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1[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sudden_vigeogame_moment.jpg]]]]
2[[caption-width-right:350:Above: How the series normally looks.\
3Below: This trope in action.]]
4
5That moment when, in a live-action film, anime, comic strip or other non-video game medium, one suddenly gets video game graphics for a scene. Can be either meant as a self-ironic joke, a would-be profound comment, or for purposes of narrative distantiation. Sometimes, instead of getting video game-like graphics, the show starts to briefly follow video game rules or use a video game-like display.
6
7Doesn't count if the characters are actually ''playing'' a video game: It becomes a ShowWithinAShow with the occasional DeepImmersionGaming sprinkled on. See also: MediumBlending.
8
9-----
10!!Examples:
11
12[[foldercontrol]]
13
14[[folder:Advertising]]
15* Beginning with a very ''Grand Theft Auto'' look and feel, a Coca-Cola [[https://youtu.be/31UzB9gwm88?si=p-EdKwttXtGlbunq ad]] soon becomes LighterAndSofter due to the PlayerCharacter making more positive choices within the game world environment.
16* In this Super Bowl Bud Light [[https://youtu.be/w-7AacHGVR8?si=TrgrKNQHg1RGpgEf ad]] an unsuspiciously labelled bottle with the message "the perfect beer for stepping outside for some old school fun" leads a not completely inebriated man from a local bar to an exclusive indoor live action game of Pac-Man, with no admission cost and no waiting in line. With no rules being given at the onset of this game, thankfully no one was hurt.
17[[/folder]]
18
19[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
20* Perhaps the defining example: every single episode of ''Bug-tte Honey'' features a sudden video game moment, which makes sense considering it's an extremely loose adaptation of the first ''VideoGame/AdventureIsland'' for the NES. The scenes are often inspired by or even parody Adventure Island and other Creator/HudsonSoft Nintendo games, with shots at ''VideoGame/{{Bomberman}}'', ''VideoGame/MilonsSecretCastle'', ''VideoGame/NutsAndMilk'' and numerous other Hudson games too obscure for even the most devoted retro fans to know of. The series also integrates other Hudson characters such as Bomberman, Milon and Milk into the main story of episodes.
21* Happens frequently in ''Anime/PaniPoniDash''. This is Creator/StudioShaft, after all.
22* Also ''Manga/SayonaraZetsubouSensei''.
23* ''Manga/LuckyStar'''s anime adaptation has quite a few moments like this:
24** When Konata describes how she first met Tsukasa by rescuing her from a foreigner, she is depicted as a character in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII'', defeating an opponent who looks like Guile on Ryu's stage.
25** When Tsukasa asks Konata how she's so good at running, Konata replies that it's all about visualization. What does she visualize? Running in the style of the NES game ''VideoGame/TrackAndField'', complete with a close-up of someone's hands using increasingly effective methods of ButtonMashing (such as the coin and ruler tricks) to win the game.
26--->'''Kagami:''' That's some old-school visualization you've got there.
27** Another episode of the anime features Konata and Nanako having an argument that soon cuts to a ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' style battle, with them piloting [[Literature/FullMetalPanic the Arbalest and Codarl]] respectively and arguing in the dialog boxes.
28* ''Franchise/MikaguraSchoolSuite'': Episode 8 features Eruna searching for a hairbrush and lipstick in the style of ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'', switching to a battle scene when Kurumi appears.
29* At one point in ''Manga/ShamanKing'', as Anna catches Yoh slacking off from his TrainingFromHell, the world briefly turns into a FightingGame while she punishes him.
30* ''Anime/ExcelSaga'' episode 4 weaves in and out of a dating sim.
31* An entire episode of ''Manga/{{Genshiken}}'' was portrayed as if it was a DatingSim.
32* Lambada in ''Manga/BoboboboBobobo'' is defeated with a continuous stream of these. In the manga, the finisher is based on an actual ''Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo'' video game.
33* ''Anime/TheTowerOfDruaga'' has a scene where, caused by a trap-spell, everyone gets temporarily trapped in the 8-bit version of ''VideoGame/TheTowerOfDruaga''. Characters confuse each other for rocks/blocks or whatever due to the horrible 8-bit image quality.
34** In a later episode, the main character has to go into a section of the tower where he has no control over himself, and instead someone else has to control him using an old fashioned arcade machine.
35* ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' had a FissionMailed sequence which looked like a "bad ending" screen from a VisualNovel, complete with a "Continue/Quit" screen drawn by Haruna as a visual aid.
36* Because of its Exam Summoning Battle system, this occurs very frequently in ''Literature/BakaAndTestSummonTheBeasts'''s anime adaptation, which is from the same director as the aforementioned ''Anime/PaniPoniDash''.
37* Episode 7 of ''Literature/{{Katanagatari}}'' uses this several times.
38* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':
39** ''Manga/PokemonAdventures'' is drawn manga-style most of the time, but switches to the game sprites for the Pokedex displays.
40** The very first scene of the very first episode of [[Anime/PokemonTheOriginalSeries the anime]] begins with a recreation of the Nidorino vs. Gengar cutscene seen when booting up ''Red'', tinny 8-bit music and all. It quickly transitions into something befitting the show proper, though.
41* ''Manga/DrStone'' has an ItemGet popup whenever he builds a new piece of technology, e.g. "Acquired Stone Tools!"
42** The trip into the caves to find tungsten begins with a "Character Select" screen as Senku ponders the advantages and disadvantages of the rest of the cast. The visuals then change to a 2D platformer as he describes the plan.
43* ''Manga/KaguyaSamaLoveIsWar'':
44** Kaguya's first attempt to use her routine against Shirogane is depicted as a 2D fighting game, comlete with lifebars, super meter, and a timer.
45** During the culture festival, Kaguya's panic over [[spoiler:Ishigami's depression over Tsubame potentially ruining her date with Shirogane]] is depicted as a ShoutOut to ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil1'', complete with static camera angles, tank controls, and {{Wallbonking}}.
46* ''Anime/MeatOrDie'' depicts Yans' and Gans' scheme breakdowns as 8-bit platformer levels.
47* ''Anime/ZombieLandSaga Revenge'': In episode 3, Kotaro debriefs Franchouchou about Iron Frill's arrival while carrying a a water-gun rifle and acting like a soldier. Then it cuts to a POVCam where he starts shooting at the girls in a manner reminiscent of a FirstPersonShooter, complete with cross-hair on the screen and right-handed weapon view.
48* In episode 2 of ''Webcomic/MobPsycho100'''s second season, the scuffle between Shinra Banshoumaru and a flasher in a red coat is briefly represented as a 1-vs-1 fighting game, including lifebars and special moves.
49* ''VideoGame/GameTengoku'' was a video game about video game characters traveling through the game world inside arcade cabinets. When TheAnimeOfTheGame (two shorts) was made, it naturally featured this trope, but in a disappointing way: there was only a brief scene imitating Jaleco's ''Field Combat'' and the rest felt like a totally generic anime, with nothing besides the characters relating to all the featured games.
50[[/folder]]
51
52[[folder:Asian Animation]]
53* ''Animation/HappyHeroes'': In Season 2 episode 27, there's a brief scene during the Supermen's training session where the art style goes 8-bit and turns into a platform game. Said scene features what are meant as the "?" blocks from ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' as a ShoutOut.
54[[/folder]]
55
56[[folder:Comic Books]]
57* ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}'' starts with The Invisible Woman, Captain America, Daredevil and The Hulk acting wildly out of character; the next page shows they are video game avatars in a Marvel themed MMORPG. By volume two this turns out to be a PlotDeviceAllAlong.
58* ''ComicBook/ScottPilgrim'' gradually becomes more and more assimilated by its video game moments as it progresses.
59[[/folder]]
60
61[[folder:Fan Works]]
62* ''WebVideo/NarutoTheAbridgedSeries'':
63** One scene is based on a battle from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII''.
64** Another scene from an actual ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' video game during the Naruto vs. Neji battle.
65* ''WebVideo/MyLittlePonyCamaraderieIsSupernatural'':
66** In episode 2, the fight with the manticore from "Elements of Harmony" is depicted as a ''Franchise/FinalFantasy''-style RPG battle, complete with one of the characters leveling up at the end.
67** During Apple Bloom's "[=80s=] training montage" in episode 3, a remix of the montage music from ''VideoGame/PunchOut'' plays, and the montage ends with a reference to the inter-title training sequences from the NES version of the game.
68* At least one of these shows up in each ''WebVideo/PoniesTheAnthology'' video, such as the opening to Part 2 in its entirety. Another segment is a direct homage to the infamous Ghost train fight from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI''. ''Anthology III'' features the fight between Twilight and Trixie in "Magic Duel" as a match in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIII''.
