Sometimes, a video game features amazing links to another video game series. What could be a more fitting tribute? Sure, a game designer can simply say that they enjoy the work of other games, but when they put in a small piece of one game into another, it is the greatest proof of mutual love. On top of that, it sends fanboys and fangirls alike crazy! Over the years, however, Nintendo games have featured countless references to other Nintendo franchises. Some of them are absolutely mind-blowingly amazing. Here's a quick look at 5 different cases where Nintendo has decided to memorialize itself.

5: The Punch Out!!! Series
In Punch-Out!!! Wii, awaiting you at the end of Last Stand Mode, is a very big hairy ape. It's Donkey Kong, for crying out loud! Who even lets an 800 pound gorrilla in the ring anyway!?! But, whatever the rules are in the Punch Out!!! world (which I'm pretty sure don't exist), Donkey can not only battle you; he's an extremely tough opponent to boot.

But, cameos of Nintendo characters is actually a tradition in the Punch Out!!! series. In fact, in the very first game, it was Mario who served as referee. Not saying he's great at his job, but hey, someone has to attempt to lay down the rules! True, he has gotten rid of the normal coveralls, but the portly plumber is the same Mario, nonetheless.

But, Mario is so popular, people might even want to carry his face around, as seen in...

4: Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Legend of Zelda:Majora's Mask features a lot of masks (what did you expect, collectable broaches?) What is a nifty little bit of trivia is how many of these masks reference other Nintendo games. First are the masks that the Happy Mask Salesman is actually carrying. Take a close look...

That's right, he seems to be carrying Mario's head on his back everywhere he goes. Kinda creepy, ain't it? I've never like masks to begin with (which might be one of the many reasons this game scared me as a kid), but it is a kind gesture. But, that isn't the only mask that seems to give reference to another character.

See that mask in the bottom left hand corner? That blue and yellow combo is the color of two famed Nintendo character's faces, King Dedede and Falco Lombardi. While one can't say for certain, I'd put my money down that it was done on purpose that way. But then, look at the masks in the menu screen that Link actually carries around in game.

Take a close look at the second row. 5 of those masks resemble animals, namely, a fox, bird, rabbit, frog and pig. Why does this matter? Think about Star Fox. Your team members are Fox McCloud, a fox (duh), Falco Lombardi, some sort of falcon or pheasant (depends on who you ask), Peppy Hare, a rabbit/hare and Slippy Toad, who is a toad. Those first four match up perfectly. Why, then is the pig mask there? Well, according to Star Fox 64, Pigma Dengar the pig was an original member of the Star Fox team. So, it would only make sense to add him in the crew of Star Fox members. As cool as this is though, what if there was a level in one Nintendo game that seemed to pay homage to another series?

3: Kirby's Dream Land 3
Kirby and Samus might be very different in terms of fighting style. But, both of them know how to kick butt and take names later when it comes to destroying Metroids. In level 5-2 of Kirby's Dream Land 3, there are 6 metroids that Kirby must defeat. Use Kirby's ice power, and they'll go down in a jiffy. Pretty funny, since Samus destroys these nasty critters with ice beam.

But what is even better is the reward the player receives for taking out these formidable alien foes. Samus will appear at the end of the level and grant Kirby a Heart Star... without her helmet on.

But, this isn't the only case of Samus making appearances elsewhere...

2: Super Mario RPG
Super Mario RPG came as a result of a deal between Square and Nintendo and was released on the Super Nintendo. If you've never played it, you need to. It's an absolute classic, and one of the best Mario games ever. The game itself, however, is chock full of references to other Nintendo series.
To see the one and only space bounty hunter Samus, one has to defeat the Star Hill area. However, before advancing that game by going to Nimbus Land, head back to the Mushroom kingdom first. Inside the guest bedroom of Princess Peach's castle, you'll find her asleep in the
bed.

However, this isn't her only appearance. Take a close look at the toy box in Booster's tower to find a small Samus doll.

