Happy Monday, folks!

Like many of you, I’ve been digging into the full “1.0” release of Hades II since it came out on Steam and Switch last week. There’s a lot to talk about it! And I’ve thought up a number of potential topics for future Games Threads, which I’m excited to show off whenever they happen. Stuff about romances in games, or sequels that explode in sheer content, or plenty of other stuff. I mean, it’s kinda perfect it’s coming in right before October. Very Halloween. But one look at Skelly and I knew what had to come first.

Back in the first Hades, the mysterious “Skelly” was a helper, a Brooklyn-accented take on the Sandbag from Super Smash Bros. He had a mysterious past that never got explored and was just there as a sounding board and comfort for Zagreus (and his weapons). He has the same role in Hades II; he’s the last person Melinoë will see before going off to fight the Titan of Time, and the first person she’ll hit to test out her latest weapon. But look at him now! He’s Schelemeus, with assuredly well deserved medals and a cape and… somehow his entirely skeletal body got buff?

For good or ill, Hades II is excited about the idea of the glow up, of making its old characters—almost all of whom return for the sequel—tougher, crazier, hotter, and more intense. Following at least one part of what made people love the first game so much. I’m not sure how that direction will all shake out (the most recurring complaint I’ve heard from critics is that its story is weaker and less focused, which might be a byproduct of doubling down), but at least right now, I’m having a good time with its hornier, more extra attitude. And Skelly getting to be a hero. But that’s me. For today’s prompt, we’ve got a lot of gaming series and franchises out there: what’s your favorite glow-up of a character, from one game to the next? Did you love seeing Alucard reappear in Symphony of the Night? Were you happy when Pichu became fun in Smash Bros. Ultimate?

And, as ever, what did you play this weekend?