History CharacterizationMarchesOn / VideoGames

** Cloud in the original ''FFVII'' was a very different hero from the modern version of him. 1997 Cloud was a much more lighthearted and somewhat dorky character (see his [[NarmCharm cheesy]] “Let’s Mosey” line) when not suffering HeroicBSOD and FalseMemories, being insecure underneath his cocky mercenary persona about the fact he wasn’t able to become a cool hero like he swore he’d become. Cloud could also be goofily enthusiastic about things (doing squats or posing) and openly flirt with his love interests. In modern media like ''[[Franchise/CompilationOfFinalFantasyVII Compilation]]'' and ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'' Cloud is TheStoic, full of [[HurtingHero brooding angst]] and keeps even his allies at arm’s distance. ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake Remake]]'' retains a lot of this later more introverted characterisation for Cloud, but gradually brings in his original dorkier and upbeat side as the game goes on, [[CharacterDevelopment to show he’s opening up to people]].

** [[EvilCounterpart Wario]]. Compare the greedy AntiHero of ''VideoGame/WarioLand'' and ''VideoGame/WarioWare'' to his first appearance in ''Super Mario Land 2''. "''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhB8XG9_5Rc&feature=related Obey Wario,]]'' '''''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfYhLi7SqIA&feature=related DESTROY MARIO!]]'''''"

** ''VideoGame/MortalKombat1'' features a ''very'' different [[PhysicalGod Raiden]] from the rest of the series. In every other game, he's the protector of Earthrealm, the mentor to [[MessianicArchetype Liu Kang]] and the other Earthrealm warriors, and one of the most powerful forces for good. In the first one? He's a ChaoticStupid {{Jerkass}} who enters the tournament simply to show he's not afraid of Shang Tsung, thinks nothing of the mortals he's fighting, and in his ending bans anyone but gods from entering the tournament [[spoiler: and blows up the Earth as a result]]. Whenever a work references the events of the original, they just pretend the second characterization is what happened.

** Leon S. Kennedy in the original ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2'' wasn’t the typical 90s ActionHero, unconfident and gullible he actually [[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nnrSNSMfOt8 moans]] at one point “Man, why does nobody is listen to me?” when Ada and Claire run off without answering his questions. By the time of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'' Leon is a super slick secret agent and wise cracking [[TheCasanova ladies’ man]], who you wouldn’t guess had lived through a ZombieApocalypse if he didn’t mention it, later titles such as ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvil6 RE6]]'' do acknowledge the trauma he’s been through and strongly imply Leon’s quips and cocky attitude are just a cover for how [[BrokenAce messed up and depressed he is]]. The [[VideoGame/ResidentEvil2Remake 2019 remake]] of ''[=RE2=]'' brings back a lot Leon’s original characterisation but also makes him less gullible and reasonably composed.

* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'':

Additionally, the CowardlyLion traits and fear of ghosts first displayed in ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'' also stuck through later games, going a long way to distinguish his personality along with his physical characteristics. Later games (especially the ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigi'' series) would have quite a bit of fun with this.\\\

** Kanbei was a [[LordErrorProne total moron]] who needs his daughter's advice to do anything right... and he ''still'' screws it up. (Told he should have bases to deploy units? Makes a base on an island where his units can't do anything) In later games he's more of your typical honorable samurai, his only remaining comedic trait being his [[BoyfriendBlockingDad extreme over-protectiveness of Sonja.]]

** Kanbei was a [[LordErrorProne total moron]] who needs his daughter's advice to do anything right... and he ''still'' screws it up. (Told he should have bases to deploy units? Makes a base on an island where his units can't do anything) In later games he's more of your typical honorable samurai, his only remaining comedic trait being his [[OverprotectiveDad extreme over-protectiveness of Sonja.]]

* ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' orignally started with an ExcusePlot based around a titular CombatByChampion-enforcing league, but after it became increasingly apparent to Riot Games that such a FramingDevice became narratively [[TheArtifact superfluous]] and [[PerpetuallyStatic limiting]], [[ContinuityReboot the continuity was rebooted without it]], and thus the world became more of a free-for-all SharedUniverse. Consequently, pretty much every character needed to be rewritten without conflicts of the League, and several characters were given [[{{Retcon}} continuity relaunches]] that [[ReimaginingTheArtifact reinvented their character to be much more ambitious in scope]], and some grew to be complete InNameOnly overhauls. Just a few examples out of an ever-expanding character list:

** [[BigRedDevil Aatrox, the Darkin Blade]] was orignally a (canonically-ambiguous) NobleDemon of [[FamedInStory myth]], his shtick being that [[BigDamnHeroes he appeared whenever armies were losing wars]], fuelling their bloodlust until they devolved into [[UnstoppableRage unstoppable barbarism]], played equally as a wise HopeBringer and a monstrous manipulator that left carnage and sorrow in his wake. In 2018, this was completely rebuilt, turning him into a once-proud PhysicalGod who [[FallenHero fell]] after the horrors of war warped him into a perpetual SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum, played as an unambiguous -- if still [[TragicVillain tragic]] -- villain.

** [[ThePaladin Kayle, the Righteous]] and [[FallenAngel Morgana, the Fallen]] were orignally [[CainAndAbel duelling angelic sisters]] on [[BlackAndWhiteMorality a purely black/white war of morality]], but their 2019 reboots -- instead making them descendants to the Aspect of Justice -- made them [[GrayingMorality much closer to grey]]. On Kayle's side, her stoic pursuit of an "objective" form of justice [[PureIsNotGood makes her increasingly detached from humanity]] and leads her to act on [[KnightTemplar technically just, yet heartless retribution]], while Morgana chose to abscond such an abstract, heavenly ideal [[DarkIsNotEvil in favor of embracing humanity]], making her more of a WarriorTherapist who believes [[SympathyForTheDevil humans are capable of redemption]] and helps them purge through their wickedness.

** Sephiroth in the original game was a classic TragicMonster [[GoMadFromTheRevelation who went insane]] learning about his birth and even before becoming a FallenHero devoted to his “mother” Jenova was capable of breaking out into eerie laughter. He was also quite affable besides from his destruction of [[DoomedHometown Nibelheim]], MindRape and [[KickTheDog manipulation]] of Cloud and [[KillTheCutie his murder of Aerith]], Sephiroth wasn’t actively cruel or insidious considering himself beyond good and evil as the “saviour” of the planet. In his modern appearances such as ''Dissidia'' Sephiroth is a SmugSmiler and NobleDemon who considers Cloud (whom he is fixated on) as a WorthyOpponent, unlike the original game where he mainly wanted to torment Cloud in revenge for defeating him. ''Remake'' keeps Sephiroth’s obsession with Cloud seen in later media, while also upping his cruelty and psychotic traits, making him a more [[CardCarryingVillain overtly evil villain]] compared to his original depiction. [[spoiler: This last bit is [[FridgeHorror made more chilling]] since it turns out that ''Remake'' is a StealthSequel (of sorts). It is heavily implied that Sephiroth ''knows'' about the events form the original game and trying to change his fate, and that Cloud has beaten him at least 3 times.]]
** Barret in the original game was unmistakably a caricature of Creator/MrT. A LargeHam BigScaryBlackMan who knocked his allies around when annoyed and was only gentle to his adoptive daughter Marlene whilst being antagonistic to others especially Cloud, it took a lot of the game for him to mellow out into a nicer guy who appreciates his companions and regrets the damage he caused sticking it to Shinra. ''Remake'' depicts Barret as a AFatherToHisMen who displays multiple HiddenDepths showing he has a scholarly side to him, being excited at the Shrina library and unlike the original he’s the one who to encourage his allies and keep their spirits up, he still has his HotBlooded traits but is even-tempered when not fighting and face to face with his foes.

