MultiVersus is Warner Bros.'s response to Super Smash Brothers. The fighting game includes characters from a variety of Warner Bros. properties, like DC Comics and Looney Tunes, and at least one real person so far. On top of the famous roster, there are a variety of fun references to the original properties the characters come from.
There are plenty of ways MultiVersus includes references to the source material. There are specific moves lifted directly from moments in movies, lines of dialog that reference the characters' fictional lives, and even some references to internet memes surrounding the characters. These references give the game an extra level for fans to enjoy.
10 LeBron's Foul Move References A Real Life Moment
A picture of LeBron James during the 2018 NBA finals went viral when the star player expressed his frustration with teammate JR Smith over a late-game misplay. The iconic image depicted LeBron with his arms thrust out to the side, looking very upset.
In the game, MultiVersus, LeBron James is a playable character and has two neutral attacks: one when he's holding the basketball and one when he's not. LeBron's attack without the ball is a clear visual reference to the viral image from the 2018 NBA finals.
9 Shaggy's Power-up Finally Pays Off An Old Meme
Following a viral edit of an old Scooby-Doo Movie that showed Shaggy fighting off several attackers, the Ultra Instinct Shaggy meme was born. This continued to escalate with fan art and petitions to Ed Boon, asking for Shaggy to join Mortal Kombat as a DLC.
Warner Bros. officially referenced this meme with a quick cameo played for laughs at the end of Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms. Thinking that would be as far as things would go, fans were pleasantly surprised to see the meme finally make its way into a game when MultiVersus gave Shaggy the ability to unleash his ultra-instinct powers.
8 Batman References The Death Of Ned Stark
MultiVersus delivers plenty of the references to popular franchises via dialog lines between two characters. One such nod comes when Batman tells Arya Stark, "It never gets easier." This line clearly references the similar trauma both characters have experienced.
Both Arya Stark and Batman witnessed the death of their parents at a young age. This trauma shaped both characters' subsequent training and quest to make things right. MultiVersus' clever piece of dialogue highlighted the connection between two characters who seem very different at first glance.
7 Taz Seasoning His Enemies Comes From An Old Cartoon
Younger players of MultiVersus will certainly recognize iconic characters like Batman and Wonder Woman, but the Tasmanian Devil may be a little old for them to be familiar with. These players may wonder why the slobbering creature uses salt and pepper shakers as a move, but this is actually a reference to an old cartoon.
The running joke behind the Tasmanian Devil in Looney Tunes is that he is ravenously hungry and eats everything in his path. In one specific episode, Taz captures Bugs Bunny and begins seasoning him in preparation to eat him, just as Taz does in MultiVersus.
6 Velma Can't See Without Her Glasses
In MultiVersus, when gamers play as Velma from Scooby-Doo, they can crawl around on the ground searching for their glasses. As they do, the screen blurs, similar to the way it would for someone who's taken off their prescriptive eyewear.
This is a clear reference to one of Velma's most famous lines and running jokes from the original Scooby-Doo cartoon. At least once per episode, Velma would lose her glasses and crawl around searching for them, proclaiming that she "can't see without [her] glasses." Now players get to experience the search.
5 Finn Can Make Use Of The BMO Chop
In Adventure Time season 4, episode 14, the character BMO ambushes Finn and hits him yelling "BMO Chop," before telling Finn that if it were a real attack, he'd be dead. In MultiVersus, Finn can purchase a variety of upgrades mid-game, one of which is BMO.
Finn can use a move where he holds BMO, causing the Gameboy-like character to perform a full-force BMO chop on one's opponent. The attack in the game turns out to be a devastating blow against opponents, proving BMO's claim in Adventure Time was more than mere boasting.
4 Wonder Woman's Move Is Lifted Straight From Justice League
When players attack with Wonder Woman's side basic attack, the Amazonian princess will perform a combination of moves, including one where she slides on the ground and kicks her opponent. This move won't stand out as a reference immediately, but DC fans will recognize it as a direct reference to the 2017 Justice League movie.
Near the beginning of the movie, Wonder Woman intervenes in a hostage situation, fighting off a room full of armed assailants. During the fight, Diana does a sliding kick identical to her attack in MultiVersus.
3 The Bat Cave References Batman and Catwoman's Relationship
The Bat Cave stage in MultiVersus is full of plenty of references, including the classic giant penny and dinosaur which are mainstays of the cave in comics and cartoons. Some references come in the form of pictures on the Bat Computer. There's a picture of what looks like the Joker from Batman: The Animated Series and one of Alfred.
However, there is a much smaller physical photo of Catwoman sitting near the bottom of the screen that players can easily miss. The fact this is an actual picture Bruce keeps around on his desk is likely a reference to his romantic relationship with Selina from the comics.
2 The Iron Giant's Move Set Is Full Of References
MultiVersus players who are unfamiliar with the 1999 movie the Iron Giant may not catch all the references involved in the character's attacks in the game. From biting steel girders to doing a cannonball onto opponents, pretty much all the Iron Giant's moves are based on a moment from the film.
One of the funniest references comes from one of Iron Giant's attacks, which shows him beating up a car before sitting on it. This move is a reference to a scene where the Iron Giant accidentally sets off a car alarm and Hogarth tells him to be quiet. The giant beats up the car and sits on it to silence the alarm in the same fashion he does in the game.
1 Tier 15 Of Dating Is The Cat's Pajamas
In Season 4, episode 16 of Adventure Time, titled "Burning Low, "Jake briefs Finn on the tiers of dating, ranging from tiers 1 to 15. These tiers represent milestones in a relationship, tier 1 being hugging, two kissing, etc. When Finn asks what tier 15 is, Jake angrily tells Finn not to do tier 15, but never elaborates on what it entails.
This has left Adventure Time fans to speculate what the suggestive joke might refer to. This joke gets referenced in MultiVersus' battle pass, which also uses a tier system. Tier 15 on the first Battle Pass includes a skin of Finn in pajamas and one of Jake as a cat. While this doesn't shed any light on what tier 15 of dating may be, the game's clearly saying that it's the cat's pajamas.