69* [[http://ask-king-sombra.tumblr.com/post/55557229063/n-e-w-h-i-g-h-s-c-o-r-e-new This]] Blog/AskKingSombra post. One word: ''VideoGame/{{Tetris}}''.
70[[/folder]]
71
72[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
73* ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2'' has a ''VideoGame/PacMan'' homage where Po and the Furious Five inside a dragon costume go through the streets "eating" guards.
74* During the TrainingMontage for Titan/Tighten in ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'', one of the exercises involves running up scaffolding while Minion throws barrels from the top. [[VideoGame/DonkeyKong Sound familiar?]]
75* ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'', naturally, has plenty of these. For example, Tapper heading off to serve some customers is rendered as gameplay taken from the first level of ''Tapper'', and the end credits feature Ralph and Vanellope in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII''.
76* ''WesternAnimation/WaveTwisters'' has its story interspersed with {{Retraux}} ArtShift action scenes resembling retro games including ''Asteroids'', 2D space shooters and sprite based 2D side-scrollers. There are samples taken from games including ''[=StarCraft=]''. The cover resembles ''Pitfall'''s Atari 2600 box art.
77* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsFriendshipGames'': "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e44a--DJ30c All's Fair in Love and Friendship Games]]" has a moment in which a battle between Lyra and Bon-Bon is seen as being part of a fighting game, complete with two fists coming together to signify the beginning of the round.
78* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsMagicalMovieNight'': "Mirror Magic" has a scene where Pinkie Pie starts eating chocolate-covered almonds while doing a Pac-Man impression.
79* ''Animation/PleasantGoatAndBigBigWolfFilmSeries'':
80** ''Animation/PleasantGoatAndBigBigWolfTheSuperAdventure'': A Black Kingdom bacteria fighting a White Kingdom bacteria is made to look like a fighting game, with both having health bars and the Black Kingdom bacteria giving the White Kingdom bacteria quite the walloping in the form of a combo, K.O.-ing him.
81** In ''Animation/PleasantGoatAndBigBigWolfTheTigerProwess'', a scene where Weslie and Wolffy traverse the temple is made to look like one of the ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' games.
82[[/folder]]
83
84[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
85* Leonardo [=DiCaprio=]'s character Richard suddenly experiences this in ''Film/TheBeach''.
86* ''Film/YiYi'': When the neighbor's boyfriend murders her lover, the scene is played as a videogame fight.
87* The ''Street Fighter'' scene in the Jackie Chan ''Film/CityHunter'' movie.
88* ''Film/MeetTheSpartans'' has a sequence which parodies ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto: [[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas San Andreas]]'', complete with jerky movement and weapon pickups. You have to give [[Creator/SeltzerAndFriedberg them]] credit for averting PacManFever...
89* The scene in ''Film/ShaunOfTheDead'' where Shaun is shooting at zombies trying to come through the broken picture window in the Winchester. Set up as an IronicEcho of an earlier scene involving a FPS video game.
90* ''Film/{{Doom}}'' was originally supposed to be entirely shot from the first person perspective of a SpaceMarine fighting monsters. Instead, it has one scene near the end which filmed in the first person, with similar beats to the then-latest game in the series.
91* Creator/UweBoll did this in ''Film/HouseOfTheDead'', using [[SpecialEffectFailure the attract-mode footage from the original, already-decade-old arcade game]].
92* The Hong Kong zombie flick ''Bio-Zombie'' has a climax where the main character shoot their way out of a mall filled with zombies, filmed as a light gun-style shooter -- complete with "RELOAD!" graphics.
93* The made-for-TV movie ''Film/MaxKnightUltraSpy'''s climax is rendered in the ''VideoGame/HalfLife engine'' to simulate the battle in cyberspace.
94* The TravelMontage in ''Film/TopSecret'' ends with the streets of East Berlin turning into the maze in ''VideoGame/PacMan''.
95* In ''Film/SupermanIII'', the scene where the computer is launching missiles against Superman looked and sounded like an Atari video game, and was actually animated by Atari Inc. (then owned by Warner Bros., and overseen by [[Creator/DreamworksAnimation PDI]] founder Carl Rosendahl). Atari did plan to release a LicensedGame based on the movie, but [[{{Vaporware}} it was never finished]].
