Line #77 ShoutOut/BoxxyQuestTheGatheringStorm


1	It's a game about the internet, so a few [[ShoutOut shout-outs]] were expected. But [=BoxxyQuest=] manages to go truly above and beyond.
2	----
3	* As promised by the official page, the game is filled with nods to the ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' series, particularly ''[[VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor The Thousand Year Door]]''.
4	** The main game is split into 8 chapters, much like the first three Paper Mario games.
5	** The Hype Train's layout is virtually identical to that of the Excess Express. To add to that, you visit both in Chapter 6 of their respective games, and have to solve a [[ThrillerOnTheExpress mystery on the train]]. And both sections end with a TraintopBattle.
6	** The Inbox is a pretty clear reference to the Trouble Center, and some of the missions are quite similar as well.
7	** If you stand in a certain spot in the arena at night, you can see Mario and Vivian in the crowd.
8	** The "Sacred Seeds" sidequest is an obvious parallel to gathering the Bub-ulb seeds in ''VideoGame/PaperMario64'', right down to a doorway appearing in the garden once all the seeds are planted. The quest-giver’s name, Mint Leaf, is even similar to Minh T., the Toad who helps you in ''Paper Mario''.
9	** At one point in Chapter 6, [[spoiler:Arianna]], disguised as Jimmy Wales, will ask you what three enemies you fear most, seemingly for no reason but really to throw them at you later. This is identical to a trick pulled by [[VideoGame/SuperPaperMario Mimi]], who also disguises herself as an ally to learn what you fear and send it back at you (and Bowser, though undisguised, does this as well in 64).
10	** The Phisher Temple is very similar to the Crystal Palace from 64, in that it is an ice dungeon found at the end of a snow area and has a bunch of imposter enemies attempt to impersonate your party members, and you have to SpotTheImposter- both games even have a room where the imposters wind up [[GlamourFailure copying a bunch of different characters instead of the one they are supposed to impersonate]], all while [[BlatantLies insisting they are said party member]]. Also, both dungeons end with a battle against a mysterious king.
11	** The Cap of Statuary and the Silver Sheet work exactly like the Stone Cap and Boo's Sheet: the first transforms you into a statue impervious to damage but unable to act and the later turns you invisible, allowing you to dodge all attack for one turn.
12	** Chapter 5 bears some resemblance to 64's Chapter 3, the [[BigBoosHaunt mandatory creepy episode]] that features a [[TheLostWoods labyrinthine dark forest]] where one must look for the sightly different exit to progress [[spoiler:and the PlotCoupon being located inside a windmill just on the outskirts of a town.]]
13	** The Bitcoins are analogues to the Star Pieces: collectables that can be exchanged for unique accessories in a specialized shop.
14	** The Danger Mode and Peril Mode accessories are named and based on the "Danger Mario" and "Peril Mario" builts. Those consists on keeping Mario's HP as low as possible and equipping all the badges that grant bonuses when in critical health. Similarly, the accessories increase the character's stats by a significant margin while sacrificing their max HP.
15	** [[spoiler:Alwaysland]], like the Pit of 100 Trolls from the first game, is a reference to the Pit of 100 Trials found in many of the Paper Mario games. It is a gauntlet of 100 battles that must be fought all at once.
16	** Though it only becomes apparent in the DLC, the Social Justice Warriors are [[{{Expy}} expies]] of the X-Nauts, the antagonists of ''The Thousand Year Door''. They are a cult that has a hi-tech secret base and serve as recurring antagonists, and are split up into three ranks- the Social Justice Warriors who wear white, the Science Justice Warriors who also wear white but have science gear, and the [[EliteMook Elite SJWs]] who wear black- just like the X-Nauts, X-Naut Scientists, and Elite X-Nauts. And both have the goal of [[spoiler:releasing a Demon Queen [[SealedEvilInACan sealed behind an ancient door]] so she can usher in a perfect world for them- said queen betrays their active leader(s) and turns them into a powerless being]].
17	** In the area with the train tracks in the Artistry Highway, searching the small bush in the northern part will yield an infinite number of eggs, not unlike what happens if you do the same in the train station at Mt Rugged in Paper Mario 64.
18	** Youtube seems to be modeled after Rogueport from ''[[VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor The Thousand Year Door]]'':
19	*** Both cities act the [[HubCity hub]] of the game from where most other places can be accessed.
20	*** Both cities are divided in several areas which include a harbor, a west and east side and a central plaza.
21	*** In both cities the West Side is noticeable cleaner and in better shape than the rundown, dilapidated East Side.
22	*** Both cities feature an AbsurdlySpaciousSewer that can be accessed from the East Side and is inhabited mostly by shifty individuals. And in both sewers a bar and a shop can be found.
23	* One of the guards in Partnership Towers turns out to be a BossInMookClothing. What makes him so much stronger than the others? [[ComicStrip/{{Popeye}} He's been eating spinach!]]
24	* The Partnership Towers dungeon itself seems like a reference to the Shinra Headquarters from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII''. You can take the stairs to bypass the guards and fighting, but it results in your partners whining the whole way up. It also resembles the [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Silph Co. building]], and one employee even says they used to work at Silph.
