Michael Jackson's Moonwalker
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| Michael Jackson's Moonwalker | |||||
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| System(s): Sega System 18, Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System | |||||
| Publisher: Sega | |||||
Developer: Sega  | |||||
| Genre: Action | |||||
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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 the name of two video game tie-ins made by Sega based on the 1988 film, Moonwalker. A third (sometimes subtitled as The Computer Game) was released by U.S. Gold for home computers, but had no involvement from Sega. As the name suggests it is endorsed by pop sensation Michael Jackson, who would go on to have a long history working with Sega.
Moonwalker is made up of a number of short films and does not tell a coherent story from beginning to end. As a result, all versions of Michael Jackson's Moonwalker are based on one segment of the film, Smooth Criminal, which sees Jackson using various music and dance related abilities on a quest to save kidnapped children from the hands of the evil "Mr. Big" and various American gangsters.
Contents
History
The game was originally released for the Sega System 18 arcade platform in 1990. This version is played from an isometric perspective and behaves similarly to a beat-'em-up game. Moonwalker was then retooled and re-released as a 2D side-scroller for the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Master System. Though the two games vary considerably, both have the same goals and incorporated synthesized versions of the musician's hits, such as "Beat It" and "Smooth Criminal".
In the early days of the Mega Drive, Moonwalker was often used as a flagship product of Sega's system (particlarly in North America), with Jackson's persona being used along with many other celebrities in an effort to put a dent in sales of Nintendo products.
Even though both versions of the game have a stage takes place in a graveyard and have the "Thriller dance" which can be performed, the theme of Thriller does not feature in either game (being replaced with Another Part of Me). It is suspected that the reason for this was that Michael did not write the song (Rod Temperton wrote Thriller for Michael). However, in the first revision (REV 00), excerpts of Thriller are used for the dance attacks in the Round 3 stages.
The Sega versions of Moonwalker have now achieved cult status and are remembered for being a memorable point in Jackson's career, marking a change in stage personas between the albums "Thriller" and "Bad". Jackson would work with Sega on several future products - he would be responsible for much of the music in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (though remains uncredited) and features in both Space Channel 5 and Space Channel 5: Part 2.
In North America, the Master System version was released alongside the redesigned Master System II console.
A sequel was planned but later dropped due to child molestation accusations to Michael Jackson in 1993.
Gameplay
Arcade Version
The arcade Moonwalker is played from a top-down isometric perspective. Players assume the role of Michael Jackson and are armed with a basic melee attack. All enemies on-screen can also be forced to "dance", which will cause damage in the process. Something which is never explained is how up to three Michael Jacksons, all sporting diffent attire, can play at once.
If players find Jackson's chimp, Bubbles, they will turn into a robot and have the ability to fire projectiles.
Sadly the arcade version is known to be plagued with a "suicide battery" - a battery which, after it stops working, makes the arcade board completely unusable. This makes a working arcade Moonwalker a rare sight in the modern age. Some boards however are capable of being revived through chip replacement which in some cases changes the "(C) 1990 Sega" copyright in the title to "(C) 1990 RESS" which refers to a resurrected board.
Console Version
Console versions of Moonwalker play similarly to their arcade counterpart, but are played from a 2D perspective. As with the arcade version the objective is to go around destroying enemies while finding the missing children. 
/
jumps, 
/pressing 
kicks, and 
/holding spins/shoots your hat at enemies. Music is shortened in this version.
This version is notable for having several pointless features which do not appear to have much effect on gameplay (for example, + 
/
moonwalks and it is also possible to do crotch grabs). 
opens doors and sewer lids. Once all the children in a level are saved, Bubbles the Monkey will appear and will point you in the direction of Mr. Big, and once you get to the right spot you will have to fight a barrage of his cronies to complete the stage. The Master System version cuts the Bubbles scene and goes right to the boss barrage.
If a meteor falls out of the sky, catch it to turn into a giant mech that shoots lasers and is invincible for a short period of time. You cannot rescue children while invincible.