** [[AllTrollsAreDifferent Trundle]] used to be known as "The Cursed Troll", a PintSizedPowerhouse inflicted with [[BodyHorror perpetual leprosy]], who in his neverending search for a cure became a champion to his people, fighting with [[CarryABigStick a giant club]] and [[MuckMonster contamination powers]]. Following a 2013 relaunch, he was almost completely reinvented into [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority "The Troll King"]], a brutish self-declared king of [[{{Retcon}} what now became]] a race of frost trolls, also gaining [[AnIcePerson "Iceborn"]] heratige and [[GeniusBruiser a sharper sense of intellect compared to others of his race]] ([[DumbMuscle though one not quite on par with humans]]).

** In addition to caging Donkey Kong out of a sense of malice-fueled revenge, Mario's history before entering the Mushroom Kingdom has rarely been addressed, despite having gone through a variety of career changes: military service in ''Mario's Bombs Away'', construction work in ''Wrecking Crew'' and ''[=Mario's Cement Factory=]'', and plumbing in ''VideoGame/MarioBros''.

*** Amy Rose in ''VideoGame/SonicCD'', while clearly having romantic feelings for Sonic, doesn't display much of the StalkerWithACrush personality that would infamously become her main character trait for the next two decades starting with ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure''. She's also a rather generic DamselInDistress incapable of fighting for herself in this first outing, rather than being an AllLovingHero in her own right with a signature weapon [[DropTheHammer in the form of a giant mallet]].

*** Amy Rose in ''VideoGame/SonicCD'' is a rather generic DamselInDistress incapable of fighting for herself, and the only hint that she is a StalkerWithACrush is when Sonic finally saves her from Metal Sonic and she gives him a huge hug while he looks kind of uncomfortable.

* Compare the first ''VideoGame/StarFox'' game with its ContinuityReboot ''VideoGame/StarFox64''. Fox and Falco didn't change much, if at all, but the other two members of the team are noticeably different. Slippy had a VerbalTic and showed no signs of the GadgeteerGenius tendencies he would eventually develop, but Peppy is almost a completely different character. In the SNES game, he was far more excitable and came off as HotBlooded in some instances, demanding to know "Who's next?!" after each stage. In ''64'', he's the oldest member of the crew and typically acts as a mentor figure of sorts.

** Several champions were revamped to have drastically higher power levels following the undoing of the League. [[BearsAreBadNews Volibear, the Thunder's Roar]] went from a bear-shaped ProudWarriorRaceGuy with [[ShockAndAwe lightning powers]] to [[PhysicalGod an immortal Freljordian demigod of the storms]]. Evelynn, the Widowmaker, went from being a vampiric, [[AmazingTechnicolorPopulation blue-skinned]], {{Dominatrix}}-esque assassin with a MysteriousPast into [[OurDemonsAreDifferent a full-blown ancient demon]] who [[HornyDevils feasts off of lust and agony]].

* In ''VideoGame/{{Blazblue}}'', Ragna was far more belligerent and unheroic in the original Calamity Trigger than later on. Notably, the pre-release short stories for CT showed he murdered indiscriminately. After ''Continuum Shift'' however, his more common traits began to show, to the point of that ''Continuum Shift's'' retelling of Calamity Trigger retconned his initial acts of violence and personality.

** Nina and Anna’s SiblingRivalry was much less violent and more playful earlier on, with Nina stealing one of Anna’s shoes and taking photo of her in shower. In later games they’re outright trying to murder each other, with only Anna’s ''Tekken 6'' having the sisters spend non-murderous time together. This marked a change in Nina’s personality too, with her being a more lighthearted and less cruel character in the first two games who actually smiles after meeting Anna at their father’s grave in 2. From ''Tekken 3'' onwards Nina is decidedly crueler and more abusive to Anna with her sociopathic DarkActionGirl traits getting played up to the hilt.

