug habits (Mentats for 0 and "diet pills" for Rusty). With the [[SillinessSwitch Wild Wasteland trait]], one of 0's old labs contains "walking eye" robots; Rusty invented a Walking Eye on the show.

* Cody Travers from ''VideoGame/FinalFight'' had his looks and the entire story of his videogame lifted from 1984's ''Film/StreetsOfFire'' starring Michael Paré (as Tom ''Cody'') and a young Creator/DianeLane (who was aboutt 17 to 18 years old when filming began in 1982).

* ''[[VideoGame/GhostTrick Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective]]'': [[spoiler:Yomiel]] is an expy of [[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney Yanni Yogi]], in a way. [[spoiler:Both had their lives ruined by being wrongly arrested by the police (including having their fiancées DrivenToSuicide because of it), and later dedicated themselves to {{Revenge}} against the officers involved. The icing on the cake is that they both had pets named after their deceased fiancées.]]Both games were created by Shu Takumi.

* Kongōke Bosatsu "Hana" from ''VideoGame/NamuAmidaButsuUtena'' is very obviously an expy of Sengo Muramasa from ''VideoGame/ToukenRanbu'', what with their equally eccentric personalities, dress sense and ''especially'' their fixation on nudity and constant insistence on stripping off clothing.

** The unnamed protagonist of ''VideoGame/PokemonStadium'' is obviously meant to look similar to Red from ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue''. The female protagonist in the sequel game looks like a brunette Kris from ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Pokémon Crystal]]''.

*** Although none of them are Electric types, Marill, its evolutionary relatives, and Mimikyu are also sometimes included in this group by Pokémon fans.

*** The earlier routes are known for having a number of recurring patterns in the ComMons, such as with the Normal Mammals[[note]]Rattata, Sentret, Zigzagoon, Bidoof, Patrat, Bunnelby, Yungoos[[/note]] and the Normal/Flying Birds[[note]]Pidgey, Starly, Pidove, and Pikipek along with Spearow, Hoothoot, and Taillow[[/note]]. ''X and Y'' has noticed the pattern and subverted it; Bunnelby evolves into Diggersby, a ''[[NauseaFuel really not cute]]'' Normal/Ground type who's a MightyGlacier rather than a FragileSpeedster, and Fletchling, who at first appears to be the Normal/Flying bird, evolves into Talonflame, a Fire/Flying type who's [[DiscOneNuke one of the deadliest non-legendary Pokémon in existence]].
*** ''Black and White'' was known for completely wiping the pokédex up to that point to fill the region with new species. While this has had [[BrokenBase different results depending on who you ask]], the Roggenrolla[[note]]Expy of Geodude, a three-stage rock-type that had the ability Sturdy and had its final stage evolve by trade[[/note]], Woobat[[note]]A [[GoddamnedBats very common bat]] that confused opponents like Zubat[[/note]], Audino[[note]]A pink, fluffy MetalSlime that spreads joy and commonly works in medicine, like Chansey[[/note]], Timburr[[note]]A three-stage fighting-type with very high attack and has the last stage evolve through trade, like Machop[[/note]], Throh/Sawk[[note]]Hitmonlee/Hitmonchan, twin fighting types which looked similar but had different focuses, along with the fact that you could only have one of the two[[/note]], and Bouffalant[[note]]A normal-type bovine that strongly resembles Tauros with an afro[[/note]] lines seem oddly familiar.
*** ''Ruby and Sapphire'' was a similar case, even though the Pokédex was only partially wiped. One can easily see the first-gen inspiration from Beautifly and Dustox[[note]]Both going through cocoon metamorphosis similar to the Butterfree line, with Dustox taking after Venomoth[[/note]], the Shroomish line[[note]]Mushroom-based Pokemon similar to the Paras line which also has access to the otherwise exclusive Spore; [[DecompositeCharacter one could also make a case for the Nincada line]], which also includes an undead cicada similar to Parasect in Shedinja[[/note]], the Aron line[[note]]Rock-type mineral kaiju resembling a dinosaur similar to the Rhyhorn line[[/note]], Seviper[[note]]Venomous snake used by Jessie of Team Rocket, who replaced Arbok[[/note]], and the Corphish line[[note]]Crustacean Pokemon similar to the Krabby line, both caught by Ash[[/note]].

