Game Reviews

Costume Quest is a game that thinks Halloween is awesome. It's a celebration of the hyperactive imagination of children, the good-natured awkwardness of kiddie Halloween costumes, the all-consuming desire to acquire as much candy as humanly possible, and the need to slaughter dozens and dozens of candy-thieving monsters along the way. Alright, so that last part wasn't exactly an element in any of my trick-or-treating forays as a child, but that makes it no less fun to experience. Developed by Psychonauts and Brutal Legend makers Double Fine, Costume Quest delivers an adventure that is as cute as it is fun to play. Its breezy nature and brief length might be a bit of a turn-off for some players, but anyone else ought to be immediately charmed by this downloadable role-playing game.In the game, you play as either Reynold or Wren, bickering twin boy-and-girl siblings who seem none-too-pleased about their parents forcing them to stick together as they prepare to go out trick-or-treating. No sooner are they out of the house and knocking on neighbors' doors that one of them (the one you didn't choose to control at the beginning of the game) is kidnapped by a horrible, candy burgling goblin. He skitters off toward a mysterious black gate at the edge of the suburbs, and you're off on a quest to save your sibling, while ridding the world of candy grubbing beasts in the process.

That quest comes in the form of a game that feels a little bit like "My First RPG." In the game's overworld, you'll find yourself wandering around three distinct areas (the suburbs, a local mall, and a carnival village on the outskirts of town). These worlds are chock full of hidden stuff to find, not to mention a couple of additional children who are more than willing to tag along on your quest. Eventually you'll find yourself going door-to-door and trick-or-treating. Behind each door lies one of two things: A costumed adult, who usually has some pithy comment for you before they unload gobs and gobs of candy (the game's currency) on you, or a horrible monster of some fashion, who usually says something equally pithy before engaging you in battle.