Mario Kart + Castle Crashers + Bomberman = Raskulls

Halfbrick studios is getting set to release their first ever Xbox Live Arcade game, and as far as I can tell, it looks like a winner. Raskulls is being promoted as a combination of Castle Crashers, Mario Kart, and Bomberman by the developers, and is best described as "platformer racing." That may sound like a confusing description, so we've provided a gameplay trailer below to demonstrate what the game will actually look like.

The core gameplay of the multiplayer section of Raskulls is based around racing, and up to four players can get together either on the same console or online to bust through levels to be the first one to the finish line. That Mario Kart comparison comes into play with the introduction of combat items like the "Flame Charge" or "Thunder Staff." Given how much fun it is with four players throwing shells, banana peels, and bombs at each other in a game of Mario Kart, I'm pretty stoked by the idea of those elements being put into a platforming game, especially with the focus on competitive racing.

There will also be a full single-player adventure included in the package, and according to a recent press release sent to us, Halfbrick claims that in the single-player "over ten original gameplay types will be available in addition to the normal racing events. This includes Ammo Scrooge, where players have limited shots to navigate a complex maze of blocks, and Bomb Diffusion, in which a number of bombs are placed throughout each level, and must be carefully navigated and disarmed."

Global leaderboards which will host the times of the fastest players of the game have been confirmed, and Halfbrick promises a great sense of humor to decorate the single-player experience, as well as multiple paths through the levels in the multiplayer side of things, in order to ensure replayability. Based on the trailer and the details given thusfar, I'm pretty much sold. The price hasn't been announced yet, but I'm really hoping for a $10 price point. If the single-player portion is as fleshed out as Halfbrick is claiming, however, it might actually be deserving of the (inevitable) $15 price point. The game is due out Q3 of this year.