2017’s Sonic Mania was created by a three-headed hydra of beloved indie developers… Christian “Taxman” Whitehead, PagodaWest Games, and Headcannon. While we don’t know what Whitehead or PagodaWest are up to right now, we’ve just learned that Headcannon has launched a Kickstarter campaign for an original side-scroller known as Vertebreaker.
Inspired by some of the quirkier side-scrollers found on the Genesis and Super NES, Vertebreaker stars a skeletal hero named Richard Boehner, who is out to avenge his defeat at the bony fingers of the evil King Calavera.
Boehner wields a whip-like grappling hook that he can use to “swing, zip, and thrash.” The grappling hook is the key to moving around in Vertebreaker, as players will be able to launch themselves in any direction, as well as swing from trees, or pull enemies in for a quick slash:
“Rest in Peace?!” You wish! “Vertebreaker” is a brand-new and authentic pixel-based side-scroller from Headcannon, the studio that helped bring “Sonic Mania” to the masses. Starring a stubby-yet-seemingly-unstoppable skeleton who’s thrashing their way to victory, it’s gothic, cartoonish, and unabashedly retro!
Take control of our bony hero in a crusade to crush the undead and look cool while doing it! In “Vertebreaker”, traversal is key as you slash, bash, and grapple your way through the most wicked 2D adventure yet! “What is ‘traversal'”? It’s slinging, swinging, and launching from floors, walls, and ceilings to propel yourself forward or even upward with serious speed!
Save the day with our pearly-boned mascot, their mysterious golden half-skull, and their sick grappling hook made from the spine of a demon! “What demon”? It doesn’t matter… does it…?
Headcannon is seeking $275,000 from the the public to fund development of Vertebreaker, and as of this writing they’ve amassed about 5% of their goal. The campaign ends on Saturday, November 30, but the developer has made a demo available for those who’d like to try out the game before they pledge.
If all goes well, Headcannon hopes to release Vertebreaker for the PC in Summer 2021.
UPDATE: Headcannon has canceled the Kickstarter campaign for Vertebreaker, but all is not lost, the development team wants to come back in the future with “a better campaign.”
