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{{Short description|1991 video game}}

{{Infobox video game

| title = Decap Attack

| image = Decap Attack cover art.jpg

| alt = Cover art for the European = Cover artrelease

| caption = European cover art

| developer = [[Vic Tokai]]

| publisher = [[Sega]]

| director = Toshihisa Hasegawa

| designer =

| composer = Fumito Tamayama<br>Hiroto Kanno

| engine = =

| released = {{vgrelease|NA|1991|EU|October 9, 1991<ref name='ctw357'>{{cite magazine |title=The Release Schedule|magazine=Computer Trade Weekly|issue=357|publisher=Opportunity Publishing|date=7 October 1991|page=19|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/a/a3/CTW_UK_357.pdf|access-date=25 February 2025}}</ref>}}

| released = {{vgrelease|NA|September 1991<ref>http://www.gamingrebellion.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/TJE-EGM-DIE-HARD-Ad-Pg-86-Issue-28-November-91.jpg?9d7bd4</ref>|EU|November 1991<ref>https://twitter.com/SEGAForever/status/926516347739234305</ref>}}

| genre = [[Platform game|Platform]]

| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]

| platforms = [[Sega Genesis]]

}}

'''''Decap Attack''''' is a 1991 [[platform game|platform video game]] developed by [[Vic Tokai]] and published by [[Sega]] for the [[Sega Genesis|Genesis]]. The game is a westernized version of the 1990 Japanese Mega Drive game ''[[Magical Hat#Video game|Magical Hat no Buttobi Tābo! Daibōken]]'', with the art, plot, music, and level designs all being changed. Both are updates of the late 1980s games ''[[Kid Kool]]'' and ''[[Psycho Fox]]''. The game has also been released as part of several emulated compilations.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Riaz|first1=Adnan|title=Decap Attack Comes to Sega Forever|url=http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2017/10/25/decap-attack-comes-to-sega-forever/276990/|website=Hardcore Gamer|date=25 October 2017 |access-date=9 November 2017}}</ref>

== Plot ==

Chuck D. Head, a headless mummy created by mad scientist Dr. Frank N. Stein and his assistant Igor, is sent to defeat Max D. Cap, a demon who has returned from the Underworld withwho hiscommands an army of monsters to conquer the surface world, splitting the skeleton-shaped cluster of islands the land is on into pieces in the process. After reforming the scattered islands to normal and defeating Max, Chuck sluggishly returns home, where Stein rewards him by transforming him into a real human.

== Gameplay ==

The player controls a living [[mummy]], named Chuck D. Head, through various side-scrolling levels to battle an underworld army led by Max D. Cap. Levels contain many enemies and hazards that can harm or kill Chuck, and power-ups to collect; at the end of the last level in every area, there is a boss to defeat. The player has a small number of [[Health (gaming)|health units]], displayed as [[heart]]s, and a small number of lives. The fictional island the game takes place on, shaped like a [[skeleton]], is split apart into many pieces. Individual levels are named after parts of the skeleton, such as Abdomainland or Armington. Some levels require the player to collect a certain item for Dr Frank N. Stein, the [[mad scientist]] who created Chuck.

Chuck resembles an ordinary mummy, except for the fact that he has no head and he has a face implanted in his [[torso]]. During the game, Chuck attacks enemies by extending his face out to hit them or by jumping on them. While jumping, players can repeatedly hit the jump button to slow down Chuck's descent. Chuck may collect a [[Human skull|skull]] power-up; which will sit on his shoulders like a head and can be thrown at enemies. Like a boomerang, it will return to him no matter what it hits, or where it goes, but if Chuck gets hit by an enemy or hazard, he will lose the skull. During the game, Chuck may also collect a variety of [[potion]]s, which can be collected and used at the player's leisure. The potions consist of powerups typical for the genre, such as invincibility, instantlyand eliminating all enemies on screen, increasing speed and jumping power, and increasing the range and power of Chuck's punch.

=== Differences from ''Magical Hat'' ===

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== Comic strip ==

For many years, aA [[comic strip]] adaptation loosely based upon ''Decap Attack'' appeared in the [[United Kingdom|U.K.]]'s ''[[Sonic the Comic]]'', written and drawn by [[Nigel Kitching]]<ref>http://info.sonicretro.org/Nigel_Kitching_interview_by_Sonic_HQ_(July_22,_1999)</ref> (with some episodes co-written by [[Richard Piers Rayner]] co-writingand somedrawn episodes, andby [[Mike McMahon (comics)|Mike McMahon]] drawing a few of those).<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://info.sonicretro.org/Nigel_Kitching_interview_by_Sonic_HQ_(July_22,_1999)</ref>|title and= aNigel firmKitching faninterview favourite.by Sonic HQ (July 22, 1999) - Sonic Retro}}</ref> The strip contained a very absurdist and manic sense of humour, dealingmaking withfrequent allusions to popular culture, and followed the daily life of Chuck, D. Head (and the talkingother skullinhabitants whoof Castle Frank N. Stein. Aside from Chuck, toother regular characters included Head's annoyancethe talking skull, getswho would frequently get thrown at enemies), much to his annoyance; the evil-minded Igor, (who iswas constantly trying to kill Chuck); and the stereotypical mad scientist Professor Frank N. Stein, who iswas actually faking his German accent and iswas really a former choirboy from [[Cardiff]]. Max D. Cap only appeared twice in the strip: in "Starring Chuck D. Head!", the premiere storyline that roughly adapts the game's events; and in "Dead!", in which the characters are taken to [[Hell]]. In both appearances, he was partnered with his accountant Rupert, who constantly encouraged Max to be more stereotypically evil in his mannerisms. Max was described by the Professor as being one of the evilest beings alive, as he borrowed the Professor's lawnmower and never returned it.

