Team Fortress TwoOoOOooOo Halloween Events Return

I wouldn't say 'boo' to a ghost. That's rude and, worse, trite -- like saying "Aha!" to Steve Coogan. No, if I e.g. met a ghost rattling chains I might ask "What's shaking?" Top gag. My problem is a short temper with ghosts. The last time jangling disturbed my sleep, I woke the whole block yelling "Hey! That's enough of your ghost nonsense! Get outta here, you!" I'm not proud, but come on: it's well out. With Halloween looming and spirits rising, I'd better practice patience if I'm to stay chill.

Helpfully, Valve have resurrected all past TF2 spooky events (this year's is still to come). A few scraps with the Horseless Headless Horsemann, a little Ghost Fort, and I'll be cool as a corpse.

Valve now have official servers running a playlist with a mix of the past five years' events, as well as one that's simply last year's. Click that there 'Play multiplayer' button to see. I've always enjoyed the odd objectives and silly boss battles of TF2's Scream Fortress events, but haven't seen some in years; it's time for a return visit.

Sure, you could always play the maps whenever you pleased, but Valve have now flipped the big switch that sends electricity crackling up a Jacob's ladder, sparking between Tesla coils, and through occult chymicals to reanimate the squirming glob of mutated brain tissue whose psychic powers make Halloween gifts manifest. Hats. I'm talking about hats. You can get Halloween hats and the other spooky gifts again, I mean. TF2's spooky menus and music are back too.

Valve are keeping quiet about what this year's Halloween event will bring and when, but not quiet about much else. Look how loud and spooky and wonderful the TF2 blog post announcing this is.