Payload Objectives, Overwatch
Of all the many, many, many first-person shooter games I’ve played in my time, Overwatch has been and almost always will be my all-time favourite. Even when the game’s meta is at its absolute worst, the game itself has so much personality and passion to it that I just can’t help but adore. Every map is chock-full with easter eggs, whether it be references to the lore or features added entirely for fun, such as the karaoke room in Busan or the telescope on the Horizon Lunar Colony. But what I love most are the unique stories behind each map objective, particularly the payloads that the attacking teams transport.
Every payload has a unique story, whether it be the electromagnetic bomb intended to destroy the Omnics in King’s Row or the battering ram on Eichenwalde used to storm the castle and retrieve the remains of General Balderich. These objectives mean nothing to the average player. But for diehard fans of the series, these subtle inclusions add so much life to each map – just one in an abundance of additions that set Overwatch apart from every other FPS game.
Freddy’s Nose, Five Nights at Freddy’s
The FNaF series is known for its deep, convoluted lore that requires an encyclopaedic knowledge of every installment and at least 100 hours of Reddit theory thread readings to understand. Easter Eggs and references can be found in almost every frame of gameplay, leaving mysteries and questions so indecipherable that even the thousands upon thousands of dedicated fans can’t solve them. But despite the intricate, intertwined and overarching stories of the series, I can’t help but give the title of best easter egg to the variety of honkable noses on Freddy Fazbear merchandise.
Placed in the original game as nothing but a silly gag, it’s become a bit of a tradition for Freddy posters, plushies and pictures scattered throughout the game to make a high-pitched horn sound when clicked. No matter how far the series strays from its roots with each entry, the fact that this reference has run so long acts as a nostalgic reminder of how far the franchise has come.
Big the Cat, Sonic Adventure 2: Battle
It wouldn’t be an Adam Lovegrove gaming list for The Courier without mentioning Sonic the Hedgehog. There are so many great Easter Eggs to pick from throughout the series, but the Big The Cat cameos in Sonic Adventure 2: Battle are by far and away my favourite. This large, laid-back and slow-witted cat has gained notoriety in the fanbase for his poorly programmed fishing gameplay in the first Sonic Adventure, and so SEGA decided to sneak him into every stage of this remaster of Sonic Adventure 2 to terrorise gamers.
Big can be spotted in some of the most random locations in each level: running from the truck in City Escape; hanging onto a blimp in Radical Highway; locked behind bars in Prison Lane. Not only are these additions incredibly humorous, but they all add an extra level of replayability for players hungry for more content. Big’s hiding spots in each stage can vary from unmissable to near-invisible, and this game of hide-and-seek gives me even more of a reason to return to Sonic Adventure 2 for the umpteenth time.
Kaine’s Shack, NieR: Automata
Most of these selections are humorous, but I thought I’d end this list with a more heartfelt one – one that made me cry the first time I saw it. Kaine is one of the main characters from Automata’s predecessor, NieR: Replicant. Having taken place some thousands of years ago, the only character from the game who remains in its sequel is Kaine’s best friend, Emil. Or at least, one of the many clones of himself he created to protect Earth from invasion. Emil’s memories have faded more and more with each clone he has created, with only a few traces of his original life remaining now.
In one of the game’s optional side quests, players can help Emil collect a series of Lunar Tears: a rare flower said to grant any wish. Kaine cherishes these flowers in Replicant as a memory of her grandmother, wearing one in her hair and growing many outside her home. Upon completing the mission, Emil takes the player down a lift deep underground where you find Kaine’s house, surrounded by a bed of lunar tears. Despite barely remembering anything about his original self, the fact that Emil fights so hard to protect these near impossible to cultivate flowers and honour the ones he once loved makes me well up every time I think about it. It’s a testament to the eternality of friendship and love, and serves as so much more than just a simple callback.