List of references

Due to the comedic style of Team Fortress 2 and Valve's humor, the game includes references, usually in a humorous fashion. There are many different types, from games to movies and even jokes that have developed within the game and its community have been included.

References by Class

Each of the classes have pages dedicated to their references, which can be found here.

General References

• The Australium Gold paint can is most likely a reference to the spray-on tan "Australian Gold".
• The Icarus Airline refers to a Greek myth about a boy called Template:W trying to fly with a pair of wings made with feathers and wax, who fell to his death when he flew too close to the sun.
• The Ferguson system is a Template:W of tractors established in 1934.
• The Badwater Basin is a Template:W located in Death Valley National Park, California.

Games

The Half-Life series

• Some in-game bots have names referencing the Half-Life series established Valve game:
  • Black Mesa - The main setting of Half-Life.
  • Crowbar - Template:W's weapon of choice.
  • Dog - The name of Template:W's pet robot from Half-Life 2.
  • The Combine - The primary antagonists of Half-Life 2 and its episodic sequels.
  • The Freeman - The nickname Gordon was given to by the Vortigaunts of Half-Life 2.
  • The G-Man - A mysterious recurring character in the Half-Life series.

Portal

• Some in-game bots have names referencing Portal, another Valve game:
  • Aperture Science Prototype XR7 - Aperture Science Laboratories is the main setting for Portal.
  • Chell - The name of the protagonist of Portal.
  • Companion Cube - An in-game object from Portal used to solve Test Chamber 17.
  • Delicious Cake - The "reward" of subsequent testing.
  • GlaDOS - The main antagonist of the game.
  • Still Alive - Is the name of the song played during the end credits in Portal.

The Left 4 Dead series

• Bill's Hat is the beret worn by Vietnam war veteran Bill in Valve title Left 4 Dead. It was granted to those who pre-ordered Template:W on Steam.
• Everyone who owned Left 4 Dead 2 before Thursday October 7th received Ellis' Cap and the Frying Pan as in-game items.
• Some in-game bots have names referencing Left 4 Dead:
  • BoomerBile - A substance produced by a Special Infected known as the Boomer.
  • CEDA - The Civil Emergency and Defense Agency is the government agency responsible for the control of the Infection.
  • One-Man Cheeseburger Apocalypse - In The Dark Carnival, Coach tells the Survivors his intentions if he finds a "real" Burger Tank.
  • TAAAAANK! - A warning shouted by the Survivors when a Tank is spotted.
  • WITCH - One of the Special Infected types.
  • ZAWMBEEZ - Self explanatory.

Counter Strike

• An in-game bot has a name referencing Counter Strike:
  • Hostage - A hapless citizen held up by the Terrorist team.

Mortal Kombat

“

Flawless Victory, now do it again! Click to listen — The Administrator

”

• A reference to the Mortal Kombat announcer's famous "Flawless Victory!" line.

TV and Film

Get Smart/James Bond/The Avengers

• Team Fortress 2 carries a heavy retro 60's style, drawing heavy thematic and musical inspiration from famous Spy films and series such as Template:W, Template:W and Template:W.

The 'Wilhelm Scream'

• One of the stock sound effects used in Trailer 2 is the infamous Template:W, a well known movie scream sound effect. The Scout can also scream this way sometimes, usually when he is falling to his death or killed with a Critical hit. It was also the death scream used for the Civilian class, when it was originally accessible via console commands.

References in other games

• Due to its high popularity, references of Team Fortress 2 can be found in other games as well.
  • Matt Hazard: Blood Bath And Beyond contains a level which references TF2. You start in a supply room, and have to fight through a western area full of enemies based on various TF2 classes, and even includes the Meet the Spy announcement room.
  • A BLU Level 1 Dispenser makes a cameo appearance as a "curious dispenser" in the Telltale game Sam & Max 304: Beyond the Alley of the Dolls.
  • Template:W contains an achievement called Meet the Spy, an obvious reference to the official Meet the Spy video.
  • Template:W contains the Heavy as an opponent, along with many references to Team Fortress 2 made in conversations with other characters.
  • Template:W features a quest involving a large goblin pushing a cart down a track and at some point will say "We must push little cart!", a reference to the Heavy.
  • Template:W has many hackable computers containing information, one specifically referring to a Red Spy infiltrating the Blue's base, referencing Meet the Spy.