* Randy and Andy, the Dragon Twins from ''VideoGame/RiverCityRansom'', are based on Billy and Jimmy Lee, right down to using their same theme music. The reference was even more blatant in the Japanese version, ''[[VideoGame/KunioKun Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari]]'', where Randy and Andy's Japanese counterparts were [[DubNameChange originally named]] Ryūichi and Ryūji Hattori (their names meaning First Dragon and Second Dragon).

** M. Bison/Vega/Dictator is visually based off of [[http://fightingstreet.com/folders/variousinfofolder/ripofffolder/ripoff_pics/vegakato.jpg Yasunori Katō]] from the novel ''Literature/TeitoMonogatari'' and its various adaptations[[note]]''Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis'' and ''Doomed Megalopolis'' in particular[[/note]], right down to [[http://i.imgur.com/XeYcqCA.jpg the cape, hat]], and use of dark powers. Build-wise he's more closely modeled after [[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CVQkGwyWUAE-TI8.jpg Washizaki]] from Manga/RikiOh... who is in turn ''also'' visually inspired by Yasunori Kato.

* WordOfGod says Grandmaster Meio from ''VideoGame/{{Strider}}'' was inspired by [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Sauron]], specifically in his appearance in a cover art for the first book. This is noticeably in their similar cloaked/shadowy appearances and the fact "Meiō" is a title equivalent to Sauron's "Dark Lord", which is actually used in the book's Japanese localization.

* Arthas of ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}} III'' was inspired by [[Literature/TheElricSaga Elric of Melniboné]], and [[EvilWeapon Frostmourne]] by Stormbringer.

** From ''MetalGearSolidVThePhantomPain'', we have the FinalBoss, [[spoiler:Metal Gear ''Sahalanthropus'', which is similar in many respects to [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Evangelions]]: in addition to being distinctly humanoid in its build compared to other Metal Gears, it has some bestial behaviors like Unit-01 when it goes berserk. Also like the Evangelions, they are designed in such a way that they can only be piloted by ChildSoldiers. Further driving this home is the fact that the fight against ''Sahalanthropus'' entails the mecha being manipulated by a malevolent psychic child named Tretij Rebenok, whose name translates from Russian into "Third Child" -- the same designation given to Shinji Ikari.]]

%%* ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'', being a SpiritualSuccessor to ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear'', has a number of these:

*** He's quite similar to [[VideoGame/BlazBlue Jin Kisaragi]], too. Both are sometimes at least a bit [[AxCrazy crazy]], had a deep bond with one of the characters (Ragna/Bahamut) that was broken, and consider themselves kind-off the good guy, at least in the beginning, despite being on the definitely wrong side of the conflict. Their faces and hair are also definitely similar.

** Tohru Adachi's fighting style in ''VideoGame/Persona4ArenaUltimax'' is very similar to [[Franchise/{{BlazBlue}} Hazama]]'s, with one attack in particular resembling Hazama's Astral Finish.

* ''VideoGame/WintermoorTacticsClub'': The most obvious one is the game the Tactics Club formed around, Curses & Catacombs; it's a near beat-for-beat AffectionateParody of Dungeons & Dragons. Almost everything about the game is a reference in some way.
** Much later on, [[spoiler:the game Baphomet writes is very clearly an Expy of VampireTheMasquerade, though the game never comes out and directly says it.]]
** [[spoiler:Colin's ultimate challenge for the party]] is also this- a C&C module called the Crypt of Impossible Terrors, a clear reference to the Tomb of Horrors.

** Several parallels can be drawn between Nox and [[VideoGame/BravelyDefault the Evil One]][[spoiler:/Airy]]; both being [[WhiteHairBlackHeart white-haired]] girls who seem to be on good terms with the heroes, only to be [[TheReveal revealed]] to be EvilAllAlong enforcers of a greater evil's will before their respectives games are over, are vile {{Hate Sink}}s upon showing their true colors, are fought near the end of their respective games, and [[OneWingedAngel transform into monstrous forms]] to fight the heroes.