Well a lot of modern animators and show creators grew up on the stuff, so they enjoy referencing their childhood even if the work isn't directly inspired by it.

You guys like the image, huh?
I think you'd enjoy the episode too. It has Craig training with the Elders of the Creek (a bunch of nerds) in order to beat his dad in his 16-bit fighting game. It's obvious that the creators know their stuff and there are anime and gaming references all over.

I mean, they acknowledged ROM emulation and frame data…