History ContinuityPorn / VideoGames

* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'':

** ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles'' references to various games and cartoons, including: Chili Dogs, Swat-bots from ''WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM'', the use of the name "Robotnik", something that hadn't been mentioned since ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', old level names re-used, recycled sound effects and (poorly emulated) re-used music from old games, old badniks in the backgrounds, an old [[Platform/SegaGenesis Mega Drive]] in a background, a reference to Amy's tarot card reading, a plot point in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD'''s instruction manual that was long since forgotten, a nod to ''Anime/SonicX'' (Tails' workshop contains a potted plant, arguably with [[spoiler:Cosmo's seed]] inside it), an explanation of [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/SonicBattle the gizoids and Emerl]]]], [[spoiler:an evil albino echidna (just like the two separate evil albino echidnas from [[Comicbook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics the Archie]] [[ComicBook/SonicTheComic and Fleetway]] comics)]] and an ending which [[spoiler:mirrors the opening plot of ''ComicBook/SonicTheComic'']].

* A major complaint about ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots'' is that a lot of the story falls between this and ContinuityLockout; containing references and themes from even the games on the {{UsefulNotes/MSX}}; bringing back minor dangling plot threads and references as {{MacGuffin}}s, AppliedPhlebotinum, and {{Chekhovs Gun}}s; and fitting in fanservice cameos from almost every character who wasn't confirmed dead - as well as a couple of fanservice cameos from characters who ''were''. Even a lot of the ''camera angles and character motions'' were lifted from previous games as blink-and-you'll-miss-it symbolism for the kind of hardcore fans who'd memorised every single cutscene. Of course, to some extent this was the whole point of the game, as [[GrandFinale it was designed to wrap the whole series up]], further prequels (and one sequel) notwithstanding.

** ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles'' references to various games and cartoons, including: Chili Dogs, Swat-bots from ''WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM'', the use of the name "Robotnik", something that hadn't been mentioned since ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', old level names re-used, recycled sound effects and (poorly emulated) re-used music from old games, old badniks in the backgrounds, an old [[UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis Mega Drive]] in a background, a reference to Amy's tarot card reading, a plot point in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD'''s instruction manual that was long since forgotten, a nod to ''Anime/SonicX'' (Tails' workshop contains a potted plant, arguably with [[spoiler:Cosmo's seed]] inside it), an explanation of [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/SonicBattle the gizoids and Emerl]]]], [[spoiler:an evil albino echidna (just like the two separate evil albino echidnas from [[Comicbook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics the Archie]] [[ComicBook/SonicTheComic and Fleetway]] comics)]] and an ending which [[spoiler:mirrors the opening plot of ''ComicBook/SonicTheComic'']].

* The ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' series has gotten pretty insane about this in the later games, as more and more elements from the ExpandedUniverse are brought in. Even disregarding that, each game seems to assume that you've played the previous releases; this is particularly apparent in with regards to ''VideoGame/{{Halo 3}}'', since it was originally intended to be part of the same game as ''VideoGame/{{Halo 2}}''.

** This comes to a head with ''VideoGame/{{Halo 4}}''; several players had trouble understanding a large number of major plot points because they did not read the ''Halo 3'' terminals, the ''[[Literature/HaloGlasslands Kilo]]-[[Literature/HaloTheThursdayWar Five]] Trilogy'', or ''Literature/TheForerunnerSaga''. ''4'''s terminals do help clarify some issues for people not familiar with the EU, but even those tend to be missed by a lot of players.

* One of the main draws of VideoGame/TheSimpsonsHitAndRun is the sheer amount of continuity porn there is in the game world. The game references cars that have been in the show, the characters wear clothes and costumes that the show has shown off, locations the show uses. Really, pretty much ''anything'' that was in the show circa 2002 is likely referenced in this game in some form. There's even a [[ContinuityPorn/TheSimpsonsHitAndRun page specifically listing the references!]]

* ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' is full of continuity porn. Most overtly it references VideoGame/{{Fallout 1}} and VideoGame/{{Fallout 2}}, particularly 2. Old characters, settlements, events, and groups are mentioned. Old characters show up on NCR bank notes and old symbols appear on flags or walls. The game even delves into the backstory of pre-war factions like [=RobCo=] electronics is explored. However, the bulk of continuity porn is actually references to cut content. Most of the setup, factions and history are cribbed from a never-finished version of ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'' which shares several designers with ''New Vegas''. Cut enemies from ''Fallout 2'' have appeared in promotional clips for downloadable content.

* The ''VideoGame/HarvestMoon'' franchise is filled with it, which seem rather bizarre since the timeline is ridiculously confusing. [[WidgetSeries What do you expect from these games?]]