The strip first appeared in Issue #10 of ''Sonic the Comic'' (October 1993). The strip would continue to appear in the comic on a semi-regular basis until Issue #132 (June 1998), nearly seven years after the game's release. The strip was subsequently phased out in Issue #133 to make room for reprinted ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' strips as part of [[Fleetway Editions]]' five-year reader cycle policy.

Max D. Cap only appeared twice in the strip, in the first story and one where the characters went to [[Hell]], and was partnered both times with his accountant, who is constantly encouraging Max to be more stereotypically evil in his mannerisms. Max is described by the Professor as being one of the evilest beings alive, as he borrowed the Professor's lawnmower and never returned it.

== Reception ==

{{expand section|date=March 2022}}

{{Video game reviews

| rev1 = ''[[MegaTech]]''

| rev1Score = 82%<ref name="ReferenceA">MegaTech rating, [[EMAP]], issue 5, page 78, May 1992</ref>

| rev2 = Mega Action

| Allgame = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141114131053/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=1557|title=Decap Attack Review}}</ref>

| rev2Score = 76%<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/mega-action-issue-1-1993-06|title=Mega Action Issue 1 (1993-06)|date=May 20, 1993|via=Internet Archive}}</ref>

| rev3 = Sega Force

| rev3Score = 80%<ref name="Decapattack review">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/sega-force-01/page/n77/mode/2up|title=Decapattack review|date=January 1992|publisher=[[Europress Impact]]|pages=78–79|issue=1}}</ref>

| rev4 = Console XS

| rev4Score = 81%<ref name="A-Z Software">{{Cite journal |date=June 1992 |title=A-Z Software |url=https://archive.org/details/console-xs-01/page/128/mode/2up |journal=Console XS |issue=1 |page=128 |access-date=March 27, 2022}}</ref>

}}

[[Mega (magazine)|Mega]] placed the game at #22 in their Top Mega Drive Games of All Time.<ref>Mega magazine issue 1, page 76, [[Future Publishing]], Oct 1992</ref> ''[[Sega Force]]'' praised the game's graphics, saying it was "big, bold, colourfully and beautifully animated", while criticizing the gameplay as unoriginal.<ref name="Decapattack review">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/sega-force-01/page/n77/mode/2up|title=Decapattack review|date=January 1992|publisher=[[Europress Impact]]|pages=7878–79|issue=1}}</ref> Console XS said that ''Decap Attack'' is the same game as ''Magical Flying Hat Turbo Adventure'' but with gothic graphics and gory killings. They also felt the game was big and very playable.<ref name="A-79Z Software">{{Cite journal |date=June 1992 |title=A-Z Software |url=https://archive.org/details/console-xs-01/page/128/mode/2up |journal=Console XS |issue=1 |page=128 |access-date=March 27, 2022}}</ref> MegaTech praised the game calling it "a fun-filled platform game" and saying it's identical to ''Magical Flying Hat Turbo Adventure'' but with different sprites.<ref name="ReferenceA">MegaTech rating, [[EMAP]], issue 5, page 78, May 1992</ref>

[[Mega (magazine)|Mega]] placed the game at #22 in their Top Mega Drive Games of All Time.<ref>Mega magazine issue 1, page 76, [[Future Publishing]], Oct 1992</ref>

== See also ==

* ''[[Psycho Fox]]'' – Master System precursor to ''Decap Attack''

* ''[[Kid Kool]]'' – NES precursor to ''Decap Attack''

== References ==

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[[Category:1991 video games]]

[[Category:SegaFiction videoabout gamesmummies]]

[[Category:Horror video games]]

[[Category:Mummies in fictionPlatformers]]

[[Category:Platform games]]

[[Category:Side-scrolling platform games]]

[[Category:Sega video games]]

[[Category:Sega Genesis games]]

[[Category:PlatformSega video games]]

[[Category:Side-scrolling platform gamesplatformers]]

[[Category:Single-player video games]]

[[Category:Vic Tokai games]]

[[Category:Video games adapted into comics]]

[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]