Raskulls

Raskulls is an action platform game where players must move through platform-based levels filled with blocks of different shapes and sizes. The objective is to complete the level in the shortest time possible. The Raskulls possess block-breaking wands, and the key to gaining an advantage is by using the character's wand against the blocks to create the most efficient path through the level. When blocks are destroyed, remaining blocks fall and like-colored blocks combine in large blocks. When four or more gray block come into contact with each other, all touching gray blocks explode.

The single player campaign, known as Mega Quest, takes places over three game worlds. Players navigate from stage to stage using an overworld layout, similar to Super Mario World. Once a level is selected, the game switches to a side-scrolling, platforming game. The game consists of ten game types which include Ammo Scrooge and Bomb Disposal.

The game is set in the fictional world of the title characters, the Raskulls. An evil race of intergalactic buccaneers known as the Pirats have crashed-landed on the Raskulls' world in their search for the cheese planet. As the Pirats seek a source of fuel for their ship, their leader, Captain J. Turncoat, learns of the Shiny Stone, an object with incredible power.

The Pirats fail in an attempt to steal the stone, and the Raskull King devises a plan to catch their enemies. A tournament is created in which the winner will receive the Shiny Stone as a surprise. The original plan goes awry: a Raskull named Dragon sends a royal decree to Knight, who winds up getting beaten up by the Pirat henchmen. As per the contingency plan, Dragon emerges the victor of the tournament, but as he claims his prize the second place competitor, revealing himself as Captain Turncoat, punches Dragon in the face and makes off with the Shiny Stone.

Raskulls was announced for the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, California held in Match 2009. Two promo images accompanied the press release and featured King and Dragon, two of the main characters. Following the initial reveal, character profiles were distributed among the gaming media to demonstrate the game's art style and humor. A teaser trailer was also released which took a satirical view on traditional game trailers featuring "epic" music and bold statements, whereas the Raskulls teaser showed an abrupt change in tone as King is shown flexing his muscles in front of a mirror accompanied by elevator music.

Halfbrick released the first official trailer for Raskulls in June of the same year. The trailer showed various levels, characters and gameplay modes, including snippets of multiplayer. The game was originally slated for a Q3 2009 release, but it was later pushed back. In mid-2009 Halfbrick held a contest in which community members could design their own Raskull based on a template given by Halfbrick.

In a preview of the game, CinemaBlend described Raskulls as a blend between Mario Kart, Castle Crashers, and Bomberman. It also drew comparisons to Mr. Driller. It was praised by various members of the video game media.

David Hinkle of Joystiq felt that the blending of genres in Raskulls could be a "dangerously fun combination". Destructoid's James Stephanie Sterling also praised the game in previews, stating that it may be one of the "hottest XBLA titles" of 2009.