History ShoutOut / GuiltyGear

** Skyfish allowing Goldlewis to wield a coffin and a minigun at the same time is inspired by a scene from Film/Terminator3RiseOfTheMachines which sees the T-850 doing the same.

** A cowboy dragging a coffin with a gatling gun inside it? It's also a shout-out to [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/Django Django]](no not that [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/DjangoUnchained one]], who in turn the famous for its [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyi7yhB4vUQ iconic scene]] for the CoffinContraband in media.

** His stage in the first game features [[http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/guiltygear/gg-1.png pixel-sized background cameos]] of [[VideoGame/FatalFury Geese Howard,]] [[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters Athena Asamiya, Kyo Kusanagi,]] [[VideoGame/FatalFury Joe Higashi, Mai Shiranui, Andy Bogard and Terry Bogard.]][[note]]Moreso because Ishiwatari used to work at {{Creator/SNK}}...[[/note]]

* '''Sol Badguy''': His real name (Frederick Bulsara), last name (a reference to "Mr. Bad Guy"), and even his theme song ("Keep Yourself Alive") are some of all the references to Music/FreddieMercury and Music/{{Queen}} in general (to hammer the point home, his head-plate has the words "ROCK YOU" engraved on it). It helps that [[AuthorAvatar his]] [[AuthorAppeal VA]] (Creator/DaisukeIshiwatari, also the man behind the game) is a huge fan of Queen, something you'll see in this entire page.

** One of his servants in Overture is named Music/{{Queen}}.

** His theme song in the first ''Guilty Gear'' is called "The March of the Wicked King", a reference to "[[Music/{{Queen}} The March Of The Black Queen]]".

** Axl gets new Overdrive in Strive called [[Music/{{Queen}} "One Vision"]]. Said Overdrive is also a walking [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure JoJo]] reference, involving Axl striking Jotaro Kujo's signature pose when using it after its activation, and it being able to [[TimeStandsStill stop time]] just like The World and Star Platinum: The World.

** FIVE of his attacks are called [[Music/{{Queen}} "Dead on Time", "Under Pressure", "All Dead, All Dead", "Spread Your Wings" and "It's Late"]].[[note]]Even though the actual name for the move that references "Spread Your Wings" is called Eien no Tsubasa (Wings of Eternity).[[/note]]

* '''May''' may be a reference to Music/{{Queen}}'s Brian May, which, as mentioned in Sol's examples, wouldn't be strange.

** His fist attack is called "Music/HammerFall", both a reference to the Music/{{Queen}}'s song "Hammer To Fall" and the PowerMetal band of the same name.

** Her bear is named [[Music/{{Queen}} Roger]].

*** Also a ShoutOut to [[Music/{{Queen}} John Deacon]].

** Johnny also bears resemblence to [[Music/{{Queen}} Roger Taylor]], especially his looks in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFDcoX7s6rE "I want it all"]] video clip.

** A portion of Leo's theme in Strive has a part that sounds like [[Music/{{Queen}} Queen's]] "Great King Rat".

** Her theme in ''-STRIVE-'', "Perfection Can't Please Me", is yet another nod to Music/{{Queen}}, sounding very similar to "Don't Stop Me Now".

** His backstory involves him being a naturally-born immortal and being despondent over it, which mirrors the plot of ''Film/{{Highlander}}'', a movie with a score composed by Music/{{Queen}}.

** His theme, ''Drift'', is not only another nod to ''Music/{{Queen}}'', but also Broadway-style musical numbers, especially ones from Disney films.

** or the last few lines of the song "Stone Cold Crazy" by Music/{{Queen}}.

* Among the trophies in ''Xrd'' are "[[Music/LedZeppelin Communication Breakdown]]", "[[Music/{{Queen}} Tie Your M.O.M. Down]]", "[[Music/TheRollingStonesBand A Man of Wealth and Taste]]", "[[Music/{{Aerosmith}} Training Kept A Rolling]]", and "[[Music/VanHalen Cradle Will Rock]]", along with several more general references to music and the music industry.

** At the end of ''-Strive-'', [[spoiler:he opens up a machine parts shop named [[Music/Jazz1978 Jazz]]]].

** At the end of ''-Strive-'', [[spoiler:he opens up a machine parts shop named [[Music/{{Jazz}} Jazz]]]].

** He may also draw influence from the historical figure [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasuke Yasuke]], a real-life African servant who would become a samurai and retainer to UsefulNotes/OdaNobunaga. The story proper even hints that he might even ''be'' the man himself.

** He may also draw influence from the historical figure [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasuke Yasuke]], a real-life African servant who would become a samurai and retainer to UsefulNotes/OdaNobunaga.

** To further drive the parallels home, some installments feature quotes from Literature/TheBible

** Dragon Install's appearance in later games is similar to DS' Majin form. Dragon Install's name is also a subtle reference to the manga, namely how Dark Schneider was physically '''installed''' into the '''Dragon''' Knight Lucifer
** The plot of the Xrd games follows similar beats to the ''Crime and Punishment'' arc: The heroes work to stop the Resurrection of Justice (Anthrasax), The initial villain, Ramlethal (The Sorcerer Shogun) undergoes a HeelFaceTurn after her defeat. The heroes have to team up with former villain That Man (Abigail) who turns out to be one of the original scientists that created the God of Destruction. After the resurrected Justice is defeated, it's revealed that the Universal Will (Heaven) was behind the whole thing while more light is shed on Sol's (Dark Schneider) MysteriousPast. The climax of the arc even takes place on a floating continent where Sol, Ky, and Sin fight the Universal Will (The Archangels) while the remaining cast fend off the Phalanx 9 (lesser Angels)

** His x-shaped sunglasses and perpetual [[SigilSpam smiling face logo]] bring to mind the one used by Music/{{Nirvana}}

** "Starship" is likely named after the band formerly known as Jefferson Starship.

** Johnny, according to Wiki/ThatOtherWiki, not only by his name, but in his outfit and long hair, may be a reference to Johnny Winter.