25	* The village of /x/ calls out to a number of famous Creepypastas:
26	** The Website/SCPFoundation is referenced twice: the endless stairway in the school is based on [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-087 SCP-087]], and in the nearby forest, you can find a blue key that unlocks an area inspired by [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-860 SCP-860]].
27	** Deep in The Woods, you may find a piece of paper labeled "[[VideoGame/{{Slender}} Page 1/8]]." The other seven pages are nowhere to be found, but [[Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos Slender Man]] himself does turn up later in the chapter, [[spoiler:ironically as a benevolent ally and guardian]].
28	** After you beat the chapter boss, the village [=NPCs=] will simply say "[[http://creepypasta.wikia.com/wiki/Jvk1166z.esp Watch the Sky]]."
29	** In one house, three kids are clustered around a TV watching static, which may be referencing the ''Literature/CandleCove'' story.
30	** The creature living in the cabin in The Woods bears strong resemblance to [[VideoGame/{{Undertale}} W.D. Gaster]], and by extension [[VideoGame/YumeNikki Uboa]].
31	** Speaking of Uboa, recreations of Poniko’s house and the "trap world" can be found mixed in with /x/’s map data, although [[DummiedOut there’s no way to access them in-game]].
32	** In one part of The Woods, a [[WebOriginal/SearchAndRescueWoods mysterious staircase]] can be seen in the distance through the trees. There's no way to reach it, though.
33	* There are several ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' shout-outs:
34	** The vending machines seen throughout the game sell exactly three kinds of drinks: Fresh Water, Soda Pop, and Lemonade. True to form, the lemonade heals the most, followed by the soda and water.
35	** A certain vendor in [=YouTube=] is selling furniture to "pimp out your secret base." He's disappointed to learn that secret bases aren't a thing in this game [[spoiler: until the DLC, in which you can buy furniture for your house in Etsy]].
36	--->'''Vendor:''' Well, shit. I've made a terrible career decision.
37	** There's a very rare chance of catching a Feebas at the 4chan fishing pond… but only if you fish on certain tiles.
38	* As mentioned on the main page, the Summit sequence is filled with cameos. [[WesternAnimation/AdventureTime Finn and Jake]] play a minor role, and so do the [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Equestrian Princesses]]. Meanwhile, [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Samus]] and [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Pikachu]] appear in the background, along with [[LetsPlay/SimonLane Simon]], [[LetsPlay/LewisBrindley Lewis]], and [[LetsPlay/DuncanJones Duncan]] of the LetsPlay/{{Yogscast}}. ([[LetsPlay/YogscastSips Sips]] turns up later, in charge of the Let’s Play Speedway in [=YouTube=]).
39	** Also at the Summit, 4chan tries to intimidate the other sites by having a bard play "[[Series/GameOfThrones The Rains]] of VideoGame/{{Habbo}}". Two shout-outs in one!
40	* In the prologue, one of the ship's sailors is a guy from ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}''. After the shipwreck, you find him exactly where you’d expect to find a Minecrafter who just woke up in a strange new land: punching trees on the beach.
41	* When you finally meet [[spoiler:Cracky the Sky Queen]], she excuses her absence from the plot by saying that she was in the middle of binging ''Series/StrangerThings''.
42	* About half of what Tyalie says is a reference of some sort. In Tyalie's debut scene, she runs through a list of cosplays she might've been wearing. She names [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Princess Peach]], [[Anime/CodeGeass Nunnally vi Britannia]], and the [[VideoGame/EmbricOfWulfhammersCastle Duchess of Elstwhere]].
43	-->'''Catie:''' Frilly pink dress, I get it.
44	* If you explore off the beaten path on Artistry Highway, you can find a wearable [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Kokiri Tunic]]. Bottled fairies are also present as a revival item, and the description says they were imported from a faraway land.
45	* A rare blade can be found in the Deep Web called the Crissaegrim, named for an InfinityPlusOneSword in the ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' series.
46	* The FlavorText for the Hackerberries item says they "taste like retextured [[Literature/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory snozzberries]]".
47	* The Slime Shield for sale in [=GameFAQs=] looks like a classic ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' slime.
48	* The description for the Fishing Rod is a garbled-up "g Rod hing "[=RodCopper=] fishin For fishing", mimicking a [[https://66.media.tumblr.com/19cff3f72f9357d203d1e46eec52c297/tumblr_n9gaq5NQeO1qim81no1_500.png text glitch]] from ''VideoGame/HarvestMoonFriendsOfMineralTown''.
49	* Two of the guests at the Fanon house party are an adventurer and his follower. If you talk to the follower, she'll say she’s only there because she's "[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim sworn to carry that guy’s burdens]]".
50	** [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Pinkie Pie]] is there too, and can be temporarily recruited if you keep speaking to her.
51	* Catie and Shift discuss ''Website/{{Neopets}}'' in his second support scene. Back in the day, Catie had an Acara and a Chia, while Shift had a Blumaroo, a Buzz… and a frog that neither can remember the name of. (It'd be either a Nimmo or a Quiggle).