96* A fight scene in ''Film/TheCrimsonRivers'' is overlayed with fight noises from ''Tekken 3'', which the (Skinhead?) non-heroes were playing before the fight started.
97* In ''Film/StreetFighter'', the supreme military commander and dictator of a South East Asian nation launches a technologically advanced attack on a band of insurgent rebel fighters by remotely detonating a series of explosive charges in an attempt to stop the incursion. Believing the operation was a strategic success, the commander raises his arms and declares ''GAME OVER!!!''. The viewscreen and controls for the interface launching this attack appears to come from a heavily modified ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII'' arcade cabinet.
98* Stretch this trope out over an entire movie and you have ''Film/ScottPilgrimVsTheWorld''.
99* ''Film/Tetris2023'': Sprinked throughout the trailer are moments when video game graphics are imposed upon the real world - Rogers describing his experience with the game as Tetrominos descend behind him and a car crash suddenly being rendered as a pixilated image - as well as moments portrayed as video game pixel art such as travel montages and car chases.
100[[/folder]]
101
102[[folder:Literature]]
103* ''Literature/JohnDiesAtTheEnd'': One chapter set at an abandoned mall suddenly becomes this, complete with MoneySpider and CrateExpectations. GenreSavvy John quickly figures out what's going on:
104--> "A key. Good. Now, if I know what's going on here, and I think I do, we'll have to wander around looking for that door. Behind it we'll meet a series of monsters or, more likely, a whole bunch of the same one. We'll kill them, get another key, and then it'll open a really big door. [[SuspiciousVideoGameGenerosity Now right before that we'll probably get nicer guns.]] It may require us to backtrack some and it might get really tedious and annoying."
105[[/folder]]
106
107[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
108* ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' has a bit where George is trying to get a ''VideoGame/{{Frogger}}'' arcade machine across a car filled street, which is filmed to look like ''Frogger''.
109* One of the April Fools' episodes of ''Series/TheDrewCareyShow'' had a scene filmed in ''VideoGame/TheSims''.
110* ''Series/{{Spaced}}'':
111** Tim and Daisy have an argument that's interspersed with clips from ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}} 3''. Every time Tim or Daisy makes a verbal attack, Paul Phoenix or Nina Williams respectively land blows in the game. In the end Daisy wins and Nina's victory animation is shown. Daisy then turns and does the same action for a "Daisy Steiner wins!" screen complete with HP bars, voice-over and pixelated videogame-like graphics.
112** There's also Tim's speed-induced (and later, [[GRatedDrug Twiglet-induced]]) conflation of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil'' with RealLife, and even repeats a line from from a {{cutscene}} we saw earlier. (This episode inspired them to make ''Film/ShaunOfTheDead''.)
113* Chappelle's Show had a skit that showed Dave acting like a video game character in a ''Grand Theft Auto'' clone, complete with him engaging in a car-jacking, pulling weapons out of HammerSpace, and so on.
114[[/folder]]
115
116[[folder:Video Games]]
117* Almost a meta-example: in Law's ending in ''VideoGame/Tekken5'', the cutscene briefly switches into a round of ''Tekken''.
118* Likewise, Amy's ending in ''[[VideoGame/SoulSeries SoulCalibur IV]]'' ends with her shoving Raphael over the edge of a stage and a big "RING OUT!!" appears on the screen, just like would happen in a real match.
119* ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes'':
120** In the second game, whenever Travis takes a job, it is presented as an 8-bit video game, as are the training segments.
121** The first game also features a dream sequence presented as a top-down shooter.
122* Another meta-example occurs in ''VideoGame/YumeNikki'', where one of the protagonist's dream worlds is presented in the manner of an 8-bit RPG.
123* Rather after the fashion of the ''No More Heroes'' example, ''VideoGame/LittleKingsStory'' features a mock 8-bit intro to the boss fight with King TV Dinnah.
124* Chapter 4 of ''VideoGame/LollipopChainsaw'' is filled with these. Throughout the chapter, Juliet and Nick keep being pulled into (fictional) arcade games. While these arcade games are still in 3D and running on the Unreal Engine just like the rest of the game, they are all parodies of old arcade games, such as ''VideoGame/PacMan'' and ''VideoGame/ElevatorAction''.
125* At one point in ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiSuperstarSaga'', Mario and Luigi are separated and Luigi is on a barrel. During that, there is a point where Mario goes up a hallway while barrels keep going down, resembling the first level of ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong''.
