Raskulls
Review
Mischievously good fun
by Chris Priestman
reviewed on X360
Boosting The Experience (cntd)
The game’s level design is perhaps amongst its most outstanding feature, as it remains simple yet keeps players on their toes at all times. Other than blocks, each level has swimming areas that defy the laws of gravity, speed boosts and hard blocks that should be avoided. Planning a route that allows you through whilst impeding others becomes an essential tactic that makes the game more complex than your standard racing experience. The levels do not change in their basic design but are executed with a level of detail that makes each feel unique and a challenge to perfect. This really is family-oriented fun at its peak!
One For All
More similarities to Mario Kart also appear in the game modes that include Grand Prix and Quick Races. Within the Grand Prix there are four different cups to compete for and this can be done in single and multiplayer. If competing against AI then the difficulty can also be adjusted to your liking. On the multiplayer side of things the game is great fun, in the right company of course.
Raskulls supports the much sought after four-player local competitive races so this is a perfect game for families and friends after a good deal of fun and a bit of friendly competition. This is where the game really excels. The advantage of the game’s design that makes each race fairly balanced for all players at all times means that there will be plenty of outbursts of laughter, screaming and cheering from all players. No longer will the racing champion of the family pull out in front on every race. They will have to compete with zaps launching them in the air, blocks crushing them and more impediments from the players at the back who actually have a chance for once.
Outside of offline local races you can also enter by yourself into races against others online over Xbox Live. This also comes with a ranking system so you can be assured to always find a challenge from players of a similar skill. This is where the ‘core’ gamers should be perking their attentive ears up as the online aspects of the game deliver a really competitive experience, which at the same time is light-hearted fun. Trust me as soon as you win that first race you will be hooked! As short as every race is, each one feels like a real effort as all the players are constantly switching positions. It is a real slogging match! But this is covered over with the game’s cartoon-like presentation and pleasant soundtrack that inevitably leaves you smiling with glee. There is also an additional Xbox Live party mode that allows you and your party to go into a lobby with great ease and compete until your heart is content.
Say Cheese!
After establishing that the game is great for multiplayer purposes, it may seem that the single player is left somewhat bare. This is not the case however as the game comes with Mega Quest mode. Sounds exciting doesn’t it?! This mode is single player only and contains a small story told through some humorous and adorable cut scenes. The Pirats (another portmanteau) are in search of the Cheese Planet but end up crash landing on the planet inhabited by the Raskulls without any fuel. After finding out about the Shiny Stone and its great powers, the Pirats attempt to steal it from the Raskulls in order to escape. Having none of it, the Raskulls manage to prevent the theft and once this is reported to the Raskull King he decides to take further action. The King proposes that the winner of the Grand Tournament will win the Shiny Stone as a prize in order to lure the thieves out and catch them red-handed.
9.4
fun score
Pros
Great competitive and casual fun that is spread over single and multiplayer game modes. Ideal as a family party game as well as entering serious competition with friends.
Cons
You are going to need an Internet connection or friends to fully enjoy the fun that can be had. Slight lack of variety in multiplayer modes.