52	* You get to visit a ''Music/{{Vocaloid}}'' concert as part of the main plot. Hatsune Miku and Kagamine Rin even put in appearances if you head backstage.
53	* Several cameo fights can occur at the Battle Arena, including WebVideo/{{Markiplier}}, the WebVideo/GameGrumps, Brizzy Voices, and (formerly) [[Creator/TheCynicalBrit TotalBiscuit]]. If you participate in the secret Fight Night tournament, you also get to fight [[FanFic/HalfLifeFullLifeConsequences SquirrelKing]] and the [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_Cube Time Cube]] guy.
54	* During the postgame BeachEpisode, Eddie says the memetic "I don't like sand" line from ''[[Film/AttackOfTheClones Star Wars Episode II]]''.
55	* On the way up to the Summit meeting room, Jimmy Wales pauses the elevator to show off his true life's work: ''Franchise/JurassicPark''. After a moment of puzzled silence…
56	-->'''Jimmy Wales:''' Wait, this isn't even why you're here, is it? [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment Never mind, get back inside the lift.]]
57	* In [=GameFAQs=], there's a grassy pen with several assorted [[Franchise/FinalFantasy Chocobos]] wandering around.
58	* The [[WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse Crystal Gems]] appear in the Tower of Plot's [[FakeOutFadeOut fake credits sequence]].
59	* The PlayableEpilogue location Intersite Town features a surprise cameo by none other than [[VideoGame/{{Undertale}} Sans the skeleton]]. He makes a few of his usual bone puns, and even gives the player his autograph (it's written in ketchup) if you talk to him a second time. See the full scene [[https://imgur.com/PpNTcGp here]].
60	** Also, the true ending's "Extra Special Thanks" credits play out as a clear homage to ''Undertale''’s backer credits.
61	* The [[spoiler:Echo of Virtua]] boss has a move called [[spoiler:[[VisualNovel/VirtuesLastReward Virtua's Last Reward]]]].
62	* Virtua's Angels are a big reference to the Angels of ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', being {{Angelic Abomination}}s with bizarre designs and even more bizarre battles- Cracky's is the only one that makes any sort of sense.
63	** The hidden "PC Ending", which occurs after defeating Esoteraphim (who is possibly one of the Angels), recreates the iconic final shot of ''[[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion End of Evangelion]]'', with Esoteraphim in place of Rei... which is fitting, because the events of that ending would [[GainaxEnding do Gainax proud]].
64	** They're also (unintended?) references to ''Franchise/TouhouProject'' and ''VideoGame/Persona4'' as those are part of a Persona X Touhou Project crossover by an artist called Mazeran/Magellan where Touhou character were reimagined as shadow bosses from the ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'' games. Now you know why Cracky resembles a warped, distorted fusion of Alice Margatroid and her dolls.
65	* Trahald and Trahald Prime resemble a Sidelle, a recurring monster from the ''VideoGame/{{Wizardry}}'' franchise.
66	* The map where the Anon Barricade is located is called [[VideoGame/GoldenSun Bilibin Barricade]] in the game's files.
67	* One NPC in Newgrounds talks about revitalizing it by housing a venue where people can "go [[VideoGame/FridayNightFunkin funkin' on Friday night]]..."
68	* The Science Justice Warrior enemy has an attack called "[[Music/ThomasDolby She Blinded Me With Science]]".
69	* One Science Justice Warrior says "Huh, you’re acting pretty sus... I don’t think you belong VideoGame/AmongUs!"
70	* Project GG- Entry #4 in the SJW base theorizes on what "Project GG" can possibly mean. Two such answers are "Series/GilmoreGirls" and "[[WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants Goofy Goober]]".
71	* An Edgy Furry pulls off the "[[https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/teleports-behind-you-nothing-personal-kid Heh, nothing personal kid. (Teleports behind you)]]" meme.
72	* When told of the [[spoiler:Gamer Gate]], which sealed away a great and terrible power, Tyalie asks if ''[[VideoGame/HalfLife Half Life 3]]'' is the treasure.
73	* The password to the crypt in the Artistry Highway is [[spoiler:3301, referencing the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicada_3301 Cicada 3301]] internet mystery (the main hint to the password is the soundtrack of cicadas buzzing)]].
74	* In the DLC, two Scalies working in the slave mines paraphrase lyrics from "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoAfb3f04mo Where There's A Whip, There's A Way]]," a song from the Rankin/Bass version of ''WesternAnimation/TheReturnOfTheKing''.
75	* When Tyalie joins the team, a little bit from [[VideoGame/DokiDokiLiteratureClub Your Reality]] can be heard instead of the normal "new party member" theme, [[spoiler:as a hint to the character's self-awareness, much like Monika.]]
76	* The Arena works exactly as the Dragon's Neck Coliseum from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'': you bet one item from your inventory, chose one member of the team for the fight and get a better item if you win. Just watch out for the bonus bosses you might end up facing when betting a thing in particular.

Context ShoutOut / BoxxyQuestTheGatheringStorm