126* ''VideoGame/TheWhiteChamber'' has a section where you're sucked into a retro gaming system, with everything pixellated to 8-bit (and it's possible to die). When it ends, it has no effect on the plot apart from your character deciding not to do that again.
127[[/folder]]
128
129[[folder:Web Animation]]
130* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'':
131** Part of Homestar, Strong Sad and Pom Pom's quest in "In Search of the Yellow Dello" involves the trio appearing in a pastiche of ''Pitfall''. A deleted scene features an alternate version with the Atari 2600 game ''Barnstorming'' instead.
132** When Strong Bad attempts to kill Pom Pom "in the name of science" and whiffs his attack because he's blindfolded, the pummeling he receives in response comes with an on-screen combo counter, finally culminating in a "1 UP" message on the final hit. All accompanied by sound effects from ''Super Mario''.
133** An EasterEgg in "On Break" has Homestar, Strong Bad, and Coach Z in their mascot costumes, bouncing around the first stage of ''Burger Time'' while the Brothers Chaps hum the music from the game.
134* Happens once in Chris Niosi's ''Balancing Act'' short from 2011, in which Chris Frost goes full Megaman for a brief scene.
135* Also happens a couple times in ''WebAnimation/{{TOME}}'', but this is justified since the setting ''is'' actually a video game. The trope applies because there are a couple rare scenes that are a sort of OutOfGenreExperience for the ''type'' of game (the game is usually presented as an MMO, but a brief gag has the scene shift to a platformer, for instance).
136* ''WebAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsDigitalSeries'': In "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsXMarksTheSpot X Marks the Spot]]", during their search for the treasure chest, the girls are shown in a video game sequence similar to the mobile game Sunset was playing.
137* ''WebAnimation/DeathBattle'':
138** In ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Sephiroth]] vs. [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry Vergil]]'', this happens in the climax of the fight, when Sephiroth unveils Super Nova, it shows a ''Final Fantasy VII''-esque status menu, showing Vergil's HP (9999) and Devil Trigger gauge (which is full).
139** '' In "[[Franchise/MortalKombat Goro]] vs. [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Machamp]]", this happens twice. The first happens when Goro's fire breath burns Machamp, activating the Pokemon's [[InfernalRetaliation Guts]] ability complete with a "ability activated" pop-up from the [[VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield Generation VIII games]]. The second happens [[spoiler:after Machamp's victory, where a "Machamp's hurt by its burn!" popup from the [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Gen I games]] appears, causing Machamp to faint.]]
140** Much like the earlier example, a ''Final Fantasy VII'' styled status menu shows up in ''[[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Link]] vs. [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Cloud]] (2021)'', twice this time. The first time is at the start of the fight, showing Cloud's HP (9502) and MP (905), plus his Limit gauge being empty. [Which, by the way, [[ShownTheirWork are the default values of HP and MP that Cloud has at level 99]] in ''Final Fantasy VII'']. The second time is during the climax, where it shows up again (with Cloud at 302 HP and 54 MP, plus a full Limit Gauge), with the second one also showing a command menu where Cloud selects [[LimitBreak Omnislash Version 5.]]
141* In Creator/CyberConnect2's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-PudD1UrvU contribution to their "animation showdown"]] with Creator/StudioKhara, CC-Chu's fight with Kuroneko is presented in an almost identical manner to their ''VideoGame/NarutoUltimateNinjaStorm'' series, complete with a similar UI.
142* ''WebAnimation/StBlackSt'' love this tropes. Mainly RPG style.
143[[/folder]]
144
145[[folder:Webcomics]]
146* ''Webcomic/DMOfTheRings'' has a couple of panels where Legolas sliding down the stairs in Helm's Deep in a shield is rendered like a ''VideoGame/TonyHawksProSkater'' game, Gimli fighting the uruk-hai invasion is rendered like he was playing ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'', and Aragorn providing cover is rendered as a ''VideoGame/NetHack'' battle.
147* ''Webcomic/MegaTokyo'' has a panel showing the difference between Piro and Largo's worlds: whereas Piro's view is like a DatingSim, Largo's view is a FirstPersonShooter.
148* ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'': [[http://www.sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/091209 In a strip]], Torg mentally pictures conversation options as though he were playing ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins''.
149* The fourth panel in [[http://www.cad-comic.com/cad/20030318 this strip]] of ''Webcomic/CtrlAltDel''.
