Much like ''[[ShoutOut/ThreeDDotGameHeroes 3D Dot Game Heroes]]'', ''VideoGame/RetroCityRampage'' is deliberately packed with tons of references and shout-outs to other media.
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!To other video games
* The gameplay in general is heavily inspired by the first two ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'' games
* Meanwhile, the game's title is clearly intended to bring ''VideoGame/RiverCityRansom'' to mind. This is also probably the source of pedestrians dropping money when killed.
* The game starts off with a parody of the intro to ''VideoGame/MegaMan2'', almost immediately [[LampshadeHanging lampshading]] how overused it is.
** At the end of that same intro, a guard on the rooftop gets startled by a bird. When he shoots at it and misses, [[VideoGame/DuckHunt an annoying dog jumps out from behind one of the pipes and laughs at him.]]
* The Spades to Steel Casino is named for Konami's ''Blades of Steel'' ice hockey game. The casino's games are similar to the [[MiniGame minigames]] in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3''.
* Take a close look at some of the green hills scattered about, and you'll notice that they have eyes, just like the ones in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3''.
** Also, Player can get an item that looks like either the Tanooki suit or Raccoon suit...and can fly.
* The Bikeosaur vehicle is pretty clearly modeled after [[VideoGame/YoshisIsland Yoshi]]. This in turn got a ''[[RecursiveFanFiction recursive]]'' ShoutOut in ''[[VideoGame/MarioKart Mario Kart 8]]''.
** As an actual reference to ''VideoGame/MarioKart'', the Kartio vehicle is the Standard Kart that appears in all games.
* Eventually, you get help from a [[LiteralGenie literal]] UsefulNotes/GameGenie. There are cheat codes scattered across the city that resemble the GG's menu screen.
** Said Genie, named Gamedini, uses a [[WarpWhistle Warp Tornado]] to zoom you back to Grogbrush's place.
* Whenever you die, you're treated to a life screen much like ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1''... only you start at ''0'' and dive deeper into the negatives with each death, also referencing ''VideoGame/SyobonAction''.
** Also like Mario, you can jump on enemies for coins. And there are pipes.
* Dr. Von Buttnick, the BigBad, is named after Dr. Eggman/Ivo Robotnik from ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog''. Perhaps not coincidentally, "Ro-butt-nik" was even a favorite insult for the villain on [[WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog one particular Sonic cartoon]].
** Janitor Wily, his rival, is a dual reference to [[VideoGame/MegaManClassic Dr. Wily]] and [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Groundskeeper Willie]].
* Speaking of Sonic, There's a building called "SUPERSONIC SPRING SURPLUS." There is a surplus of springs in Sonic games, indeed.
* ''[[Platform/VirtualBoy Virtual]] VideoGame/MeatBoy'' is one of the games featured in the arcade. It even has a faux-3D filter.
* The "Primate Peninsula" section is named after the ''VideoGame/MonkeyIsland'' series. There's also a shop called "Guybrush Paints" and a character named Grogbrush, who runs a bar named after him.
* There's an early ''VideoGame/MetalGear''-esque StealthBasedMission, complete with its own take on the Engrish phrases from the NES version:
-->Player: "A truck are begin to move."
-->Major Lee: "I was feel slept. Leave massage."
-->Player: "UH OH!"
** Said mission also includes a reference to ''VideoGame/{{Jackal}}''.
*** Another mission has you sneak past guards in a box.
** Major Lee is partially based on Solid Snake.
** Dr Petrovik's Veterinarium is named after Dr. Pettrovich Madnar.
* The pause jingle [[Main/SuspiciouslySimilarSong sounds almost like]] the one heard in many Konami/Ultra NES games.
* One of the weapons available to the Player is a [[VideoGame/BionicCommando Bionic Arm]].
* The "[[VideoGame/SkateOrDie Skate 'n Buy]]" skateboard shop has a clerk who looks a lot like Lester.
* Repeatedly punching bystanders will occasionally yield the quotes [[VideoGame/StreetFighterII "T-T-Tiger!" and "Uppercut!"]]
** The TV Station has a reporter who wears an outfit just like [[Franchise/StreetFighter Chun-Li]], using her costume from the [[Film/StreetFighter 1994 live-action film.]]
* In the center of town, you'll find a place called Bugeye Louie's Bikes, Boxing and Chocolate, a nod to Doc Louis from the ''VideoGame/PunchOut'' series. It's next to a place called ''Lunch-@#%!''
