Maria and the Skulls

Maria and the Skulls is a 3D action-adventure platforming video game. It was directed by Fyp Housin, developed by Alterworld Games and published by FourPaws Interactive. Two versions of the game were developed; one for the GameCube and another for the Xbox 360, which have similar gameplay styles but generally have different level design. The Xbox version was re-released under the Platinum Hits and Xbox Classics line in 2007. It is, to date, the only video game to be directed by Fyp Housin.

Gameplay
A 3D action-adventure platformer, Maria and the Skulls is separated into eleven different levels, which have slightly different design and structure depending on the version of the game being played. The player plays as Maria, a skeleton, who can perform different actions depending on the power ups and techniques that have been equipped.

The objective of each level is to simply get to its end point. However, each level also has three, four or five optional missions which the player can complete for extra points. Additionally, beating each level unlocks a group of special missions that feature the player playing through a shorter part of each level and getting either a gold, silver or bronze star depending on how well they complete the mission (or no star at all if they do well below expectations).

The game also has a few Sub Levels and Sub Games (as described in-game) that occasionally appear in between levels. Multiplayer versions of the Sub Games can be bought from the game's shop.

Playable characters
In the game, Maria can perform a lot of different actions, such as jumping, double jumping, wall jumping, ducking and crawling. The player is also given two different forms of attacks, a Normal Attack and a Special Attack (as described in the game's files).

The Xbox 360 version allows the player to play as different characters at certain parts of the game. All of the characters behave similarly to Maria, but differ slightly in mobility and strength, and have some unique actions.

It is impossible for the player to die in the game. If Maria (or one of the other characters) takes approximately two to four hits (depending on the strength of the attack) in the span of a few seconds, she will break to pieces, but get fixed back together immediately. However, the game's final boss is capable of killing the player, making it the only way to obtain a Game Over.

Game Modes

 * New Game / Continue - The main mode of the game. It will say the former text if there is no main game data or the latter text if there is.
 * Free Play - Allows the player to play through any level they have beaten in the main game. Sub Levels, however, cannot be replayed.
 * Time Attack - The player completes a slightly smaller part of the level as fast as possible.
 * Coin Challenge - The player has to collect a hundred coins in the level as fast as possible.
 * Special Mission - The player does a special mission that is exclusive to the level.
 * Multiplayer - Up to four players can compete in a group of Sub Games, most of which are played in the main game. Despite its name, they can be played by a single player. Computer players can be toggled on and off (even if there is only one player and/or in a manner where there is only computer players).
 * Records - The player can see the objectives they have completed, as well as their top eight fastest/best attempts at the missions in Free Play and Sub Games via the High Scores menu. The Xbox 360 version also features a leaderboard where the player can compare their score to their Xbox Live friends and other players in the world.

Development
Following complaints that his previous works relied too heavily on Kuboian clichés and stereotypes, Fyp Housin decided to produce a video game. Development on Maria and the Skulls began in early 2003, with Housin preparing to make a "fun, robust game with a deep but funny story". He intended to make a game for the then-upcoming Xbox 360, but also wanted there to be a version on the then-current console generation due to his uncertainty on the upcoming console.

Housin founded the game studio Alterworld Games in order for the game to enter production. Approximately twenty people worked on the Xbox 360 version, with a slightly lower number working on the GameCube version. Housin made sure both the GameCube and Xbox 360 versions had differences so each version of the game had "its own identity".

The game's soundtrack was composed mostly by Winifred Phillips.