* [[VideoGame/{{Neptunia}} Nepgear]] was a somewhat bland and very VanillaProtagonist in [[VideoGame/HyperdimensionNeptuniaMkii her debut]]. There was an attempt to remedy this with her lack of defining features being a RunningGag in [[VideoGame/HyperdimensionNeptuniaVictory the sequel]], along with being ButtMonkey for a vicious and humiliating universe, but to no avail[[note]]Her original appearance included the option of Nepgear willfully perpetrating the ''horrifying'' events of the [[KillEmAll Conquest]] [[DownerEnding Ending]], which cast a long shadow on her popularity[[/note]]. After three {{Video Game Remake}}s worth of progressive retrofits to her character, her next fully original appearance in ''VideoGame/MegadimensionNeptuniaVII'' is as a well-rounded, well-liked mecha-nerd.

** Claire Redfield in the original ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2'' was a classic tomboyish college girl who according Hideki Kamiya had multiple bikes and [[DudeMagnet boyfriends]] prior to Raccoon City. Yet by the time of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilRevelations2'' Claire is a somber 30-something woman who drives a SUV instead of a motorcycle and her dating life has been either unsuccessful (Leon) or [[CartwrightCurse tragic]] (Steve and Neil). ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2Remake'' touches upon Claire’s tomboyish and flirtatious qualities but also has her [[SirSwearsALot swear a lot]] and be more realistically aggravated by the actions of Chief Irons and Annette Birkin.

** Paul Phoenix in the first two games was a serious fighter with Ken Masters vibes, being TheRival to Kazuya. Come later titles however and Paul is firmly placed in the PluckyComicRelief role having wacky hijinks with Marshall Law and Kuma. He no longer has any connection to the Mishima conflict beyond being treated as an nuisance by Kazuya and his legitimate strength having defeated Ogre in his first form isn’t even considered noteworthy InUniverse.

** Asuka Kazama while always a light-hearted character still had pretty damn important plot significance in ''Tekken 5'' being able to suppress the Devil Gene like Jun giving her a strong connection to Jin. However by the time of later games, Asuka’s ties to Mishimas is [[AbortedArc severely]] downplayed in favour of her beating up gangs as HotBlooded vigilante and having LesYay [[DesignatedGirlFight Designated Girl Fights]] with Lili as a goofy side character. ''Tekken 7'' even mentions her role in 5 as “getting dragged into the Mishima mess” like it’s a minor detail.
** Ling Xiaoyu compared Asuka is actually an inverted case of this, having a non-serious role in the story at first before getting a real connection to the Mishimas in later titles. In ''Tekken 3'' Xiaoyu’s entire goal was winning enough money to build her own theme park, in later games she’s presented as a granddaughter figure for Heihachi ([[PetTheDog who genuinely cares for her]]) and is a DoggedNiceGirl towards Jin, acting as his MoralityPet in 4, 5 and 6 and in ''Anime/TekkenBloodVengeance''.

** Claire Redfield in the original ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2'' was a classic tomboyish BikerBabe college girl who according Hideki Kamiya had multiple bikes and [[DudeMagnet boyfriends]] prior to Raccoon City. Yet by the time of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilRevelations2'' Claire is a somber 30-something woman who drives a SUV instead of a motorcycle and her dating life has been either unsuccessful (Leon) or [[CartwrightCurse tragic]] (Steve and Neil). ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2Remake'' touches upon Claire’s tomboyish and flirtatious qualities but also has her [[SirSwearsALot swear a lot]] and be more realistically aggravated by the actions of Chief Irons and Annette Birkin.