Production Credits
Arcade Version
BGM
- Round 1 -Cavern-
- Bad
- Round 2 -Amusement Quarter-
- Smooth Criminal
- Round 3 -Night Street-
- Beat It
- Round 4 -Graveyard-
- Another Part of Me
- Round 5 -Evil Fortress-
- Bad ~Reprise~
- Ending
- Billie Jean
All Songs Written and Composed by: Michael Jackson
- Available on CD, Tapes and Records
Game Concept & Design by: Michael Jackson
Mega Drive Version
Planner: Koi
Planner Assistant: Captain Elf
Designer: Doydoy, Chie Sama, Jiyna
Programmer: Ekas, Mt. Book, 610
Programmer Assistant: Nas Atagan
Sound Composer: Jimita
Sound Assistant: Middle Village, Iagan
Sound Adviser: Bo
Special Thanks: Al Nilsen
Game Concept and Design by: Michael Jackson
Master System Version
Designers: Udi, Sadou, Fudou
Planners: Tomozou, Asohy, Pata
Sound Programmer: T N
Programmers: Minepy, Kidopyu, Mochaponpon, Kozaoyaji
Presented by: Sega
Promotional Material
System 18 JP flyer
System 18 EU flyer
FR TV advert (shorter version)
- Moonwalker ES PrintAdvert.jpg
Mega Drive ES print advert
- Moonwalker Ghostbusters MD JP PrintAdvert.jpg
Mega Drive JP print advert
Mega Drive JP TV advert 2
Physical Scans
System 18 Version
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Mega-Tech version
| Mega-Tech, |
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Mega Drive Version
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77 |
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| Based on 34 reviews | |
| Mega Drive, US |
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 Cart  Manual |
| Mega Drive, US (Misprint) |
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Cover
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 Cart Manual |
| Mega Drive, EU |
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320x120px Cover
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| Mega Drive, JP |
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  Cart  Manual |
| Mega Drive, AU |
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| Mega Drive, BR |
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| Mega Drive, CA |
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Master System Version
| Sega Retro Average | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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72 |
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| Based on 18 reviews | |
| Master System, US |
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 Cover
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| Master System, EU 6-language variant |
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 Manual |
| Master System, EU 8-language variant |
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| Master System, BR |
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 Cart |
| Master System, BR (with barcode) |
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| Mega Drive, KR |
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   Cover
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| Master System, KR (Alt) |
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| Master System, KR (Alt B) |
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  Cover
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- ↑ File:Megatech UK 01.pdf, page 79
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 File:Segapro_UK_04.pdf, page 19
- ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 134
- ↑ ACE, "November 1990" (UK; 1990-10-xx), page 89
- ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "September 1990" (JP; 1990-08-XX), page 25
- ↑ Buzz! Computers (UK) (+0:00)
- ↑ Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 32
- ↑ The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 48
- ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 132
- ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 127
- ↑ Computer & Video Games, "November 1990" (UK; 1990-10-16), page 80
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "September 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 18
- ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 72
- ↑ Famitsu, "" (JP; 1990-xx-xx), page 1
- ↑ The Games Machine, "Dicembre 1990" (IT; 1990-1x-xx), page 36
- ↑ Game Informer, "July 2001" (US; 2001-0x-xx), page 106
- ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Febrero 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 79
- ↑ Joystick, "Octobre 1990" (FR; 1990-xx-xx), page 88
- ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 93
- ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "November 1990" (JP; 1990-10-08), page 63
- ↑ Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 21
- ↑ Mega Play, "November/December 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 29
- ↑ MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 79
- ↑ MegaTech, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 93
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Mean Machines, "January 1991" (UK; 1991-01-03), page 44
- ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 140
- ↑ Player One, "Décembre 1990" (FR; 1990-xx-xx), page 24
- ↑ Power Play, "11/90" (DE; 1990-10-12), page 140
- ↑ Raze, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-10-25), page 42
- ↑ Sega Power, "April 1991" (UK; 1991-03-07), page 10
- ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 54
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 Sega Pro, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-16), page 19
- ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 66
- ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 86
- ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 114
- ↑ Zero, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-1x-xx), page 130
- ↑ The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 22
- ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 142
- ↑ Computer & Video Games, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-16), page 94
- ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 146
- ↑ GamePro, "March 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 82
- ↑ Joystick, "Mai 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 146
- ↑ Mega Play, "March/April 1991" (US; 1991-04-xx), page 45
- ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 135
- ↑ Player One, "Mai 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 20
- ↑ Power Play, "7/91" (DE; 1991-06-12), page 137
- ↑ Score, "Srpen 1994" (CZ; 1994-08-01), page 57
- ↑ Sega Power, "April 1991" (UK; 1991-03-07), page 18
- ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 58
- ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 71
- ↑ Tilt, "Juin 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 80
- ↑ Video Games, "2/91" (DE; 1991-06-07), page 78
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