* The ''VideoGame/TrailsSeries'' skirts the line between this and ContinuityLockout. While each arc seems self-contained at first, a truly ridiculous number of major and minor characters from past games can show up at any moment and events from other games may suddenly be critical to the plot. While this is somwhat [[JustifiedTrope justified]] because all games take place in the same world in a similar timeframe (sometimes even concurrently), the combination of each game running ''at least'' 40 hours, [[DoorStopper having a script in the hundreds of thousands of words]] and the Crossbell Duology [[NoExportForYou currently lacking an official translation]] can make keeping up with the complex plot, mountain of cameos and tons of references difficult (if very rewarding). [[ArchivePanic Oh, and there are currently nine games in the series with another one already announced and at least two more planned]].

* ''VideoGame/TalesOfGraces'' as the sort-of-10th anniversary game, verges on this in comparison to the rest of the series. While the ''VideoGame/TalesSeries'' always has lots of in-jokes, ''Graces'' takes this to hilarious extremes. Some enemies rip their names right from other games. The ultimate weapons in ''Graces f'' are all ripped from game titles as well, designed to evoke the games in question, and contain [[ShoutOut references]] in their descriptions. There are the standard [[BonusBoss Cameo Bosses]] and [[AndYourRewardIsClothes cameo costumes,]] etcetera. There are subtler references too: Sophie asks Hubert if he wears glasses because his eyes are "dangerous," which is exactly why [[VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss Jade Curtiss]] wears glasses, and Malik's "right into next week!" battle quote is lifted from ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia.'' Where it gets ridiculous is in things like the absurd statue of [[VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia Kratos]] in Barona and the Magic Carta minigame, which lets you collect cards of characters from previous games. Not only are the more popular characters - like [[VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss Jade,]] or [[VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia Zelos]] - expensive or difficult to find, but it's much easier to win the Magic Carta game if you're familiar with the previous titles. Relatively ambiguous quotes like "[[VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia Intend to? I already have]]" stick out much more if you know [[MoralEventHorizon their context]]. And the reward for beating this game? Cameo costumes!

* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'' has a lot of references to the previous ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' installments of the main continuity, to the point where [[ContinuityNod/DevilMayCry5 a separate page is needed]] to even list ''most'' of the game's {{Continuity Nod}}s.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'' has many weapons and bonus characters from past games. Most of the Regalia (Super Power weapons) return with revamped appearences, And the characters from past titles appear in DLC, with an entire ''class'' dedicated to Marth. Interestingly several of the references were to games [[NoExportForYou that were never released in America]] that fans get just goes to show how dedicated the FE community is. Though most of the plot references are [[ContinuitySnarl Continuity Snarls]], even the [[MacGuffinTitle Fire Emblem]] itself has an entirely different purpose with no explanation, while Marth is replaced by a SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute, the First Exalt in the ingame plot.

* ''VideoGame/TalesOfGraces'' as the sort-of-10th anniversary game, verges on this in comparison to the rest of the series. While the ''VideoGame/TalesSeries'' always has lots of in-jokes, ''Graces'' takes this [[UpToEleven to hilarious extremes.]] Some enemies rip their names right from other games. The ultimate weapons in ''Graces f'' are all ripped from game titles as well, designed to evoke the games in question, and contain [[ShoutOut references]] in their descriptions. There are the standard [[BonusBoss Cameo Bosses]] and [[AndYourRewardIsClothes cameo costumes,]] etcetera. There are subtler references too: Sophie asks Hubert if he wears glasses because his eyes are "dangerous," which is exactly why [[VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss Jade Curtiss]] wears glasses, and Malik's "right into next week!" battle quote is lifted from ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia.'' Where it gets ridiculous is in things like the absurd statue of [[VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia Kratos]] in Barona and the Magic Carta minigame, which lets you collect cards of characters from previous games. Not only are the more popular characters - like [[VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss Jade,]] or [[VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia Zelos]] - expensive or difficult to find, but it's much easier to win the Magic Carta game if you're familiar with the previous titles. Relatively ambiguous quotes like "[[VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia Intend to? I already have]]" stick out much more if you know [[MoralEventHorizon their context]]. And the reward for beating this game? Cameo costumes!