** Leon S. Kennedy in the original ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2'' wasn’t the typical 90s ActionHero, unconfident and gullible he actually moans at one point “Why does nobody is listen to me?” when Ada and Claire run off without answering his questions. By the time of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'' Leon is a super slick secret agent and wise cracking [[TheCasanova ladies’ man]], who you wouldn’t guess had lived through a ZombieApocalypse if he didn’t mention it, later titles such as ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvil6 RE6]]'' do acknowledge the trauma he’s been through and strongly imply Leon’s quips and cocky attitude are just a cover for how [[BrokenAce messed up and depressed he is]]. The [[VideoGame/ResidentEvil2Remake 2019 remake]] of ''[=RE2=]'' brings back a lot Leon’s original characterisation but also makes him less gullible and reasonably composed.
** Claire Redfield in the original ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2'' was a classic tomboyish BikerBabe college girl who according Hideki Kamiya had multiple bikes and boyfriends prior to Raccoon City. Yet by the time of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilRevelations2'' Claire is a somber 30-something woman who drives a SUV instead of a motorcycle and her dating life has been either unsuccessful (Leon) or [[CartwrightCurse tragic]] (Steve and Neil). ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2Remake'' touches upon Claire’s tomboyish and flirtatious qualities but also has her [[SirSwearsALot swear a lot]] and be more realistically aggravated by the actions of Chief Irons and Annette Birkin.

** Sephiroth in the original game was a classic TragicMonster [[GoMadFromTheRevelation who went insane]] learning about his birth and even before becoming a FallenHero devoted to his “mother” Jenova was capable of breaking out into eerie laughter. He was also quite affable besides as his MindRape and [[KickTheDog manipulation]] of Cloud and [[KillTheCutie his murder of Aerith]], Sephiroth wasn’t actively cruel or insidious considering himself beyond good and evil as the “saviour” of the planet. In his modern appearances such as ''Dissidia'' Sephiroth is a SmugSmiler and NobleDemon who considers Cloud (whom he is fixated on) as a WorthyOpponent, unlike the original game where he mainly wanted to torment Cloud in revenge for defeating him. ''Remake'' keeps Sephiroth’s obsession with Cloud seen in later media, while also upping his cruelty and psychotic traits, making him a more [[CardCarryingVillain overtly evil villain]] compared to his original depiction. [[spoiler: This last bit is [[FridgeHorror made more chilling]] since it turns out that ''Remake'' is a StealthSequel (of sorts). It is heavily implied that Sephiroth ''knows'' about the events form the original game and trying to change his fate, and that Cloud has beaten him at least 3 times.]]

** Ada Wong in her debut in ''[=RE2=]'' was closer to a DamselInDistress, she also had similarities to Film/{{Nikita}} being a troubled spy who doesn’t like lying and manipulating to her LoveInterest Leon and only wanted him to leave her alone to do her job. Her epilogue screen in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Nemesis'' depicts her as a BrokenBird BeneathTheMask. Yet in ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvil4 RE4]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvil6 RE6]]'' Ada is a carefree and conceited FemmeFataleSpy who is unbothered by her work, being totally okay to use, manipulate and betray Leon to her own ends and even after countless people die, looks forward to her next assignment and payday. ''[=RE2make=]'' however brings back Ada’s sympathetic traits and implies in the ending of Leon’s scenario that she knows bad person and hates herself for it.

** Tifa in the original game in spite of her appearance was ironically a ShrinkingViolet who had a bad case of CannotSpitItOut and was generally calm, modest and [[TeamMom motherly]]. Tifa’s modern appearances have her be more outgoing, spunky and even sassy, in ''Dissidia'' she boldly tells her opponents ([[DynamicAkimbo hands on hips]]) she’ll crush them if they mock her, acting much more like the typical HotBlooded monk. ''Remake'' splits difference with Tifa, bringing back her gentler and empathic 1997 characterisation while retaining the a few of the more confident ActionGirl traits she’s been depicted as having in other games.
** Sephiroth in the original game was a classic TragicMonster [[GoMadFromTheRevelation who went insane]] learning about his birth and even before becoming a FallenHero devoted to his “mother” Jenova was capable of breaking out into eerie laughter. He was also quite affable besides as his MindRape and [[KickTheDog manipulation]] of Cloud and [[KillTheCutie his murder of Aerith]], Sephiroth wasn’t actively cruel or insidious considering himself beyond good and evil as the “saviour” of the planet. In his modern appearances such as ''Dissidia'' Sephiroth is a SmugSmiler and NobleDemon who considers Cloud (whom he is fixated on) as a WorthyOpponent, unlike the original game where he mainly wanted to torment Cloud in revenge for defeating him. ''Remake'' keeps Sephiroth’s obsession with Cloud seen in later media, while also upping his cruelty and psychotic traits, making him a more [[CardCarryingVillain overtly evil villain]] compared to his original depiction. [[spoiler: This last bit is made more chilling since it turns out that ''Remake'' is a StealthSequel (of sorts). It is heavily implied that Sephiroth ''knows'' about the events form the original game and trying to change his fate, and that Cloud has beaten him at least 3 times.]]

