The creators of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy have explained several of the sci-fi superhero title's Easter eggs and comic book references. Eidos-Montreal's intergalactic action game puts players in control of Star-Lord as he struggles to lead his band of outer space outlaws. While it is a linear single-player game, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy has many Easter eggs, which should catch the eye of Marvel fans and those familiar with 1980's pop culture.
While Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy centers around a fairly self-contained cast of cosmic characters, many world-building details hint at the wider Marvel universe. Fairly obscure characters like Firelord and Moondragon, allies or full-blown members of the Guardians in the comics, are given subtle nods throughout the game. The Collector's Emporium, an optional area accessible on Knowhere, is downright bursting with Marvel tidbits such as Heimdall's sword, Kang's throne and the Cosmic Cube. Even more Easter eggs point to pop culture outside of Marvel's backlog and reference Peter Quill's childhood in the 1980s. A Chewbacca toy in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is particularly notable, as it serves an important role in the game's emotional narrative.
With many of the references in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy already being identified, publisher Square Enix tasks developer Eidos-Montreal with explaining them. Creative Director Jean-Francois Dugas and Art Director Bruno Gaulthier-Leblanc analyze seven in-game Easter eggs, revealing the story behind each inclusion. Peter Quill's Chewbacca action figure was based on one Dugas owned as a child, and it was 3D scanned directly into the game. Peter's Dazzler poster references a popular X-Men hero, while Captain America associate Jack Flag can sadly be blasted into space. Quill's Pac-Man cake shows the benefit of collaboration with other companies, while inclusions like Nova's helmet and Throg hint at the wider Marvel universe. One scene even references Eidos-Montreal's Deus Ex games should Peter decide to take a shower.
While most of the references in the game are simple fun, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy's Spider-Man Easter eggs have some gamers pondering a potential crossover. Insomniac's 2018 open-world adventure, Marvel's Spider-Man, has drawn parallels to Eidos-Montreal's intergalactic adventure due to its emotional story and faithfulness to the source material. In Guardians of the Galaxy players can find an issue of the Weekly Bugle, a newspaper which obviously mirrors Spider-Man employer the Daily Bugle. One scene in the game makes more direct reference to the web-slinger, leading fans to hope for a future crossover.
By including a plethora of Easter eggs, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy has established its own large and fascinating adaptation of the Marvel universe. While there are no official plans for a sequel, future follow-ups to Eidos-Montreal's title could potentially explore some of these sneaky references. From the retro Pac-Man machines to Thor's froggy counterpart, these Easter eggs add depth and nostalgia to Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy.
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and PC.
Source: Square Enix