** The kiss mark on his left eyeglass, while not an exact match, may be a reference to the logo of Music/TheRollingStones.

* Among the trophies in ''Xrd'' are "[[Music/LedZeppelin Communication Breakdown]]", "[[Music/{{Queen}} Tie Your M.O.M. Down]]", "[[Music/TheRollingStones A Man of Wealth and Taste]]", "[[Music/{{Aerosmith}} Training Kept A Rolling]]", and "[[Music/VanHalen Cradle Will Rock]]", along with several more general references to music and the music industry.

** A cowboy dragging a coffin with a gatling gun inside it? It's also a shout-out to [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/Django Django]](no not that [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/DjangoUnchained one]], who in turn the TropeStarter for CoffinContraband in Media.

** What with his [[BlindingBangs hairstyle]], [[ImpossiblyCoolClothes dress]] [[FashionVictimVillain sense]], [[AsskickingPose outlandish poses]] (even by ''Guilty Gear'' standards!) and [[MundaneMadeAwesome billiards-based]] [[ImprobableWeaponUser fighting]] [[HeartIsAnAwesomePower style]] into account, Venom could have stepped straight out of ''Franchise/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' (more specifically, ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind Golden Wind]]'', which ended one year before his debut in ''GGX'').

** And his "Kickstart My Heart" attack is a reference to a Music/MotleyCrue song of the same name.
** His bear is named [[Music/{{Queen}} Roger]].

* When the match ends by KO, the announcer will yell '''[[Music/{{Slash}} SLASH]]'''! Which is a reference to the Music/GunsNRoses guitarist of the same name.

** Their outfit in ''-STRIVE-'' may possibly be a reference to Music/{{Slash}}.

** The series' backstory of scientists creating weapons of mass destruction in the form of Gears and Justice is almost entirely lifted from the origins of Anthrax that was eventually revealed in ''Bastard!!''. [[spoiler: The parallels grow only stronger post-Xrd, where it's revealed that Justice was controlled by the Universal Will, similar to how Anthrax was revealed to be under the control of Biblical Angels.]]

** The plot of the Xrd games follows similar beats to the ''Crime and Punishment'' arc: The heroes work to stop the Resurrection of Justice (Anthrax), The initial villain, Ramlethal (The Sorcerer Shogun) undergoes a HeelFaceTurn after her defeat. The heroes have to team up with former villain That Man (Abigail) who turns out to be one of the original scientists that created the God of Destruction. After the resurrected Justice is defeated, it's revealed that the Universal Will (Heaven) was behind the whole thing while more light is shed on Sol's (Dark Schneider) MysteriousPast. The climax of the arc even takes place on a floating continent where Sol, Ky, and Sin fight the Universal Will (The Archangels) while the remaining cast fend off the Phalanx 9 (lesser Angels)

* '''Music/{{Testament}}''''s name is a reference to the band of the same name...
** ...with an attack called "[[Music/{{Metallica}} Master Of Puppets]]"...
** ...and another attack called "Music/GraveDigger"...
** ...and another attack called "Music/{{Warrant}}"...
** ...and ''[[RunningGag another]]'' attack called "Music/{{Badlands}}"...
** ...and yet another attack called "[[Music/RonnieJamesDio Unholy Diver]]"...
** ...and finally, with an Instant Kill called "[[Music/YngwieMalmsteen Seventh Sign]]".
** Their design, being gender-ambiguous, is a reference to Music/MarilynManson, who was male but wore makeup during performances that made him look effeminate. Their facial appearance and added gothic elements in their design in ''-STRIVE-'' also makes them resemble Music/ChelseaWolfe.

** Their androgyny and semi-British inflection int heir English voice may also be a reference to Music/DavidBowie.

** "Love the Subhuman Self", her theme in ''Strive'', takes heavy cues from the works of Music/{{Evanescence}} and Music/{{Nightwish}}.

** Being a British time traveler all but makes him a definite shout-out to ''Series/DoctorWho''. In fact if you use him as your system voice in Xrd, he makes a pretty obvious reference to the show [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSMQ8t00ZPE&t=1m55s if one chooses Zato-1 on the character select screen.]] [[spoiler: As of ''-Revelator-'' it is shown that he's actually a magical TimeMaster, bringing the reference full circle.]]

** He also shares his own name with that of [[Film/BattleshipPotemkin the eponymous battleship that underwent a mutiny. (Or at least, the movie of it)]] Coincidentally, his GG1 ending shows him and Gabriel as preparing to instigate a rebellion against Zepp's corrupt leaders.

** His theme song in the first ''Guilty Gear'' is called "The March of the Wicked King," a reference to "[[Music/{{Queen}} The March Of The Black Queen]]."

** Their design, being gender-ambiguous, is a reference to Music/MarilynManson, who was male but wore makeup during performances that made him look effeminate. Their facial appearance and added gothic elements in their design in ''-STRIVE='' also makes them resemble Music/ChelseaWolfe.

** At the end of ''Strive'', [[spoiler:he opens up a machine parts shop named [[Music/{{Jazz}} Jazz]]]].

** [[https://youtu.be/51K4V3kwW9c?t=151 One of his intro quotes]] in 'Strive' may be a reference to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXUZKwHhREI Call Me Lightning]] by [[Music/TheWho The Who]].
** Ky's theme song in Strive contains a few notes of [[Music/BonJovi Bon Jovi's]] Livin' On A Prayer.