10 Incredible Video Game Character Easter Eggs You Totally Missed
Mario in Metal Gear Solid?
Practically every video game has its own set universe, its own rules that the player abides by and - most importantly - its own set of characters. It is this - more than anything else - what lends the game its individuality, defining it in the eyes of those who play it.
Some of these universes are intertwined with others (Nintendo have built one of their most lucrative franchises out of such a thing), with some games appearing to share settings or time periods that lend themselves to appearances from characters who starred in other titles.
However, by and large you will rarely see a character from one game appear in another unless it is as part of an ensemble cast that sells itself solely on that, such as the likes of Smash Bros., Kingdom Hearts or any of the many crossover titles Capcom have put out over the years.
Despite this, there are those rare occasions when a character from one gaming universe puts in an appearance in a game where they really have no right to exist. Some of these are fairly minor, blink-and-you'll-miss-'em appearances that were simply added as little nods to eagle-eyed fans, whereas others have an impact on the universe in which they're cameoing, making them a vital part of the experience - assuming you can find them.
10. Vyse And Aika (Valkyria Chronicles)
Fans of the superb Dreamcast RPG Skies of Arcadia - which also later found its way onto the Gamecube - will remember Vyse and Aika as being extremely infectious characters that carried with them an optimism that was missing from many RPG protagonists of the era. In a world where the likes of Cloud and Squall had become the standard, they made for a refreshing change.
SEGA obviously recognised the appeal of the characters - even if their game hadn't sold as well as it deserved to - which led to their appearance as playable characters in the superb tactical-RPG Valkyria Chronicles.
Fans of the series were overjoyed to continue the adventures of the characters, regardless of the fact that they were in a different universe. However, they were optional characters so not everybody figured out that they could use them to the extent that they really could.
Assuming you figured out how to bring Vyse and Aika into the fold, they made for a valuable addition to your squad that any Skies of Arcadia fan would have been sure to enjoy.