Michael Jackson's Moonwalker

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Moonwalker Title.png

Michael Jackson's Moonwalker
System(s): Sega System 18, Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: Action

















Release Date RRP Code

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.

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 "Triller 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 Jackson did not write Thriller (though did write the other songs).

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.

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.

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. C/1 jumps, B/pressing 2 kicks, and A/holding 2 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, B + Left/Right moonwalks and it is also possible to do crotch grabs). Up 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.

Manuals

Mega Drive Version

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

Physical Scans

Arcade Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
90 №106
Arcade
 90
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Arcade
 N/A
Based on
0 reviews

Michael Jackson's Moonwalker

Mega Drive Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
61 №38
81
88 №108
91
78
87
81
96
Sega Mega Drive
 83
Based on
8 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[1]
ACE (UK)
62
[2]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
78
[3]
Buzz! Computers (UK)
83
[4]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
88
[5]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)
85
[6]
Console XS (UK) PAL
86
[7]
Cool Gamer (RU)
40
[8]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
88
[9]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
70
[10]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
71
[11]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
65
[12]
The Games Machine (IT)
91
[13]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
69
[14]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
78
[15]
Joystick (FR)
87
[16]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
64
[17]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
81
[18]
Mega (UK) PAL
78
[19]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
73
[20]
MegaTech (UK)
85
[21]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
72
[22]
Mean Machines (UK)
81
[23]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
85
[24]
Player One (FR)
96
[25]
Power Play (DE)
59
[26]
Raze (UK) NTSC
87
[27]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
90
[28]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
75
[29]
Sega Pro (UK)
84
[30]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
84
[31]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
71
[32]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
68
[33]
Zero (UK)
91
[34]
Sega Mega Drive
 77
Based on
34 reviews

Michael Jackson's Moonwalker

Mega Drive, US
Moonwalker MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Moonwalker MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
<div style="margin:auto; max-width:Expression error: Unexpected < operator.px"> 320x120px
Cover
Mega Drive, JP
Moonwalker md jp cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, BR
Moonwalker MD BR Box.jpg
Cover
Moonwalker MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart

Master System Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
80
70 №112
90
80
91
55
Sega Master System
 78
Based on
6 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) PAL
80
[35]
Console XS (UK) PAL
85
[36]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
70
[37]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
71
[38]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
64
[39]
Joystick (FR) PAL
90
[40]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
68
[41]
Mean Machines (UK)
80
[23]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
80
[42]
Player One (FR)
91
[43]
Power Play (DE)
55
[44]
Score (CZ)
58
[45]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
83
[46]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
50
[47]
Sega Pro (UK)
81
[30]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
85
[48]
Tilt (FR)
40
[49]
Video Games (DE)
59
[50]
Sega Master System
 72
Based on
18 reviews

Michael Jackson's Moonwalker

Master System, US
Moonwalker SMS US cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, EU
6-language variant
Moonwalker SMS EU 6lang cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, EU
8-language variant
Moonwalker SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
  1. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 134
  2. ↑ ACE, "November 1990" (UK; 1990-10-xx), page 89
  3. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "September 1990" (JP; 1990-08-XX), page 25
  4. ↑ Buzz! Computers (UK) (+0:00)
  5. ↑ Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 32
  6. ↑ The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 48
  7. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 132
  8. ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 127
  9. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "November 1990" (UK; 1990-10-16), page 80
  10. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "September 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 18
  11. ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 72
  12. ↑ Famitsu, "" (JP; 1990-xx-xx), page 1
  13. ↑ The Games Machine, "Dicembre 1990" (IT; 1990-1x-xx), page 36
  14. ↑ Game Informer, "July 2001" (US; 2001-0x-xx), page 106
  15. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Febrero 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 79
  16. ↑ Joystick, "Octobre 1990" (FR; 1990-xx-xx), page 88
  17. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 93
  18. ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "November 1990" (JP; 1990-10-08), page 63
  19. ↑ Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 21
  20. ↑ Mega Play, "November/December 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 29
  21. ↑ MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 79
  22. ↑ MegaTech, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 93
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Mean Machines, "January 1991" (UK; 1991-01-03), page 44
  24. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 140
  25. ↑ Player One, "Décembre 1990" (FR; 1990-xx-xx), page 24
  26. ↑ Power Play, "11/90" (DE; 1990-10-12), page 140
  27. ↑ Raze, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-10-25), page 42
  28. ↑ Sega Power, "April 1991" (UK; 1991-03-07), page 10
  29. ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 54
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Sega Pro, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-16), page 19
  31. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 66
  32. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 86
  33. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 114
  34. ↑ Zero, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-1x-xx), page 130
  35. ↑ The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 22
  36. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 142
  37. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-16), page 94
  38. ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 146
  39. ↑ GamePro, "March 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 82
  40. ↑ Joystick, "Mai 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 146
  41. ↑ Mega Play, "March/April 1991" (US; 1991-04-xx), page 45
  42. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 135
  43. ↑ Player One, "Mai 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 20
  44. ↑ Power Play, "7/91" (DE; 1991-06-12), page 137
  45. ↑ Score, "Srpen 1994" (CZ; 1994-08-01), page 57
  46. ↑ Sega Power, "April 1991" (UK; 1991-03-07), page 18
  47. ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 58
  48. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 71
  49. ↑ Tilt, "Juin 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 80
  50. ↑ Video Games, "2/91" (DE; 1991-06-07), page 78
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