!!From Case Zero:
* He may still make you pay for items even after you save his life, but the pawn shop owner is still a lot nicer than [[Film/RoboCop1987 that other guy named Dick Jones]].
* Using the strong attack (hold X) with the large kitchen knife you can find in the diner will make Chuck grab a zombie around the waist and stab it in the chest repeatedly while the ''Film/{{Psycho}}'' ScareChord plays.
* There are cardboard standees of [[VideoGame/MegaMan Proto Man]] in the town movie theater.
* There is a [[Franchise/AceAttorney Blue Badger]] graffiti on the wall in the town.
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!!From the main game:
* When Frank made Spitfire in the original, it gave him fatal loogies. When Chuck makes Spitfire he is able [[Franchise/StreetFighter literally spit a wall of flame]].
** One of the masks is a "goblin mask" that is clearly Blanka from Franchise/StreetFighter. Furthering the homage is a combo weapon - take the mask, add some batteries, and you have an electricity-spewing Blanka head!
* One boss fight [[spoiler:with Sullivan]] should possibly remind of another hand-to-hand boss fight from the first one. Especially because you can get disarmed from any weapon unless you fight with your fists.
* The host and announcers - and the show in general - of Terror Is Reality is one big Shout Out to [[VideoGame/MadWorld a similar pay-per-view event]], up to and including [[spoiler:the host serving as the final boss of the game]], taunting you all the while.
** Yet another and possible subtle one, ''Film/TheRunningMan'' complete with a jumpsuit that matches Arnold's one in the film, and the fact TK is much like Killian [[spoiler:(the BigBad, an egotistical {{Jerkass}}, and someone who uses a loved one for entertainment value)]].
* Brandon has a button on his shirt that resembles the [[Franchise/ResidentEvil Umbrella]] logo.
* Many of the Psychopaths in the sequel bear strong similarities to ones from the first game. A few examples:
** Chuck's rival Motocross racer/Terror is Reality contestant Leon Bell (Kent). Also, [[Franchise/ResidentEvil y'know...]]
** Seymour Redding, a power-tripping security guard who's big on public executions (Jo, Sean to a lesser extent).
** Cannibal chef Antoine Thomas (Larry)
** Brent Ernst, a socially inept pyromaniac teenager in a mascot costume (Paul, also Adam).
** Bibi Love, a crazed pop singer with a ''literally'' captive audience [[spoiler:who eventually comes to her senses and can be rescued]] (Adam, Sean, [[spoiler:Paul]]).
** Some of them die similarly to the psychopaths in the first game, like Randy dies [[spoiler: due to a victim he ''just recently'' killed, ala Cletus]].
* One of the clothes you can wear is a fancy white suit, which resembles the attire of [[VideoGame/Left4Dead2 a certain foul-mouthed, zombie-killing convict gambler]].
** When you get a good look at that suit from the front, you can see that it's also a reference to ''Film/SaturdayNightFever''.
** In that same store, you can assemble an American flag jumpsuit/bike helmet combo reminiscent of famous motorcycle daredevil UsefulNotes/EvelKnievel.
* Laser Sword? Almost reminds one of [[VideoGame/MegaManX another video game series Inafune worked on]].
** "Look, Dad, I just got a new power in ''VideoGame/MegaMan''!" There's also a store called "Wily Travels" whose description on the map is a hurricane of Mega Man references, and they even have Proto Man as a mascot!
** Next to it is a store called Albert's Apparel.
** The Laser Sword is made by combining the flashlight with gems, meaning it's effectively a low-budget [[Franchise/StarWars Lightsaber]].
* The battle with [[spoiler:the twins]] appears to be a shout out to ''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage''. Fighting [[spoiler:sexy evil twin ninjas]] in an ocean-themed nightclub with electronic dance music blaring seems to be more than a coincidence.
* The vein in which [[ZombieApocalypseHero Chuck Greene]] is being overturned as the cause of the Fortune City outbreak and made into a target by psychotic monsters? Draws an eerily similar parallel to [[VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Nemesis another outbreak survivor setting]], if thought on.
