History MythologyGag / SuperSmashBrosUltimate

* R.O.B. is found next to a pile of electronic junk in the Mysterious Dimension. This could very well be a reference to the infamous New Mexico ''VideoGame/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'' cartridge landfill UrbanLegend that derived from UsefulNotes/TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983, with R.O.B. being often credited as the piece of hardware that managed to override the resulting anti-video-game stigma in America at the time.

* The UsefulNotes/{{Mii}} Fighters might seem to be scattered in random locations, but their placements make sense when you consider the other Mii-related stages found in ''Ultimate'', turning them into FridgeBrilliance.

* At the end of the MinigameCredits, the Bandai Namco, Sora Ltd., and Nintendo logos scroll down from the top of the screen. Shooting the Nintendo logo produces the UsefulNotes/GameBoy startup jingle, in reference to the Game Boy's startup screen where the Nintendo logo scrolls down from the top.

* [[VideoGame/KidIcarus Pit]], being an angel, is found in the Temple of Light, a holy area heavily inspired by his series.
** Interestingly, [[Franchise/{{Castlevania}} Simon]] is located in this same area before Pit. This is either a nod to the Belmonts being devout Christian warriors or Simon and Pit being colleagues in ''WesternAnimation/CaptainNTheGameMaster''.

* Terry's trailer starts with the startup screen for the UsefulNotes/NeoGeo. It then parodies scenes from various SNK fighting game intros, including ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'', ''VideoGame/SamuraiShodown'', and ''[[VideoGame/FatalFury Fatal Fury Special]]'', [[FailureMontage with the characters attempting to grab the Smash Bros invitation letter]]. It also features Geese's original death from ''Fatal Fury 1'', as he dives off the tower to try and grab the letter.

* Piranha Plant's route has it fight all the characters that were added in the main Ultimate game (barring the DLC characters): First a team of Inklings, then Ridley and Dark Samus, King K. Rool and Chrom, Simon and Richter, Isabelle and Daisy, and Ken and Incineroar. The final boss is Rathalos, who was also introduced first in ''Ultimate'' and represents a debuting universe (''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'').

* [=Mega Man=]'s Classic Mode in the Japanese version is named The Mystery of Dr. Mario, the subtitle for the Japanese name of ''VideoGame/MegaMan2''[[labelnote:*]]Rockman 2: The Mystery of Dr. Wily[[/labelnote]]. The final battle is against Dr. Mario (as a stand-in for Dr. Wily) and Mewtwo, representing Wily's alien hologram as the final boss of ''VideoGame/MegaMan2''.
** Mega Man's route also includes fighting copies of himself alongside the Yellow Devil on the Wily Fortress stage, referencing the Wily Fortress bosses of ''Mega Man 1'' and ''3'' (the Devil and Copy Robot). And after that, Galleom is fought with Guts Man's theme replacing his own battle music, possibly referencing the Guts Tank from ''Mega Man 2''.

* [[Franchise/MetalGear Snake]] is locked away in a military base that'd fit in his series. He's also guarded by a Metal Gear REX, and the Cardboard Box can be found in a chest next to the both of them.

* The surprise Mii Fighter of Challenger Pack #6 turned out to be [[VideoGame/{{Fallout}} Vault Boy]], whose showcase contained some cute references to his home franchise.

* [[https://twitter.com/sora_sakurai/status/1340492120973447169 A tweet]] made by Sakurai in December of 2020 shows Mario, Bowser, and Geno (via Mii costume) facing down Safer Sephiroth, calling to mind Culex, the BonusBoss from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'', who looks fairly similar in appearance and stature.

** Sora battles Sephiroth, a nod to the latter's status as a BonusBoss in the first game and ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII''.

! Adventure Mode (World of Light)

* [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic]] is found in the Sacred Land in front of the path to Cloud guarding the Master Sword. This might be a nod to how Sonic [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries once wielded a sacred sword himself]] or how ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'' has a ''Zelda''-themed DLC stage.

** The Koopalings appearing in Mario, Yoshi, and Peach's Classic Modes are ordered in which they are fought in their specific appearances.
*** Mario's route has the Koopalings in the order of ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3''.
*** Yoshi's route has them in the order of ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'', which is appropriately his debut game.
*** Peach's route puts them in the order of ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosU''

* Wolf's route is a big rematch against every character that was missing from ''Smash'' for [=3DS/Wii U=] returning back in ''Ultimate'' (and in the case of two certain fighters, both ''3DS/Wii U and [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl Brawl]]'': Young Link, Pichu, Squirtle and Ivysaur, Snake, and Ice Climbers. The boss is Galleom, an original boss to Smash Bros. who also has returned in kind.