** [[{{Outlaw}} Graves, the Outlaw]], and [[CardSharp Twisted Fate, the Card Master]], were originally written as [[WeUsedToBeFriends former partners-turned-enemies]] after Twisted Fate sold Graves out for personal gain, both of them played as fairly dark, morally grey characters. When their lores were rebuilt in 2015, Riot took the opportunity to not only change the circumstances of the [[PoorCommunicationKills "betrayal"]], but additionally have them make up and become partners again. Nowadays, they're [[TookALevelInCheerfulness a much more lighthearted duo]] of [[BanteringBaddieBuddies equally-badass, equally-bumbling crooks]], almost always shown [[ThoseTwoGuys getting into criminal hijinx together]].

** Sephiroth in the original game was a classic TragicMonster [[GoMadFromTheRevelation who went insane]] learning about his birth and even before becoming a FallenHero devoted to his “mother” Jenova was capable of breaking out into eerie laughter. He was also quite affable besides as his MindRape and [[KickTheDog manipulation]] of Cloud and [[KillTheCutie his murder of Aerith]], Sephiroth wasn’t actively cruel or insidious considering himself beyond good and evil as the “saviour” of the planet. In his modern appearances such as ''Dissidia'' Sephiroth is a SmugSmiler and NobleDemon who considers Cloud (whom he is fixated on) as a WorthyOpponent, unlike the original game where he mainly wanted to torment Cloud in revenge for defeating him. ''Remake'' keeps Sephiroth’s obsession with Cloud seen in later media, while also upping his cruelty and psychotic traits, making him a more [[CardCarryingVillain overtly evil villain]] compared to his original depiction.

* ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' orignally started with an ExcusePlot based around a titular CombatByChampion-enforcing league, but after it became increasingly apparent to Riot Games that such a FramingDevice became narratively [[TheArtifact superfluous]] and [[PerpetuallyStatic limiting]], [[ContinuityReboot the continuity was rebooted without it]], and thus the world became more of a free-for-all SharedUniverse. Consequently, pretty much every character needed to be rewritten without conflicts of the League, and several characters were given [[{{Retcon}} continuity relaunches]] that [[ReimaginingTheArtifact reinvented their character to be much more ambitious in scope]], and some grew to be complete InNameOnly overhauls. Just a few examples out of [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters an ever-expanding character list]]:

** Trish was more the traditional LoveInterest in her debut in ''[=DMC1=]'' pulling HeelFaceTurn over to Dante's side once he saves her life and ends the game expressing child-like wonder at the blue sky above her. In her later game appearances, Trish is JustFriends with Dante and displays a sassy and confident attitude, being the mature and soft spoken [[LightFeminineAndDarkFeminine compared]] to Lady, especially in the [[Anime/DevilMayCryTheAnimatedSeries anime]]. Her being a IdenticalStranger to Dante's mother Eva, which was a key plot point of the first game is also downplayed, with Trish at one point unemphatically telling V [[spoiler: Vergil's SoulJar]] in ''[=DMC5=]'' she's ''not'' his mother.