GameZone’s 31 Games of Halloween 2013: Costume Quest

It's the last day of October, and that means it's officially Halloween! Of course, here at GameZone, we've been celebrating the candy-flavored, costume-garbed holiday all month long. As part of our 31 Games of Halloween, we've showcased ghouls, ghosts, zombies, and witches. We've also visited hell, Antarctica, and even the Wild West. Ultimately, Halloween is all about having fun and eating candy, which is why today's Game of Halloween is none other than Costume Quest, quite possibly the most fitting game for the holiday.

That said, if you're still dead set (dead, get it?) on getting some zombified thrills, check out our last entry, where we discussed Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare. For now, though, sit back with a tub of your favorite candy and jump into the colorful fantasy world of Costume Quest.

Why it stands out

Halloween is one of those special days that brings out people's inner child. In the past, people have referred to Costume Quest as a “my first RPG” sort of experience, and that's certainly true. The fact of the matter is that this game is fairly intuitive and wholly inviting. It's not a daunting RPG, and while it does offer a slight challenge at times, the game is really more about entering and exploring a spooky yet cheery world.

Costume Quest is a game that lets you enjoy Halloween through the eyes of a kid. You guide your costumed heroes through a candy corn-colored world filled with enemies. Upon engaging baddies, the costumed kiddos turn into real-life versions of whatever outfits they're wearing. You've got a giant robot, a massive Statue of Liberty, and a gargantuan knight. It's pretty much every trick-or-treater's dream come true.

Is it scary?

Not surprisingly, there's absolutely nothing in Costume Quest that immediately stands out as scary. Heck, the game isn't even that eerie. This is a tribute to Halloween in its simplest, purest, most innocent form, and that's in no way a bad thing. Rather than attempt to terrorize you or make you jump, Costume Quest celebrates the day of Halloween by letting you be a kid all over again.

It should be noted, however, that if you're a crazed candy lover like myself, the idea of not having any candy on Halloween because monsters are trying to steal it all is pretty mortifying and ridiculously horrific. Costume Quest is easily one of the most lighthearted games around, and that's awesome, because Halloween is one of the most lighthearted holidays.

Why play it on Halloween?

If you still don't know why you should play this game on Halloween, you're probably not a big fan of this brilliant little holiday, so shame on you if that's the case! Candy, costumes, and fun. That's like the Halloween trinity, and those three elements are encompassed ever so wonderfully in this bite-sized RPG adventure from Double Fine Productions. It's not about big scares or bloody gore; it's about having fun and getting that candy — that sweet, delicious, life-giving candy.

In a way, Costume Quest is the most appropriate game to play on Halloween. The other 30 entries we showcased as part of our 31 Games of Halloween series are stellar choices and excellent games in their own right, but there's something about this jovial journey through a haunted town that's absolutely mesmerizing. Costume Quest tugs at your nostalgic heartstrings and reminds you exactly why you love Halloween. It's a proper homage to one of the best days of the year, and it lets you live out your crazy childhood fantasies of actually becoming whatever you're dressed up as.

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The past 31 days have been a fun ride filled with tricks, treats, and games. So go out, have some fun, get a bucket of delicious candy, watch a scary movie, and play a spooky game. From everyone here at GameZone, have a very safe and happy Halloween!

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a jack-o-lantern pail filled with candy that I'm going to dive into while playing Costume Quest.

Want to talk about indie games, Kirby, or cheap pizza? Follow me on Twitter @dr_davidsanchez.