Michael Jackson's Moonwalker

For the Sega System 18 arcade game, see Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (System 18).

n/a

Mega Drive
Master System

Michael Jackson's Moonwalker

System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System

Publisher: Sega

Developer:

Sega AM7

Arc, Sega

Sound driver:

SMPS 68000

Genre: Action^[1]^[2]^[3], Arcade^[4]

Number of players:

1-2

1

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1990-08-25^[2]	¥6,0006,000	G-4028
US	1990-09^[5]
EU	1991-02^[6]
PT	199x		MDJ1013
UK	1991-02^[6]	£34.9934.99^[7]^[8]
SE (Rental)	199x
AU	199x
CA	199x
BR	199x
US	1991^[9]	$29.9529.95^[9]	7052
EU	1991-02^[10]		7052
BX	199x
PT	1991		MSJ7052
UK	1991-02^[10]	£29.9929.99^[7]^[11]	7052
UK (VHS bundle)	199x
AU	199x
BR	1991-06^[12]		026070
KR	199x		GB2004JG
UK	199x	£?	?

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Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (マイケルジャクソンズムーンウォーカー) is a Sega Mega Drive action platform game developed by Sega AM7 and published by Sega. Based on the titular 1988 film Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker and starring world-famous pop music artist Michael Jackson, it was first released in August 1990 as one of the system's earliest big-name titles, and later received a relatively-faithful Sega Master System port early the following year by developer Arc.

Moonwalker, alongside its arcade counterpart of the same name, is notable for being one of the earliest uses of direct celebrity endorsement in video game production, and marks the very beginning of Jackson’s long and storied collaboration with Sega.^[13]^[14]

Plot

The game is based on the Smooth Criminal segment of Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker, following Jackson in suit and fedora through stages based on his different music videos as he rescues children from the drug dealer Mr. Big.^[15]

Gameplay

Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker is an action platform game which emphasises exploration, and plays similiarly to the developer’s previous game Shinobi. Jackson has attacks based on his dance moves, such as throwing his fedora, and a significant jumping ability. Jackson also has the ability to both crotch grab and moonwalk, although neither have any ability on gameplay and exist for purely aesthetic reasons.

In certain levels, rescuing a certain child first triggers a comet to fall from the sky that can be grabbed, briefly transforming Michael into the giant robot from the movie and giving him the abilities of flight, eye lasers, and homing missiles. Jackson also automatically changes into this form for the penultimate showdown with Mr. Big's henchmen. In the Sega Mega Drive version, Jackson additionally transforms into a spaceship for the final battle, which consists of a flight simulator-like minigame.^[15]

All incarnations of the game feature Dance Magic, a special ability where enemies are compelled to dance to short beats from Bad, Thriller, and Another Part of Me before being defeated as a result.^[15]