* The whole point of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' titles such as ''[[Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren Advent Children]]'', ''Last Order'', ''VideoGame/DirgeOfCerberus'', ''VideoGame/CrisisCore'' and ''Before Crisis''.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake'' liberally references characters and scenes from both the original game and the aformentioned ''Compilation'', to the point where [[ContinuityLockout some key story points won't make sense or have the same impact if you're unfamiliar with either.]]
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' is a melting pot of elements, characters, locations, and lore from previous ''Final Fantasy'' titles contextualized around the lore of ''XIV''. One prominent example of this is the Ivalice raid series from ''Stormblood'', which draws upon locations and lore from the ''Franchise/IvaliceAlliance'' franchise -- in particular, ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'' -- to tell a story that brings everything from the grand city of Rabanastre to the tragic tale of Ramza Beoulve into the world of Hydaelyn. Another is the Sorrow of Werlyt questline from ''Shadowbringers'', which contextualizes the Weapon bosses from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' as prototype battle mechs.

* The ''VideoGame/TrailsSeries'' skirts the line between this and ContinuityLockout. While each arc seems self-contained at first, [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters a truly ridiculous number of major and minor characters from past games]] can show up at any moment and events from other games may suddenly be critical to the plot. While this is somwhat [[JustifiedTrope justified]] because all games take place in the same world in a similar timeframe (sometimes even concurrently), the combination of each game running ''at least'' 40 hours, [[DoorStopper having a script in the hundreds of thousands of words]] and the Crossbell Duology [[NoExportForYou currently lacking an official translation]] can make keeping up with the complex plot, mountain of cameos and tons of references difficult (if very rewarding). [[ArchivePanic Oh, and there are currently nine games in the series with another one already announced and at least two more planned]].

** ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles'' references to various games and cartoons, including: Chili Dogs, Swat-bots from ''WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM'', the use of the name "Robotnik", something that hadn't been mentioned since ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', old level names re-used, recycled sound effects and (poorly emulated) re-used music from old games, old badniks in the backgrounds, an old [[UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis Mega Drive]] in a background, a reference to Amy's tarot card reading, a plot point in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD'''s instruction manual that was long since forgotten, a nod to ''Anime/SonicX'' (Tails' workshop contains a potted plant, arguably with [[spoiler:Cosmo's seed]] inside it), an explanation of [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/SonicBattle the gizoids and Emerl]]]], [[spoiler:an evil albino echidna (just like the two separate evil albino echidnas from [[Comicbook/SonicTheHedgehog the Archie]] [[ComicBook/SonicTheComic and Fleetway]] comics)]] and an ending which [[spoiler:mirrors the opening plot of ''ComicBook/SonicTheComic'']].

* The VideoGame/KisekiSeries skirts the line between this and ContinuityLockout. While each arc seems self-contained at first, [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters a truly ridiculous number of major and minor characters from past games]] can show up at any moment and events from other games may suddenly be critical to the plot. While this is somwhat [[JustifiedTrope justified]] because all games take place in the same world in a similar timeframe (sometimes even concurrently), the combination of each game running ''at least'' 40 hours, [[DoorStopper having a script in the hundreds of thousands of words]] and the Crossbell Duology [[NoExportForYou currently lacking an official translation]] can make keeping up with the complex plot, mountain of cameos and tons of references difficult (if very rewarding). [[ArchivePanic Oh, and there are currently nine games in the series with another one already announced and at least two more planned]].

* ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles'' was one of these. It had references to various games and cartoons, including: Chili Dogs, Swat-bots from [[WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM SatAm]], the use of the name "Robotnik" (something which hadn't been mentioned for a while), old level names re-used, recycled sound effects and (poorly emulated) re-used music from old games, old badniks in the backgrounds, an old [[UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis Mega Drive]] in a background, a reference to Amy's tarot card reading (which was a plot point in the ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD'' '''instruction manual''' that was long since forgotten), a nod to ''Anime/SonicX'' (Tails' workshop contains a plantpot, arguably with Cosmo's seed in it), an explanation of [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/SonicBattle the gizoids and Emerl]]]], [[spoiler:an evil albino echidna (just like the two separate evil albino echidnas from [[Comicbook/SonicTheHedgehog the Archie]] [[ComicBook/SonicTheComic and Fleetway]] comics)]] and an ending which [[spoiler:mirrors the opening plot of ''ComicBook/SonicTheComic'']].
** Ironically, WordOfGod has stated that ''Chronicles'' is CanonDiscontinuity.
** ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' is also continuity porn. It features levels from almost every major title in the series, with many references to (and elements such as level gimmicks from) levels within that didn't make it, musical nods and remixes, and tiny little details that only the most dedicated fans would notice. It also features both the current and the old Sonic models.

** The entire game is a Continuity Porno; featuring the long, lost, forgotten character WesternAnimation/OswaldTheLuckyRabbit, that only the biggest of animation fanatics would have known about before hand, characters that were one-offs or used sparingly (IE The Lonesome Ghosts), levels based on Mickey Mouse, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, and a Pluto cartoon, old rides, nevermind the fact that the world is based on Disneyland, and creator Warren Spector claims almost everything in the game is from Disney's history.