Costume Quest - The Game Journal Review

Title: Costume Quest

Developed By: Double Fine

Published By: Double Fine

At one point in Costume Quest, my character, Reynold, was talking about his missing sister, listing her faults, but as he was went on it became clear that in spite of their differences, he loved her very much. As I watched Reynold make this speech, watched because characters in Costume Quest aren't voiced, I felt that it pretty much summed up my feelings about the game. Though it may have some flaws, on the whole Costume Quest is a game that should be celebrated.

Costume Quest casts you in the role of either Reynold or Wren, twin siblings trick-or-treating in a town they have recently moved to. Whichever character you choose -- and it's nice to have the option -- you are charged with watching out for your sibling. Quickly things turn bad as your sibling, who is dressed like a huge piece of Candy Corn is abducted by Trolls who are stealing candy from the neighborhood. You find out that, in order to get your sibling back, you'll have to collect all the candy from all the houses in the neighborhood. And with that, your adventure begins. 

My favorite aspect of the game is the characters, it seems that nearly every person you run into has a funny one-liner, which made me want to interact with every single person I saw. Even the trolls will spout a funny line before engaging you in battle. There is a real sense of character in the world, a feeling that this place existed before you pressed start. The art style matches the humor, with it all fitting together rather nicely. The characters aren't voiced. Some people may have issues with this, but this is a downloadable game, and you'll run into a bunch of different people throughout the game, so it didn't bother me. The script is what matters, and this is another area where Costume Quest really shines. It is a genuinely funny game. 

In addition to your main quest, there are side quests in the game that encourage exploration of the environment. These quests are often rewarded with additional pieces of candy, cards, materials and plans to make new costumes. Candy is a currency in the game, traded towards the purchase of items like Battle Stamps, which add a layer of complexity to the battles. 

The battle system in Costume Quest is streamlined. Some may find it oversimplified, but I thought it worked well in the context of the game. Battles are timing based, wherein you'll have to respond to an on-screen prompt, hitting the corresponding button in a short window of time. Complexity is added to the battles via Battle Stamps, which are earned and purchased. These battle stamps allow you to adjust amplify and tweak your abilities. One might give you more XP while another will give you the chance to dodge your enemy's attacks. Further adding complexity to the battle system are the costumes. You can outfit yourself, and your party members, in various costumes which each have unique abilities. Each costume essentially represents a class, such as tank, healer, etc. As you progress through the story, costume selection becomes more critical. 

My one big gripe with the game is its Save system, over which you have no control. Plus, it doesn't save very often. In a downloadable title, one you often want to pick up and play for short periods of time, the inability to save when you want to can be really frustrating, drawing out your experience past the point you want it to end only because you don't want to lose the progress you've made. Thankfully, this must have been a common complaint, because it has been announced that Double Fine intends to "fix" the save system with a future patch in December.

Costume Quest is a wonderful game. Double Fine's first foray into downloadable titles is full of character and imagination. The script is pitch-perfect, and its matched by the lovely art design. Aside from the issue I have with the save system, this game seemingly accomplishes all it sets out to do, and it does it with intelligence, wit and style. I highly recommend Costume Quest.