* Wolf's route is a big rematch against every character that was missing from ''Smash'' for [=3DS/Wii U=] returning back in ''Ultimate'': Young Link, Pichu, Squirtle and Ivysaur, Snake, and Ice Climbers. The boss is Galleom, an original boss to Smash Bros. who also has returned in kind.

** [[VideoGame/AssassinsCreed Altair]]'s reveal starts with him landing in a Loftwing Nest on Skyloft as a bird's cry can be heard, calling to mind the [[LeapOfFaith leaps of faith]] the assassins are known for. He's also seen performing an "assassination" from a ledge and tossing an enemy into a shop stall, both prominent ways of finishing off your foes in the series.

** If a regular song plays during a Time Battle, Now or Never wi;; appear during the last minute. Additionally Judd and Little Judd will hold up colored flags indicating the player color, referencing their role as referees.

* In the same vein, the Dracula's Castle dungeon is an almost exact recreation of the level map from the original ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaI'', albeit more detailed. The areas even match up with where the levels are in the original game as well, with the Spirit battles corresponding to the enemies and bosses you would fight in each. Interestingly, it's also floating in the sky away from any landmass, which was the case in ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaChroniclesOfSorrow Aria of Sorrow]]''.

* Peach's Classic Mode is named "No Damsel in Distress", and it is the complete ''opposite'' of her usual role as the DamselInDistress in the main ''Mario'' games. All of her opponents have kidnapped someone at least once each, and Peach is taking matters into her own hands. The fourth and sixth battles even have Peach face-off against her usual kidnappers (Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings, and Bowser respectively).

* As Palutena is a goddess herself, her Classic Mode is about facing protagonists from series where religion or mythology play a key role. Link and Zelda due to the divine nature of the Triforce and various deities existing in their series[[spoiler:, as well as Zelda being the reincarnation of a goddess]]. Cloud as ''Final Fantasy'' as a whole has many divinities and could be a reference to [[VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy once being chosen to be the warrior of a goddess]] and the music playing is Magnus Theme, suggesting that Cloud is also meant to be Magnus from ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising''. Simon and Richter due to the Belmont clan being made of devoted Christians that use holy equipment against the undead. Shulk [[spoiler:since the final antagonist of his game is a god and he became one himself briefly]]. Bayonetta hunts angels to feed their souls to Underworld demons. Lastly, her series is represented by fighting a horde of Pits and Dark Pits in her own temple.

* Wolf's route is a big rematch against every character that was missing from Smash for 3DS / Wii U returning back in Ultimate: Young Link, Pichu, Squirtle and Ivysaur, Snake, and Ice Climbers. The boss is Galleom, an original boss to Smash Bros. who also has returned in kind.
* Piranha Plant's route has it fight all the characters that were added in the main Ultimate game: First a team of Inklings, then Ridley and Dark Samus, King K. Rool and Chrom, Simon and Richter, Isabelle and Daisy and Ken and Incineroar. The final boss is Rathalos, who was also introduced first in ''Ultimate'' and represents a debuting universe (''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'').

* Ness' Classic Mode, "Home to Onett!" is basically the events of ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound|1994}}'' in reverse. It starts off in Magicant with a battle against another Ness, similar to how Ness fought his Nightmare in ''his'' Magicant. His next battle is against Lucas in New Pork City, which might actually be a ''reverse'' reference, in that Lucas can find a movie of Ness and his friends in New Pork City in ''VideoGame/Mother3''. He then moves to Fourside to fight 3 R.O.B.s, a nod to how he had to fight security robots in the Monotoli tower who bear a striking resemblance. He moves on to fight Sheik in Gerudo Valley, a stand-in for the Dusty Dunes Desert area between Fourside and Threed. The next battle is against two Dark Toon Links in Luigi's Mansion, referencing the zombies of the dark (at first) Threed. In addition, Jeff is the only Assist Trophy that can be summoned here, since Jeff was recruited into the party here. He finally arrives at his hometown Onett in the sixth battle against Villager and Isabelle. This might be a reference to how dogs were among the first enemies Ness fought and the mayor is a questionable individual. Starmen are the only Assist Trophies that will appear here, a nod to how late in the game, they took over Onett. In Japanese, the name of this route references Ness' homesickness, a condition he would get in his game if he did not speak to his mother for a long period of time.