Best Cameos in Video Games

Over the years, video games have been host to a variety of cameos. Guest stars have come from everywhere including characters from other games, actors, and pop culture icons. It's always exciting to see how they are used in the games. Here are a few of the best video game cameos.

Solid Snake in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
The Super Smash Bros. games feature cameos from all sorts of Nintendo properties. Nobody's shocked to see Link or Samus on the roster. For Super Smash Bros. Brawl, gamers got a pleasant surprise when they learned Metal Gear's Solid Snake would be a playable fighter. Snake has made cameos in other Komani titles, but SSBB is a Nintendo exclusive, making it a pretty unusual appearance. In fact, Komani requested that Snake be included in the popular fighting series.

Ricky Gervais and Katt Williams in Grand Theft Auto IV
If Niko goes into Split Sides comedy club, there isn't a generic comic from Liberty City on stage. Instead, gamers get to watch Ricky Gervais and Katt Williams do pieces from their actual stand-up acts. One comedian is featured per visit and you can also catch their acts on the Weasel TV station.

Yoda, Darth Vader, and Starkiller in Soul Caliber IV
Soul Caliber is known for its cameos featuring characters from other games. With the fourth title, all of the guest fighters were from Star Wars. When it was first released, Yoda was an Xbox 360 exclusive and Darth Vader was only on the PS3. Starkiller from the Force Unleashed game was available on both consoles. Mixing the science fiction of Star Wars with the fantasy of the usual Soul Caliber fighters was interesting and great fun.

Frank West in Left 4 Dead 2
In Left 4 Dead 2's DLC, the Passing, there is a message scrawled on the wall from none other then Frank West. The note is written to Otis explaining that he's out of fuel and the zombies are too fast. While this isn't an actual guest appearance, fans of zombie games know exactly who West is, and how L4D's zombies are way faster then the slow, lumbering ones in Dead Rising.

Freddy Kruger in Mortal Kombat
The most recent MK release had Kratos from the God of War series as a PS3 exclusive. While that's an awesome cameo, the game getting Freddy Kruger as a DLC is even better. With Freddy as a playable fighter, gamers can make sure the normal MK characters are afraid to go to sleep. Freddy may not seem like a natural pick for Mortal Kombat, but with his great fatalities and moves, he fits right in.

Burt Reynolds in Saints Row the Third
The latest Saints Row game doesn't come out until November 15. While gamers haven't seen this cameo in action yet, it's sure to be a great one. Burt Reynolds just doesn't lend his voice to the mayor of Steelport, he is the mayor. In one of the newest Saints Row the Third trailers, Burt Reynolds is shown sitting behind a desk. When he's questioned, he simply says "Who else can keep this town running?" Volition has really out done themselves on this cameo!

There have been many other great video game cameos like Mario playing the referee in Punch Out!!, or Link and Samus in the Mario RPG. As gaming becomes a more accepted form of entertainment, the cameos by movie stars and other celebrities continue to grow. It's fun to wonder who will show up in future games.