150* ''Webcomic/MSPaintAdventures'':
151** All the webcomics of the series are set up as reader-driven adventure games, but ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' takes it one step farther by actually including a couple Flash segments where you control one of the main characters directly in a short point-and-click game.
152** Also during the end of Act 4, where [[spoiler: this trope is used alongside a MoodWhiplash BigLippedAlligatorMoment, featuring a sailor being attacked by [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter Squiddles]], using pixelated graphics]].
153** In Act 5 there have been flashes where you play a character RPG-overworld style.
154* In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', one panel from [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0354.html strip #354]] depicts Julia Greenhilt fighting off infernal bugs as a round of ''VideoGame/{{Centipede}}''.
155-->'''Julia:''' Help, I'm out of quarters! I mean, spells!
156* In ''Webcomic/OurLittleAdventure'', [[http://danielscreations.com/ola/comics/ep0308.html Moratios' dungeon for beginners]] is in ''Franchise/{{Super Mario|Bros}}'' style, complete with [[TheGoomba Goombas]] and GoombaStomp.
157* Occasionally, ''Webcomic/{{Prequel}}'' will slip a flash at the end of a page. While the flashes are usually just movies, sometimes they end up being decent games. Examples include a 16-bit render of Kvatch Katia explores, the chase game against Stephane, the peg puzzle and the snowball game with Aggy.
158** Kvatch easily takes the cake, since it's fully explorable and you're only required to see about a third of it. ''VideoGame/TheElderscrollsIVOblivion'''s lore is integrated into Kvatch with great detail and the Arena actually contains a ''GameWithinAGame'' in the form of the dance minigame. Needless to say, Kazerad takes his games seriously.
159* RedMage in ''Webcomic/EightBitTheater'' jumps from one role-playing system to another, but one time his wires get crossed and [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2002/09/18/episode-193-altered-perceptual-states/ sees the world]] as ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII''.
160* ''Webcomic/CrystalHeroes'' has a scene that takes this trope to the extent of MediumBlending. When the party enters the library dungeon, the next scene is actually a short playable RPG, not just a scene that looks like one.
161* ''Webcomic/SWAPEnsemble'': When Marianna Cors considers a decision that would push her out of her comfort zone but has obvious benefits, a ''VisualNovel/{{Choices|StoriesYouPlay}}'' interface appears as a TakeThat to premium choices. Those choices include going to the mid-season recital, getting Cyrissa's phone number, and not getting jumped on a date.
162[[/folder]]
163
164[[folder:Western Animation]]
165* ''WesternAnimation/MegasXLR'' had quite a few moments when the status screens in Megas resemble video games. This is par for the course, obviously.
166* ''WesternAnimation/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends'':
167** In the pilot movie, Bloo being chased by a giant monster through a junkyard suddenly turns into a ''WesternAnimation/PacMan'' pastiche, complete with music.
168** ''[[TheMovie Destination Imagination]]'' has a sequence inspired by ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'', including Mac growing in size upon eating a vegetable (a pumpkin in this case, instead of a mushroom).
169* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'':
170** Special mention goes to the "Anthology of Interest II" episode, whose middle segment is one long series of Sudden Videogame Moments. They are all 1970s-early 80s "classic" video games, like the sort Fry played back in the past at his old job, as seen in the pilot episode.
171** Also, on "Fear of a Bot Planet", two robots are building a wall with ''VideoGame/{{Tetris}}''-like bricks. When they fill up a gap, most of the wall disappears, as in the game.
172** One of the segments in the season six episode "Reincarnation" depicts the Planet Express crew in the style of an 8-bit video game.
173* The ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "{{Atlantis}} Squarepantis" has a scene in which the characters are shrunk to microscopic size and are viewed as 16-bit graphics.
174* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
175** In "Strong Arms of the Ma", Homer attempts to put all the stuff bought at a garage sale into the car -- ''VideoGame/{{Tetris}}''-style!
176** In "Homer and Ned's Hail Mary Pass", Homer gets angry at a Mario look-alike and starts acting like ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'', including [[ThrowABarrelAtIt chucking a trash can at him]].
177** The episode ''Marge Gamer'' shifts between the game characters of the MMORPG ''Earthland Realms'' and the players who look just like them. Or vice versa.
178* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'':
179** "Red Hot Catholic Love": A quest through the treacherous hidden passages of the Vatican is depicted as a game of ''VideoGame/{{Pitfall}}''.
