Quote Originally Posted by Cleretic View Post
I think you're grossly underestimating the writers. They don't just do 'here is the reference, now clap'; they recognize the value of said reference, but they do try to weave it into the world itself so that it matters a bit more than that--and crucially, so that it has any storytelling value at all to the people who haven't played the source game.
Are Omega raid bosses a joke to you?