Costume Quest

Costume Quest is the Halloween themed role-playing-game for those of you too old to knock on doors and stuff your faces with candy this weekend. You play either Reynold or his twin sister Wren, and this choice will decide which twin you control over the course of the story. During the Halloween festivities your twin will be kidnapped by monsters who believed they are an over-sized candy-corn. On the journey to save your them you’ll be forced to vanquish the neighborhood of all it’s sweet stealing monsters.

Knocking on each door you will either be greeted by adults giving out sweet treats or prepare to battle the sweet hoarding monsters. Breaking up the continual drive to acquire tooth rotting sweets are various quests. Saving a neighbor from the local bully and helping a teacher with a cake stall are just two of the first few quests needed to complete in order to proceed. There are several smaller side quests which you can complete but the rewards for playing hide and seek and bobbing apples offer minimal benefit, neglecting side quests won’t hamper the story progression.

The vast majority of battles are a result of trick or treat encounters while some monsters can be found aimlessly wandering around. Unlike most role play games there are no random battle’s and grinding is nowhere to be found in Costume Quest, which plays well with the light game mechanics.

When you initiate a monster fight you’ll witness Reynold/ Wren transform and grow to gigantic sizes dwarfing your current location as you enter a comic style comic panel for the battle screen. Battle mechanics are very simple; you’ll choose an enemy to attack and try to block any attacks. Attack moves are activated through an assortment of rhythms based actions unique to each costume. Actions vary from well timed button presses, filling a meter bar by performing various motions of analogue sticks. No action is ever to taxing and even when you fail to perform the required action you will always hit the monster but cause less damage.

Each successful attack you land you will charge up a super ability related to whatever costume you are wearing. Reynolds Mech costume has the ability to send an eruption to missiles at your enemy while the Knight costume can project a guardian shield to prevent any monster landing successful attacks.

During the adventure you’ll pick up parts of other costumes which you combine to create new battle suits. The variety of costumes and costume related combat moves are sufficient, but you will find yourself sticking to costumes you find most visually appealing. Sadly the repetitive nature of all battles does quickly become tiresome as does the exceptionally easy battles.

Thankfully Costume Quest is funny enough to help you get over much of the repetition. The text based dialogue is clever and nods to some of Hollywood’s most iconic horror films. The fact the game doesn’t feature a single line of spoken dialogue is something of a disappointment but it doesn’t hinder overall enjoyment.

Costume Quest is a tight 4 to 6 hours of game-play that will satisfy your craving for a sickly sweet sugar rush but ultimately leave you wanting something more satisfying and long-lasting.

Mark Craven