180** Then there's the episode centered around ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft''.
181* Cyborg attempting to get through an ancient battle in ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' turns the screen into ''VideoGame/{{Frogger}}''.
182* In the ''WesternAnimation/KickButtowski'' episode "Battle for the 'Snax", Kick's attempts to lead a crowd to Gunther's restaurant features a progress bar on top of the screen, and a graphic reading "Angry Crowd!" flashing near the end. Another episode, "Not Without My Cereal", has Kick chasing his sister, Brianna, through a supermarket, and the animation turns 8-bit as Kick tries to avoid shopping carts. As Kick is hit by two shopping carts, the animation goes back to normal.
183* ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'': When Buster and Plucky get stuck in "the hole" while in prison in "Gang Busters", they amuse themselves by recreating ''VideoGame/{{Pong}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/PacMan'' using their [[ByTheLightsOfTheirEyes glow-in-the-dark eyes]].
184* ''WesternAnimation/DrawnTogether'' has a few, mostly involving Wooldor. In one, he's in ''VideoGame/DigDug'', digging his way out of a grave, ''Film/KillBill 2'' style. In another, he's the dog in ''VideoGame/DuckHunt''.
185* Happens less often than you might think in ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}'' considering that it's based on a video game.
186** The whole TitleSequence of the first season shows the heroes as in a PlatformGame, parodying some tropes along the way, like AsteroidsMonster.
187** During the second season episode 15, "Wabbits Island", a whole "Mini-Wakfu" segment features references to ''Franchise/{{Super Mario|Bros}}'', ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'', ''VideoGame/{{Breakout}}'', ''VideoGame/SpaceInvaders'', ''VideoGame/{{Tetris}}'' and ''VideoGame/PacMan''.
188* ''WesternAnimation/VivaPinata'' has this in "To Catch a Piñata" of ''VideoGame/{{Frogger}}'' with Paulie, Fergy, and Langston. [[ButtMonkey Predictably, Langston, despite being a frog, is the only one to fall into the river.]]
189* ''WesternAnimation/SkunkFu'': [[RashomonStyle Skunk's story]] in "The Art of Remembering."
190* ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'' had an [[WeaponsGradeVocabulary insult]] [[MundaneMadeAwesome fight scene]] between Gumball and Darwin in the episode "The Words." The "fight" was styled as a ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' match; there were [[LifeMeter life meters]] and combo tracking for both characters, as well as a continue screen at the end. There's a moment of CuttingBackToReality where the background characters are unimpressed by the two barely actually doing anything--[[RuleOfFunny yet somehow]] Gumball's harsh words ''demolished a wall.''
191* During a space adventure, WesternAnimation/DangerMouse once drove into a game of ''Space Invaders''.
192* In the ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'' episode "Party With a Pony", Princess Pony Head plows through a group of nerdy square people at the Amethyst Arcade, who proceed to fall back into place in the style of ''Tetris'' (complete with [[SuspiciouslySimilarSong a sound-alike]] of ''Korobeiniki'').
193* The ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' episode "Fight Fighters" is a sendup of videogames, including one scene near the climax wherein Rumble Mac Skirmish is tear-assin' through town that directly parodies ''VideoGame/RiverCityRansom''.
194* ''WesternAnimation/WeBareBears'': The short "Bear Stack" is a long string of these, as the bears rush to the game store to get the last copy of ''Super Cat Knight 4''.
195* In ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'', Perry's entrance to his lair is DifferentInEveryEpisode. In "Imperfect Storm", he jumps into an arcade game and temporarily becomes part of it. When he arrives in his "real-world" lair, the pixelated bananas tunnel down with him.
196* In ''WesternAnimation/CraigOfTheCreek'', Season 2 "The Evolution of Craig", Craig rescues a tadpole and decides to raise it. Every time the tadpole evolves, a ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}''-style graphic appears and announces its evolution level. Also, during Craig's ImagineSpot about turning into Bernard, the fight between him and Kelsey and JP is done as a first-generation ''Pokémon'' fight sequence.
197* ''WesternAnimation/TearAlongTheDottedLine'' is an adult animation series about Zero, a cartoonist, and the contrast between how he sees the world and how it actually is. One episode had a scene of Zero getting bored to tears by the ramblings of an old woman, then it cut to a 16-bit-esque fighting game based on ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII'' with Zero as not-Ryu getting pummelled by the woman as not-Dhalsim.
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