Introducing Costume Quest
During his otherwise humorous keynote speech at Develop 2010, Double Fine Productions head Tim Schafer announced that there would be no sequel to Brutal Legend. Following Brutal Legend's mediocre sales, EA decided to discontinue rock-inspired RPG saga. That was the bad news.
Schafer's good news: to fill the development void, Double Fine had started work on a number of smaller titles; the first of which is Costume Quest, an adventure/RPG published by THQ and scheduled for an October 31, 2010 release on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network.
Dreamt to life by Double Fine lead animator Tasha Harris, Costume Quest marks Double Fine's departure from triple-A brick-and-mortar Schafer-led titles. Harris is now one of a handful of Double Fine employees who will lead their own projects, with Schafer providing a supporting role where needed.
Make no mistake, though, Costume Quest is very much a Double Fine, or Schafer-esque, game. Set on Halloween night across spookified suburbs, rundown carnival rides, and a local mall, the story follows a young boy searching for his little sister. Costume Quest feels familiar -- like a lost SNES role-playing adventure ported in high-definition 3D -- and laugh out loud funny -- like Double Fine's catalogue.
Similar to Monkey Island's Guybrush Threepwood and Brutal Legend's Eddie Riggs, Costume Quest's hero is an everyman caught in delusions of grandeur. Or, in this case, an everyboy or everygirl -- the gender's optional.
Costume Quest feels quirky from the start. The campaign begins when the hero and little sister embark on a night of Trick'r'Treating. Lil' sis, dressed as a candy cane, comes across a monster with a sweet tooth, and things go south from there. The hero battles monsters (that appear to be summoned by his imagination) in a quest to save his sister -- and be home before curfew.
Not to say sweet-toothed monsters are Costume Quest's only obstacles. As they say, hell is other children. Completing the quest also requires befriending and outsmarting other kids.
One quest sees the hero left off the guest list to an exclusive "Patriotic Party." The game's isometric view (think SNES-era games like Earthbound and The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past with a 3D facelift) reveals the party is being held in a suburban backyard; its trees festooned with ribbons and American flags.
This is a costume party with a simple entrance requirement -- a proper patriotic costume -- initiating a quest to find the necessary trappings of a makeshift Lady Liberty. Perhaps a broom for a bristly torch, or bed linens as impromptu toga. Completing these mini-quests generally scores some candy or info on little sister's whereabouts, and turns off the light on the front porch (an "on" light inversely represents an open quest).
Exploring Costume Quest
For more complex missions, the hero has help from up to 4 A.I. buddies, each with their own special abilities pertaining to their Halloween costumes. The knight can guard from falling objects above with his trash can shield, while another boy has Heely-like shoes for zipping across the map. Pieces of other special abilities can be found across the maps, affording some party customization.
Some quests can't be won by just zipping around town, deflecting falling rocks, or dressing up as the Statue of Liberty. Some require a fight. Battle scenes grow the hero and his enemies to skyscraper sizes. The party costumes manifest literally: a shabby robot costume becomes a giant Mech, while the medieval sweater grows into a towering knight.
A parsed RPG menu system controls battles. One button selects attack, another block, and another, a special attack that accumulates over time and requires a Quick Time Event to deliver maximum damage. As battles are won and quests completed, the boy collects candy wraps (XP), increases levels (represented by a gold star on the HUD) and earn Trick'r'Treat cards that go towards rewarding achievements and unlocking bonus costumes.
What Harris and her team have concocted so far shows a lot of promise. It's not Brutal Legend 2, but it is unique, funny and warm -- a trait missing from the mainstream bloodfests that shares its launch window. With a Halloween release date, Costume Quest looks to extend the spooking season. And with possible DLC down the way, maybe we'll see other holidays covered. But for now, we're eager to take the adventure door to door from the comfort of our own home.
A total ripoff of a Penny Arcade game. What outstanding creativity
A total ripoff of a Penny Arcade game. What outstanding creativity
A total ripoff of a Penny Arcade game. What outstanding creativity
It was canceled? Schafer has never made a sequel. It probably wouldn't have happened to begin with.
It was canceled? Schafer has never made a sequel. It probably wouldn't have happened to begin with.
They started doing preproduction on a sequel, but EA cancelled it.
It was canceled? Schafer has never made a sequel. It probably wouldn't have happened to begin with.
how is that 'not' a Schaefer game. It still stemmed from his insidious mind
right, beacuse youre not allowed to rip on a game until you know the name of the janitor at Lucasarts from 1990-1992
how is that 'not' a Schaefer game. It still stemmed from his insidious mind
Monkey Island stemmed from the mind of Ron Gilbert, you jackwagon.
Day one. First xBox live game since that awful trash from Chair turned me off on the service.
Huh, well I guess he shouldn't of made the first game so dull, although tbh I would like a sequel. I Played through the original in ~5 hours, it was fun but just a rental. I have felt no desire since to replay that game again, stil would've liked a sequel though.
Huh, well I guess he shouldn't of made the first game so dull, although tbh I would like a sequel. I Played through the original in ~5 hours, it was fun but just a rental. I have felt no desire since to replay that game again, stil would've liked a sequel though.I think you only get to vote for a sequel if you purchased the game. Even at a discount.
Will purchase day 1.
:lol at startselect - it was probably the rainbow unicorn that sold him.
Since when did EvilBore turn into an idiot festival?
Since when did EvilBore turn into an idiot festival?
7/27/2006
just sayin'
It's official: Costume Quest is out OCTOBER 20! The price to you, a measly $15! That's pretty much free. (http://twitter.com/TimOfLegend/status/26402930715)So, 1200 points and October 20. I'm happy they're getting 10 days of sales in prior to Halloween; seems like a near thing though. Three weeks into October is a silly launch for a Halloween game when all the supermarkets have their candy out before September's even done.
Depends on if you are a hardcore rpg gamer or casual rpg gamer with kids/wife.:lol
The latter will enjoy it, the former will be sleeping.
Depends on if you are a hardcore rpg gamer or casual rpg gamer with kids/wife.
The latter will enjoy it, the former will be sleeping.
Depends on if you are a hardcore rpg gamer or casual rpg gamer with kids/wife.
The latter will enjoy it, the former will be sleeping.