Anyone who just discovered Tim Schafer and Double Fine Productions via Stacking is likely just going back through the catalog and asking, "Is this other collaboration with THQ for PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade, Costume Quest, worth picking up?" And the answer is an emphatic, "Yes!"

Costume Quest is essentially a bite-sized (read: more accessible) adventure role-playing game released via the digital realm. It tells the tale of Reynold and Wren, twins with the usual sibling rivalry who are forced to go trick-or-treating together on Halloween by their parents, and then things go horribly, entertainingly, wrong.

The player gets to choose whether he or she will take control of the brother or sister, and the non-playable character dons the attire of a piece of candy corn. This proves to be a big mistake, though, as monsters have invaded the neighborhood. They've all got a sweet tooth, and mistaking the sibling as a giant piece of living candy, they kidnap her. It's up to the other sibling to save that character.

Costume Quest is broken down into three distinct areas that the playable character progresses through. In each, trick-or-treating at all of the available doors opens up a door to a boss character, and then the next area becomes available. Behind some doors are festive neighbors, ready to bestow candy, but behind others are monsters that initiate some of the game's battles.

Battles take place in fairly traditional, turn-based action. First, the player gets to attack, and then the enemies return attacks. After a couple rounds of basic attacks, the player builds up a special attack. What's interesting here is, along the way the player acquires a few companions who fight alongside. And it is the costumes themselves, which are collected and interchangeable, that dictate which characters fight in battle. Different characters have different special attacks - from barrages, to healing powers, to protection.

The gameplay itself is rather simplistic, and maybe considered by some to be shallow, but for the casual fan it is just enough to keep attention without getting too complicated. The other real modifiers are "battle stamps" which can be purchased with collected candy, and applied one apiece to the characters. Again, it is not incredibly deep, but along with the bite-sized nature of the downloadable title, it makes Costume Quest very accessible to casual fans. And the quicktime events placed into the battles for each attack (and to block to reduce damage) keep it engaging, rather than passive.

Outside of battle, the game encourages exploration. All of the costumes have abilities in the world, and these abilities can be used to help find and complete side quests. The side quests yield more costumes, candy and XP. More of the fun is found in this exploration than the battles, mostly thanks to the game's sense of humor. From the quests, to the dialogue, to its references (a character in a banana costume spews Arrested Development lines) Costume Quest finds fantastic humor in childhood innocence, and that is its greatest strength. It is incredibly charming, and that doesn't wear off from start to finish.

The gameplay of Costume Quest may be rather simplistic, and is never a major challenge, but its collectibles make it addicting, and its sense of humor is impossible not to fall in love with. It is a title that children will get a kick out of, but adults will appreciate much more. Though it is derivative, it is accessible, and its Halloween-centric plot makes it all the more endearing. Costume Quest is a must-buy for anyone just stumbling upon the work of Double Fine.

Final Score: A-