Fling the magical hat is a popular game played by children and adults alike. The game involves a hat with magical properties that can transport the wearer to different worlds and dimensions. The objective of the game is to fling the hat as far as possible and see where it lands. When someone puts on the hat and flings it, they are transported to a different place entirely. It could be a fantasy realm, a futuristic city, or even a historical time period. The possibilities are endless.
The story (I think) goes something like this; an earthquake has literally ripped apart our hero's island home and so he dons his excellent turban and sets off to reunite the scattered lands and defeat the (awesome looking) Demon King. To accomplish this feat, Hat must traverse seven different continents, each containing three stages laden with cunning traps, numerous secret passages and insane looking enemies. Although the game features the obligatory ice, desert and water levels, the design and complexity is nothing short of exceptional. especially when you take into consideration the game's age, eighteen years old! As well the traditional left to right routes, the player must explore the heights and depths of each level whilst scouring all over for hidden objects (necessary for progression in later stages).
This was a practice that pretty much ripped out any and all interesting content and ideas, and set about replacing it with stuff that was deemed more familiar and acceptable for it s new audience. The characters are large, bold and bursting with colour, the artists really outdid themselves by blessing the game with hoards of amazingly well designed sprites, all of which perfectly fit the setting and background of the game.
The possibilities are endless. Players take turns flinging the hat and exploring the new world they find themselves in. The magical hat adds an element of surprise and adventure to the game.
Fling the magical hat
Based on the short lived Studio Pierrot TV show. The game follows the show's plot outline; you play Magical Hat, a young boy destined to reunite the island of Uson and defeat the Demon King. The action is spread across seven stages each based on a different section of the scattered land, and each containing three stages. The first two simply require Magical Hat to reach the goal whereas the he will have to find and collect the area's key hidden item and defeat a boss enemy to pass the final one.
On it's release Magical Hat really represented the pinnacle of console platform games. Each level is perfectly designed with multiple paths, hidden passages and items and unexpected obstacles. The character animation and design is great and blends perfectly not only with the backgrounds but also with the overall style of the game. The attention to detail goes beyond what many had come to expect from a game of this type. For instance the main character executes a comedy 'air run' if you accidentally dash off of a cliff, turning just too late or he can bounce across the surface of water seamlessly from a run like a stone skimming across a lake.
Another of Hat's key abilities is gliding. When falling repeatedly hitting the jump button causes him to flap his baggy pants- reducing his speed of descent. He also has a number of skills that can be activated by using hidden items. Use of a red pill briefly transforms him into an invulnerable robotic ape- great for boss battles- or a blue pill activates his hidden turban gun!
In between the stages come two bonus stages both using the coins collected during the stage for betting. The first is a simple 'Fruit Machine' where lining up three-of-a-kind rewards you with that item. The second is far more fun and involves choosing between five paths (the cost is one coin per path) and watching the characters walk to the top, crossing interlinking bridges as they go. Depending on the path chosen you might find a useful item or up to five bonus lives at it's end or a pit which gains you nothing.
Turbo Adventure's fast and finely tuned platforming action makes it great fun to play but there are a few downsides. The first is the difficulty; Hat will loose a life from a single hit! You can protect your self by finding his little egg companion, who can also be hurled as a weapon, but this will only give you one additional hit- losing egg in the process. Many of the hidden pills you collect activate protective properties but only for a very brief time.
The second negative point is that is a bit too long. As fun as the game is it begins to drag by the last few levels and the constant repetition caused by instant death really starts to wear away at the fun. Bonus levels yield a possibility for a ridiculous number of extra lives so progression isn't necessarily a problem it's actually down to if you can really be bothered to persevere.
Having said that overall Magical Hat is a great fun game and one of the best examples of the platform genre. The jaunty music and cartoon action work well with the slick, well detailed graphics to create a near perfect, pre-sonic era, Mega Drive title.
Note:- Magical Hat's Big Flying Turbo Adventure was actually released in the West. Rather than stick with the obscure anime license Sega instead kept the core game but completely reworked the graphics, level design and music and in doing so created something that was almost a totally different but equally as enjoyable game:- Decap Attack.
The basic gameplay is the same but instead of Magical Hat the player now controls Chuck D. Head a bandaged up mummy around a cartoony underworld of odd creatures and slime. Also, to make the game a little easier, Chuck can take a total of three hits before disintegrating rather than the slightly harsh one hit of the original. The character of Chuck D. Head was even deemed popular enough to star in his own stories in the UK Sonic The Hedgehog comic.
Also many of Magical Hat's gameplay features: the Air Run, the Bonus 'path' game, throwable companions had been seen several years earlier in two other titles: the Sega Master System game 'Psycho Fox' and 'Kid Kool' for the Nintendo NES. The reason for this is simple; while Psycho Fox and Magical Hat appear to have been made by Sega they were in fact only produced by them and made by another company Vic Tokai who used the same programming team on all three games. The distinctive cartoon gameplay make all three worth a look but beware the recurring one-hit-kill system!
Another of Hat's key abilities is gliding. When falling repeatedly hitting the jump button causes him to flap his baggy pants- reducing his speed of descent. He also has a number of skills that can be activated by using hidden items. Use of a red pill briefly transforms him into an invulnerable robotic ape- great for boss battles- or a blue pill activates his hidden turban gun!
You never know where you might end up or what challenges you might face. It could be a peaceful and magical land, or it could be a dangerous and treacherous place. The game encourages imagination and creativity. Players are encouraged to come up with their own stories and scenarios in the new worlds they discover. It is a fun and interactive way to engage with friends and family. Overall, fling the magical hat is a thrilling and exciting game that allows for endless possibilities. It is a game that captivates players of all ages and provides hours of entertainment. So grab a hat and get ready to fling it into a whole new world!.
Reviews for "The Magical Hat Games: Competing for Glory in the World of Flinging"
1. Sarah - 1 star - I found "Fling the magical hat" to be extremely boring and unoriginal. The gameplay was repetitive and offered no real challenge. The graphics were subpar, and the controls felt clunky and unresponsive. Overall, I was disappointed with this game and would not recommend it to anyone.
2. Mark - 2 stars - "Fling the magical hat" had the potential to be a fun game, but it fell short in several areas. The levels were poorly designed and lacked creativity. The game also had a lack of variety in terms of power-ups and obstacles. Additionally, the constant ads were extremely annoying and disrupted the flow of the gameplay. I was left feeling underwhelmed and unimpressed.
3. Jessica - 2 stars - I didn't enjoy playing "Fling the magical hat" because it felt like a cheap knockoff of other popular mobile games. The concept was unoriginal, and the execution was lackluster. The game lacked depth and failed to keep my interest for more than a few minutes. I would suggest looking for a more engaging and innovative game to play instead.
4. Mike - 1 star - "Fling the magical hat" was a complete waste of time. The game lacked any semblance of fun or entertainment. The levels were repetitive and offered no real challenge. The mechanics were poorly implemented, resulting in frustrating gameplay. Overall, I regret wasting my time on this game and would not recommend it to anyone.