* Katey has a [[VideoGame/DragonQuest Slime]] keychain on her backpack, and the text "Puff Puff" on it is a reference to a vaguely sexual RunningGag in the series.
** She also plays on a device that resembles a red Platform/PlayStationPortable throughout the game.
* With the obese body shape, pig-themed costume, and giant chainsaw, Randy Tugman seems extremely similar to the final boss of ''VideoGame/{{Manhunt}}'', Piggsy. His fighting style is also pretty similar.
* You can unlock a ''Film/ShaunOfTheDead'' outfit. One of the first victims of the zombie attack is also named Shaun.
* You can dress in a yellow tracksuit and trainers ala ''Film/KillBill''[=/=]''Film/GameOfDeath''.
** Combine yellow suit with knife gloves for low rent ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} cosplay.
* For whatever reason, the survivor you rescue from Seymour, Ray Teller, looks ''exactly'' like Creator/KevinBacon.
* The quest "WWJWD" is short for "What Would Creator/JohnWayne Do?". He probably wouldn't start hanging innocent people for shits and giggles...
* The Magician Psychopath Reed resembles Creator/WillFerrell, although he and his partner dress like Siegfriend and Roy and use a feline in their act like they do, while Roger's apparent muteness and the fact that he's noticeably shorter than Reed is similar to Creator/PennAndTeller.
* There's a group of four nerdy guys who show up in South Plaza on Day One, although a lot of players will miss them due to how the game handles spawn timers. The group consists of [[Series/FamilyMatters Steve Urkel]], [[WebVideo/DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog Dr. Horrible]], a fat guy in a fuku, and their comparatively normal friend. They're playing a [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons very familiar roleplaying game]].
* The female poker player in the secret group of survivors in the Atlantica casino appears to be an {{expy}} of Creator/JenniferTilly, who is known for her poker "strategy" of [[IHaveBoobsYouMustObey letting her boobs spill out all over the table]]. One of the other poker players that make up the secret group, Nevada Slim, looks like real-life professional poker player Greg Raymer.
* One of the achievement names: "[[VideoGame/GearsOfWar Look at all that juice!]]"
** Also, the Paddlesaw is pretty much a homebrew edition of Skorge's dual chainsaw staff.
* The rock band Angel Lust appears to be a joint project between Music/MarilynManson, [[Music/MotleyCrue Tommy Lee]], and [[Music/{{Evanescence}} Amy Lee]], although they hired a ''really'' terrible songwriter.
** In a reference to two other famous British bands, one of the band members is named [[Music/PinkFloyd Floyd]] [[Music/TheRollingStonesBand Stone]].
* One outfit is a fruity biker getup complete with assless chaps. It is named the "Blue Oyster" after the GayBar in ''Film/PoliceAcademy''.
* You can find ''Film/{{Borat}}'s'' banana hammock. When you put it on, Chuck dances around and says "I'm a big boy now!" and AVERT YOUR EYES.
* An achievement/trophy is called "[[AscendedMeme He Hasn't Covered Wars...]]"
* You're able to get knight armor that makes you look like Arthur from VideoGame/GhostsNGoblins, and when it shatters you're left in nothing but your underwear.
* Lenny, an autistic man you can find in the back room of the Yucatan, talks about his affection for numbers and his [[Film/RainMan rich brother Charlie]] while you're rescuing him. Upon returning to the safe room, he even claims to be an excellent driver.
* The image painted on the doors of Leon Bell's bike trailer looks like a callback to the tattoo that Steve-o from "Jackass" has on his back.
* [[spoiler:Sgt. Boykin]] spouts Hudson's lines from ''Film/{{Aliens}}'' in a cutscene. [[spoiler:And when he dies, he suicides himself with a grenade like Vasquez.]]
* After the S Ending, a zombie pops up like in the infamous K-Fee energy drink adverts.
* Three sexy girls who are associated with "Guardian Angels" protective services. Series/CharliesAngels, anyone?
