Is Zacian a reference to the Great Gray Wolf Sif from Dark Souls? & More

[Courtney]

In one part of Zacian's notes on the Wikipedia page called "List of generation VIII Pokemon", it states that Zacian's Design is similar to the Great Gray Wolf Sif from Dark Souls. Is the Pokemon a reference to that? If it is a reference, does the reference carry on to other games and media?

 

[prog rocker]

In one part of Zacian's notes on the Wikipedia page called "List of generation VIII Pokemon", it states that Zacian's Design is similar to the Great Gray Wolf Sif from Dark Souls. Is the Pokemon a reference to that? If it is a reference, does the reference carry on to other games and media?

Don't think it might be a reference, since "dogs/wolves carrying edged weapons" has been done before, like Repede from Tales of Vesperia, Koromaru from Persona 3 and Amaterasu from Okami. I guess it's just some anime trope.

EDIT: Apparently, according to this, the oldest one might be some foo dogs with swords from ancient China, so I guess they were referencing them?

 

[Courtney]

Thanks for the answer!

 

[prog rocker]

You're welcome.

 

[Courtney]

And... I have another question. On one part of the Wikipedia page of "amiibo" it states that the figures are kind of similar to the figures in Skylanders and Disney Infinity. Are the amiibo a reference to those?

 

[prog rocker]

And... I have another question. On one part of the Wikipedia page of "amiibo" it states that the figures are kind of similar to the figures in Skylanders and Disney Infinity. Are the amiibo a reference to those?

Toys-to-life games have existed since before those ones, although I wouldn't be surprised if there's some truth in what you're saying since those were the ones that made it popular (please somebody correct me if I'm wrong here).

 

[Courtney]

So is it a reference?

 

[prog rocker]

So is it a reference?

Not sure. Unlike with "wolves/dogs wielding weapons", this is not exactly a common thing. I wouldn't be surprised if it is a "follow the leader" moment, but like I said, toys to life has existed since the mid-2000's (I think) so it could be possible it isn't.

 

[PinkIceFox]

I wouldn't call it a reference, no. An inspiration, possibly. Hopping on the bandwagon after Skylanders and Lego Dimensions? Yes.

Not everything similar is meant to be a reference. They're just part of the same genre of things. Like Animal Crossing Wild World and Magician's Quest: Mysterious Times are both the same genre of game on the DS. Or all the monster raising games like pokemon. They can be inspired by them, but they are probably not meant to be a reference to them since they're not owned by the same people.

Like, say I see a story element in something I really like so I find a way to do something similar in a story or just in world building. Reference to me implies you want someone to clearly see the reference as what it's referencing. My DnD character has a mushroom familiar that's a chubby little mushroom with a face and tiny mouth and somewhat tendril-like arms. Is it a reference to shiinotic? No. Was I partially inspired by it when I was deciding on how to draw this creature? Yes.

 

[prog rocker]

I wouldn't call it a reference, no. An inspiration, possibly. Hopping on the bandwagon after Skylanders and Lego Dimensions? Yes.

Wasn't Lego Dimensions released after amiibo, or I'm confusing things.

Not everything similar is meant to be a reference. They're just part of the same genre of things. Like Animal Crossing Wild World and Magician's Quest: Mysterious Times are both the same genre of game on the DS. Or all the monster raising games like pokemon. They can be inspired by them, but they are probably not meant to be a reference to them since they're not owned by the same people.

Another example: Pokémon itself, considering the Megami Tensei series had already 3/4 games (not counting remakes) released by the time Pokémon came. They are both monster catching and raising games, but they are completely different in tone and concepts.

Also, nice to see someone else that knows what Magician's Quest is.