Super Mario 64

Not only is the following image (stolen from GeekOnStun.com) really cute, it also presents some interesting food for thought.

For example, how is it possible that you can portray such a number of specific recognizable characters in 12x16 pixels? In fact, you can portray an Italian plumber being dressed up as specific recognizable characters! I cannot say I recognized all of them, but notice captain Kirk and Spock, The Village People or The Beatles. Really interesting how our brain handles the pop-culture matrix...