According to the game's director Shinji Mikami, when he played Final Fight: Streetwise he hated the game's direction and believed it to be a terrible entry in the series. Mikami thought about making a similar game, which would later become God Hand.

In Stage 5-1 of God Hand, Gene encounters a drowning man being teased by three enemies throwing Life Preservers at him. If the player defeats these enemies there will be a cutscene where Gene will save the drowning man.

However, if the player decides not to save him or engage the enemies, the drowning man will say "I won't be back" and put his thumb up as he sinks parodying Terminator 2's ending as well as the catchphrase "I'll be back" which the films created.