As Easter arrives once again, a time synonymous with spring’s renewal and chocolate treats, it’s fitting, just like last year, to revisit some of the most memorable video game Easter eggs – discoveries that continue to captivate our imagination.
Ben: The Witcher 2 – Assassins of Kings: The Leap of Fail
This year, I decided to diverge slightly from my usual focus, setting aside the Call of Duty Zombies universe to highlight a classic nod: the Assassin’s Creed reference in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. Early in the game, during an assault, players can stumble upon a rather ironic scene. Near a ballista, a character in a white robe lies flattened on the ground next to a haystack, clearly the victim of a fatal fall. The conspicuous presence of a tower directly behind him leaves no doubt: this was a failed attempt at the famous ‘Leap of Faith.’ Geralt, upon approaching the lifeless body, can’t help but quip, ‘Guess they’ll never learn.’ A YouTube video available below perfectly captures this humorous moment.
(YouTube video demonstrating the ‘Leap of Fail’ Easter egg)
Alex: Grand Theft Auto V: Supernatural San Andreas Encounters
Grand Theft Auto V, a massive title, overflows with countless Easter eggs. Some are discovered purely by chance, while others took months to be spotted, sometimes requiring an online search to ensure you don’t miss them on your next escapades with Trevor, Franklin, and Michael. We’ll explore two of these paranormal secrets: the frozen alien and Bigfoot. The first appears right at the start of the game when you’re trying to escape a botched bank robbery as Michael. While driving, veer right and leave the road until you reach a bridge over a river. Directly beneath this bridge, a frozen alien corpse awaits your discovery. As for Bigfoot, its brief appearance occurs later, still as Michael, during the ‘Predator’ mission. Armed with a thermal scope rifle to eliminate the O’Neil brothers, zoom into the bottom-right mission area to glimpse, for a fleeting second, the creature’s thermal silhouette. Be quick, as Bigfoot vanishes rapidly. YouTube videos illustrate these two finds.
(YouTube videos demonstrating the frozen alien and Bigfoot Easter eggs)
Magnus: Batman: Arkham Asylum: Uncovering Arkham City Blueprints
Batman: Arkham Asylum was a veritable goldmine of secrets, deep references, and tantalizing clues. My brother and I tirelessly explored every labyrinthine corner of the asylum, driven by the curiosity of discovering what lay hidden around each bend. I vividly recall one Saturday morning, feeling a bit foggy, when we searched Quincy Sharp’s office and stumbled upon the blueprints for what would eventually become the Arkham City project. While Rocksteady officially announced the sequel shortly thereafter, at the time, stumbling upon this premature revelation, hinting at the franchise’s future, was absolutely astounding. In 2009, information didn’t spread with today’s speed, so it was, believe it or not, a complete surprise. As Batman fans, the excitement we shared that morning was intense.
(Image of the Arkham City blueprints Easter egg)
Alex: Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II: Petting a Tyranid
In the grim universe of Warhammer 40,000, Tyranids represent an inexhaustible threat to the galaxy. While their tabletop miniatures might appear cute, their role in the lore is anything but that of cuddly pets. In Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II, you’ll spend much of your time obliterating them. However, a surprise awaits you in the very first mission: a harmless Tyranid that can even be petted. On the planet Avarax, after summoning the elevator via one console, activate a second console and await the audio confirmation. This will trigger the appearance of nine Tyranids to locate in the next section of your mission. Once these threats are eliminated, you’ll discover a friendly Hormagaunt, peacefully lying in a corridor, ready to receive your pets. A video below demonstrates how to find the nine Tyranids and their amiable companion.
(YouTube video demonstrating how to find and pet the Tyranid)