** Before the start of the "Smut Peddler" story mission, he mentions that a "[[VideoGame/PaperBoy paper dude called it quits]]", and asks you to deliver a stash of [[PornStash dirty magazines]] for him InTheStyleOf ''VideoGame/PaperBoy''.
* [[VideoGame/ZeldaIITheAdventureOfLink "I am (null)".]] Null advises you to use the sword on bushes for health pick-ups, which is generally good advice in any of the ''[[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Zelda]]'' games.
* During the first mission a henchman causes a huge explosion, and the [[Franchise/MortalKombat "Toasty!"]] Man pops up from the bottom off the screen.
* When you have to cross an absurdly busy street, you can see [[VideoGame/{{Frogger}} a frog that got ran over]] on the road.
* The [[VideoGame/TheOregonTrail Dysentruck]]. Throwing someone into it gives you the message "They have died of dysentery." An update later added animations to the Dysentruck so that it bops up and down as it moves.
* The "Sweat Bomber" sequence plays a lot like ''VideoGame/SplosionMan''.
* "Death Cam VHS" is a send-up to ''VideoGame/SmashTV'', as is the level when you first meet Von Buttnick.
* Seen on a billboard in town: "[[VideoGame/DukeNukemForever Did Not Finish]]? Dial 555-DIPLOMA"
* The shoes that give you a quick dash tackle [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog are from]] [[GreenHillZone The Green Hills.]]
** Also, the name of every district in Theftropolis ends with the word "zone".
* VideoGame/EarthwormJim is in the Junkyard, and will shoot a refrigerator to launch cars into the ocean if you leave them at a drop-off point.
* The ending mission [[spoiler: is a driving sequence InTheStyleOf ''VideoGame/RadRacer''.]], and is also a reference to the ending sequence of ''VideoGame/BackToTheFuture1989''.
* There's a [[VideoGame/GhostsNGoblins Graves 'n Goblets]] [[http://retrocityfanpage.blogspot.com/2012/10/graves-goblets-pub.html pub]], right next to [[VideoGame/GargoylesQuest Gargle Quest]] mouthwash.
* [[VideoGame/DokiDokiPanic Okie Doki Picnic]]
* A character says, and an achievement is called, AWinnerIsYou
* There is a store advertising [[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas Hot]] [[HotCoffeeMinigame Coffee]].
** And Player takes a girl home for Iced Tea, which is represented by a [[VideoGame/LeisureSuitLarry1InTheLandOfTheLoungeLizards bouncing "CENSORED" box.]]
* [[VideoGame/{{Pitfall}} Vine Pit]] [[Platform/{{Atari2600}} 2600]]
* S&M Ubermarket: [[VideoGame/ZeroWing All Your Eat Are Belong To Us]]
* [[VideoGame/BubbleBobble Bobble Bubble Gum]]
* [[VideoGame/TheAdventuresOfBayouBilly Bayou]] [[VideoGame/DoubleDragon Bimmy's]] Freedom Fries
** There's also a "Bimmy & Jimmy's".
* Another side mission has you tossing corpses at a haunted hearse that taunts you with quotes from ''VideoGame/{{Sinistar}}''.
-->"RUN, COWARD!"
-->"BEWARE! I DRIVE!"
* [[Creator/DataEast Theta West]]
* Urban Snacks, across the street from Champ Bookstore -- a reference to the NES game ''Urban Champion''.
* [[Platform/AtariLynx Lynx]] sports cars, as opposed to [[Platform/AtariJaguar Jaguars]]
* There's a kind of car called the "Impaler". This is a double reference to a) the real life Impala and b) the version of same from the original ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'', which was also called the "Impaler".
* The mission with the A.P.E. (which looks like VideoGame/DonkeyKong, by the way) is called [[VideoGame/BioForceApe Electric Force A.P.E.]]
* The Temple of Heroes features statues of ''VideoGame/{{Karnov}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Rygar}}'' by the entrance.
* A sushi restaurant involving ninjas is called Ryukenden, the original Japanese name of VideoGame/NinjaGaiden.
* One of the cars you need to avoid in the final level is [[VideoGame/SuperMarioKart a green go-kart that drops a banana peel that makes you slip if you drive behind it too long.]]
* When you're fighting Buttnick inside his base, a {{mook}} riding inside his flying machine throws down shield powerups for you between his attack phases the same way Princess Peach throws down Super Mushrooms for Mario between Bowser's attack phases in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld''.
* One of the achievements, "The Crossdresser," depicts Player wearing a schoolgirl uniform and holding a {{BFS}} of a familiar design. Yes, it is a shorter version of Cloud's Buster Sword from [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Final Fantasy VII]].