Link also will make an in game appearance sleeping. Play with the character Gaz at the Rose Town Inn, and you can sleep there for free. When you wake up the next morning, the fairy boy will also have decided to nap there.

Finally, head to Hinopio's shop in Barrel Volcano. In the back corner and you will see an Arwing from the Star Fox series, along with the Blue Falcon and Fire Stingray, both from the F-Zero games.

But the fact that F-Zero and Star Fox are sitting beside each other only makes sense because...

1: Star Fox and F-Zero have made multiple ties together
Star Fox and F-Zero are perhaps two of Nintendo's greatest sci-fi franchises (all right, the only other one I can say is a household name is Metroid), so it only makes sense that the two series should be intertwined. The start of it all goes back to when it was stated that both Star Fox's Arwings and F-Zeros racing ships are powered by G-Diffusers. But, it started becoming much more apparent when James McCloud appeared.
See this man? He's Jame's McCloud, who first appeared in the game F-Zero X for the N64. Does his clothing, maybe even his hair, seem familiar?

Well, if he does, you're not alone. You see, he just so happens to look a whole lot like this guy...

James McCloud, founder of Star Fox, protector of the galaxy, who may or may not have died a tragic death, his fight to be continued on by his son Fox McCloud. I mean, they have the same name, and they're wearing the same jacket. They even both have their trademark shades and that ridiculous triangle belt buckle (the future is not known for having fashionable belt buckles, so be forewarned all would be time travelers.)
However, the links go much farther than their appearances. First, James McCloud founded Star Fox and works hard to raise his son (I'm talking about the furry James here.) The human James McCloud is the leader of a mercenary fighting crew that fights for the safety of his homeworld known as... Galaxy Dogs. If that's not a take on Star Fox, I don't know what is. On top of that, he works hard at his job and later at racing so as to be able to provide for his unnamed son. He has joined F-Zero racing after converting his fighter jet into a high speed machine. So, cool, right? It can't get any deeper than that, can it?
Oh, yes it can. Because here's James McCloud's ship, the Little Wyvern...

And here's an Arwing, the official ship of Star Fox...

And it's no wonder they look so alike. Not only are both ships powered by G-Diffusers, but they were both designed by a company known as Space Dynamics.
Seriously, I don't think there could be any more ways to make it clear that F-Zero's James is a human clone of Star Fox's James McCloud. And if that is not enough for you, I present to you a quote from the man himself.

I rest my case. He is there as a nod to Star Fox.
Now, that's all cool and all that the F-Zero games would include such a reference to the Star Fox universe. However, has a Star Fox game ever shown the love back to F-Zero? Well, just pick up Star Fox Command, and you'll find plenty.
This is Octoman, a boss in Star Fox Command, who brainwashes Slippy (good riddance), that, depending on your path, you must defeat.

Except for one small thing. He wasn't always a brainwashing baddie. He actually started his Nintendo career... as an F-Zero racer, making his first appearance in F-Zero X.

True, his appearance may have been altered slightly, but he's in both game series. Pretty wild, right?
Not only that, but two of the endings in Star Fox Command link to the F-Zero games. The first one is pretty small and easy to forget. In the ending “Goodbye Fox”, an older Falco Lombardi seems to be wearing a pair of pretty snazzy boots.

Want to know where he got them? Apparently, he either shops at the same place as the one and only Captain Falcon of F-Zero fame, or he just stole them.

The other reference, however, is much more direct. Fox and Falco straight up retire from space combat. Then, the two take their old arwings and re-configure them into racing machines and enter the blistering fast world of G-Zero Grand Prix racing. That's right, they take the same career path of F-Zero's James McCloud. I guess we just made a full circle.

So, at the end of the day, Nintendo may easily have the most unique and famed franchises under it's control in all of gaming. What is really amazing is the fact that Nintendo hasn't kept them all separate, but allowed them all to flow within the realms of each other.