Halloween might be over, but with Costume Quest for Xbox Live and the Playstation Network, you can go trick or treating any time!  I received a code to download the game for Xbox Live, so for this review, I’ll be referring to that. This downloadable game costs 1200 Microsoft Points, which equals $15.00, and has cute cartoon characters set against a not-too-spooky world on Halloween night.

Twins Reynold and Wren start out trick or treating, one dressed as a robot and one dressed as a piece of candy corn. When they knock on the door of a monster who is grabbing up all the candy in the neighborhood for himself,  the candy-corn twin gets snatched up and the other has to battle her way past the rest of the monsters to free him.

Gameplay is fairly simple once you get used to it – use your trick or treat pail to smash objects to collect candy, put together new costumes from items in glowing coffins, and fight monsters. It’s important to talk to every other kid you encounter because you will begin teaming up with other kids who will help you battle the monsters. Each costume has it’s own attack abilities in battle mode and helpful abilities in regular mode.

For example, as a robot, Wren gets roller skates that help her skate up ramps to get over obstacles, and in battle mode, can fire missiles at enemies. The turn-based fighting means you and your teammate take on two monsters together, and as long as you take less damage and land more hits than the monsters, you win the round.

A pop-up notebook helps you keep track of items you’ve collected and quests that need to be completed. If you don’t collect everything before moving up a level, you can go back at the end if you want to get absolutely everything in the game. I find that helpful

Besides the trick or treat neighborhood, the other areas in the game are a deserted shopping mall and a closed-down carnival.  The art style of the game is a visual treat, with a good attention to detail on both the costumes and the areas. While the gameplay does get repetitive – collect objects, do little side-quests, fight monsters – it’s enjoyable to play and best of all, completely family-friendly.

The game is rated E10, which means it’s appropriate for everyone age ten and up, and I agree with that rating. I’m not bothered by the cartoon violence, I think the game is probably too hard to play for younger, less experienced gamers. Some of the timing required in the battles was even tricky for me!

The best thing about Xbox Live Arcade games like Costume Quest is that they can be played immediately as long as you have money in your Xbox Live account.  And at $15.00, this game is an affordable and enjoyable way to entertain kids and adults too!