* The very first mission has the Player participate in a heist on the [[VideoGame/DuckTales StoogeMac Bank]], and the vault is modeled after Scrooge [=McDuck=]'s money bin.

!Other shout-outs and references
* Biffman and the Jester = Franchise/{{Batman}} and ComicBook/TheJoker.
** The bank robbery near the beginning contains a homage to ''Film/TheDarkKnight'', via the schoolbus crashing in and the boss killing his henchmen off.
* If you let Biffman's Biffmobile get away during the StalkingMission, the failure text will read, "...and Biffman takes ballet?" a reference to "Jingle Bells, Batman Smells".
** Biffman is really [[Creator/AdamWest Biff West]].
* The [[Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles Turtle Van]] is one of the standard vehicles that can be stolen and driven. You even get an achievement for killing four turtles in one fight.
** Speaking of the Turtles, one string of shops has a place called "[[Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesIITheSecretOfTheOoze Ninja Wraps]]"...right next door to a shop owned by "[[Music/VanillaIce Vanilla T. Cube]]".
* The time-travel plot incorporates many references to ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'' and ''Film/BillAndTedsExcellentAdventure''.
** A store called "Bip & Jed's""
* The logo for "Bundy's Wedding Chapel" closely resembles the logo to ''Series/MarriedWithChildren''.
* The Great Gamedini mentions that he used to go to [[Series/SavedByTheBell Bayshore High]], but he got in trouble with a "Principal Balding".
** And you fight [[VideoGame/DukeNukem Duke Norris]] in Zack's Burger. With a friend named Squeak. And an associate named M.C. who says "Preppie."
* The date "Player" joins the gang: October 18, 1985, the same date the NES was released in North America.
* Axel looks like the guy from the Music/BeastieBoys' "Sabotage" video, and says (Player's) plans will come in for some sabotage.
** The same scene contains an [[Film/SuperTroopers Officer O'Farva]].
* [[http://tinypic.com/r/2nng5z/6 Instructions on how to use the time machine:]] "If flashing use kit to clean cartridge... JUST BLOW ON IT."
* When you go to collect the cars as "insurance" one of the people you steal a van from is clearly based off of [[Franchise/ScoobyDoo Shaggy]]. Another car resembles [[Series/KnightRider KITT]], the person owning it resembles Creator/DavidHasselhoff and he keeps talking about cheeseburgers being left on the floor in reference to a viral video filmed by his daughter when he was trying to eat burgers while drunk and half-naked.
* Sixbucks Cafe is a shout out to Starbucks.
* [[Music/MCHammer DJ Hammer's Hardware]]
* A tattoo shop named [[Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir Flesh Prints]]
* [[ExxonMobil Exxcon]] Fuels & Lubes
* A movie theater is showing "[[Film/ErnestPWorrell Ernest]] Gets Rabies" and "[[Franchise/StarTrek Trek]] [[Franchise/StarWars Wars]]: The Search for Ock."
* [[MysteriousInformant "Deep Gulp"]]
* The address of Biff Manor is in the state [[Platform/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]], zipcode [[Series/BeverlyHills90210 90210]].
* [[ShockSite Goatse]] is mentioned.
* Fabby-O's Cereal.
* [[Music/TenaciousD Bodacious B]]
* A company called [[Creator/ApogeeSoftware Perigee]] with a similar logo.
* [[Franchise/GhostBusters Go Go Busters]]
* A restaurant called "SUBPAR."
* "Taco Chime"
* [[Franchise/DieHard "Yippie Ki Yay Mother Baker's]] Hard Pies"
* There's a [[Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles sewer level where you fight turtles]] with [[Film/TheToxicAvenger mops]].
** A "radioactive plumber" who looks like Mario bites you, giving you the "Super Stomp" ability. Hmmm, bitten by a radioactive creature and getting powers... [[Comicbook/SpiderMan sound familiar?]]
* The person you get the Raccoon suit from is nerdy genius named Billy Campbell, a clear take on [[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers Billy Cranston]]. His house even looks like the one in the show. Morphenomenal!
* In the Gated Community Zone, you can find [[Film/TheBluesBrothers a police car with a huge megaphone on its roof]].
* A vehicle with a confederate-looking symbol on the roof is called the [[Series/TheDukesOfHazzard Generally]].
* During the Death Cam VHS mission, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEfexTKTIpY&t=10m56s at one point]] you stumble into a studio for some sort of talk show. The guest being interviewed: [[VideoGame/{{Fez}} Phil Fish]]. He even has Gomez in his picture!
** And the host of the show, there's [[Creator/{{YTV}} PJ Fresh Phil]].