* You can find a comedian named Walter Morris who's dressed a ''lot'' like [[Series/ElChavoDelOcho El Chavo]]. And a possible shout out to Film/{{Fargo}}, his notebook description reads "Kinda funny looking".
* When Chuck is idle with a sword, he slices the air and examines the sword. Sound like another [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda green hero]]?
* One of Chuck's possible movie reviews? [[Website/RottenTomatoes 100% Rotten]].
* Stacey Forsythe bears a strong resemblance to the post-HeelFaceTurn Isabela Keyes.
* Rebecca Chang seems to be a female incarnation of Frank West - except that she is not a freelance journalist.
* There's a brand of cereal called Snowflakes that has a tiger mascot. One of the survivors is a tiger called Snowflake.
* You unlock a [[Franchise/FridayThe13th familiar hockey mask]] by using every melee weapon on zombies.
* The Vodka has a bottle-shape and label which very closely resembles real-life Grey Goose brand vodka. The Whiskey also has a bottle-shape and label similar to Jack Daniel's brand whiskey.
* The "Hawaiian Holiday Gear" found in one of the Platinum Strip's stores resembles a black button-up shirt adorned with yellow floral print, a direct homage to [[Literature/FearAndLoathingInLasVegas Raoul Duke's]] trademark getup.
* One of the combo weapons you can create is by combining a shotgun with a pitchfork. This is called the [[Film/ArmyOfDarkness Boomstick]].
* You can turn the Robot Bear into {{Franchise/Rambo}} by creating the Freedom Bear. It evens wears a bandanna like Rambo.
* Tomomi Miyamoto's rescue mission is called Wax On Wax Off and she has a move resembling the Crane Kick. Both are homages to TheKarateKid1984.
* Luz Palmer is a professional golfer with the same last name as real life golf pro Arnold Palmer.

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!!From Case West:
* [[Franchise/StarWars "Uh, yeah, we had a slight, uh... alarm malfunction up here, but it's all clear, situation normal."]]
* "You're pretty high-strung for a guy who's covered wars."
* [[Film/DieHard "Come out West, we'll kill some zombies, have a few laughs..."]]
* Apparantly there's a [[VideoGame/MegaMan Dr. Wily]] costume.
** [[VideoGame/MegaManX Notice how near the end of ending A has Frank and Chuck standing over a cliff watching the building explode and burn. Also notice how Chuck asks questions to himself like "Is there really a cure from turning into a zombie?"]]
* Down in the maintenance tunnel that connects the holding pens to the harvesting room, you can find a message scrawled on the wall in blood that reads [[VideoGame/Left4Dead "DONT STARTLE THE WITCH!"]] accompanied by female sobs echoing up from a nearby ventilation grate.
* When shooting security cameras, Chuck will sometimes say "Good night, [[Literature/NineteenEightyFour Big Brother!]]".
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!!From Off the Record:
* Frank's shades say "[[VideoGame/DukeNukem Damn, I'm looking good]]" in their description.
* [[VideoGame/MegaMan Proto Man]]'s outfit replaces Arthur's.
* "Two Girls, One Club"
* After Frank jumps onto the train, he complains, [[Film/LethalWeapon "I'm too old for this shit."]]
* Beating Evan results in a homage to the liquid nitrogen kill from ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay''.
* One of the Achievements requires you to kill 12,345 zombies, aptly named [[{{Film/Spaceballs}} 'Luggage Code']].
* Combining a [[InsistentTerminology "massager,"]] which can be found in the sex shop in the Platinum Strip, with a leaf-blower gets you the Super Massager weapon. Which is very reminiscent to the gas powered sex-toy Ed picked up in that sex-shop in ''[[Film/TheNakedGun The Smell of Fear.]]''
* There's a washing machine in one of the storage rooms. If Frank comes near it, he will mention something about potato salad being inside of it. This is a reference to [[WebAnimation/ZeroPunctuation Zero Punctuation's]] Dead Rising 2 review, where he says that "Capcom makes game stories the same way tumble dryers make potato salad."