LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is one of the many highly anticipated games that has been in the making for several long years. Despite TT Games’ unexpected announcement that its latest entry would not feature character customization, fans of the LEGO Star Wars franchise have quickly taken a shine to some of its content shortly after the release. Reimaginings of Star Wars‘ iconic moments and signature LEGO humor have left the internet abuzz, while interesting Easter eggs honoring other idiosyncratic series, such as Xenoblade Chronicles, have not gone unnoticed.
As an interactive medium that strives to expand its influence beyond the parent theme, video games often feature references that are not always in line with their respective setting. While some draw inspiration from historical events that shape the game’s overworld or general gameplay, others pay tribute through carefully placed Easter eggs. Hidden areas, quirky one-liners, limited events or unique in-game items are commonly seen as the best way to communicate the envisioned homage, and developers utilize them without fail.
What makes the newly discovered Xenoblade reference unique in The Skywalker Saga is its timely incorporation and the fact that it can be easily overlooked. Exploring the Return of the Jedi portion of the game will eventually lead the players to Jabba’s Palace. Within it, a disco party seems to be underway, and a titular Disco Director is eager to share his thoughts on the event should the players wish to interact with him. He expresses his enthusiasm for the ongoing party by saying, “I’m really feeling it!”
The statement in and of itself would not garner much attention, as it does not seem out of place, given the NPC’s vocation and the matter at hand. However, the ambiguously referential line left fans wondering whether its placement was intentional because of Adam Howden’s involvement. It was soon confirmed that Disco Director’s sentiment was, in fact, a direct reference to Shulk and Xenoblade Chronicles.
Adam Howden, the voice of Disco Director in LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, is better known for his role as the voice behind Shulk in the Xenoblade series and Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. A former TT Games developer, David Harris, saw the opportunity to sneak in the uncanny Easter egg while he was working on his last puzzle in The Skywalker Saga. Despite the initial weariness Howden felt when he saw the line, he delivered it masterfully after being told it was a homage to Xenoblade.
While the tribute pays respects to the Xenoblade franchise through Shulk’s watchword, the catchphrase itself does not originate from it. Before being incorporated into the Xenoblade games and becoming a part of Shulk’s identity, the line was used as an introduction for his Super Smash Bros. appearance. Though it was originally intended for Shulk’s character reveal trailer, the line unexpectedly took off, turning into a well-known meme within the community and eventually making its way to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as one of Shulk’s taunts.
With the release of LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, players have ample opportunity to discover a wide range of memorable Star Wars locations, landmarks and fully explore areas rich in random encounters. It will be interesting to see what other hidden gems and Easter eggs TT Games has in store for its fans in the latest LEGO installment and how they potentially tie in with other major franchises.
