Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (System 18)
From Sega Retro
- For the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Master System game, see Michael Jackson's Moonwalker.
| Michael Jackson's Moonwalker | |||||||||||||
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| System(s): Sega System 18 | |||||||||||||
| Publisher: Sega | |||||||||||||
| Developer: Sega R&D 1 | |||||||||||||
| Genre: Action | |||||||||||||
| Number of players: 1-3 | |||||||||||||
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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 System 18 isometric action beat ‘em up game developed by Sega R&D 1 and starring world-famous pop music artist Michael Jackson. Based on the 1988 film Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker, it was first released to Japanese arcades in August 1993, and was brought to the United States later that year.
Moonwalker, alongside its Mega Drive 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.[1][2]
Contents
Plot
The game is based on the "Smooth Criminal" segment of the 1988 film 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.[3]
Gameplay
Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker is an isometric action beat ‘em up game which emphasizes strategic movement around oncoming enemies and projectiles. Jackson’s primary attacks is a magic dazzle fired from his hand, which can be charged for a stronger burst (and during which he will be moonwalking.) By finding Jackson’s pet chimpanzee Bubbles, players transform into the giant robot from the movie and are briefly given the abilities of eye lasers and homing missiles.[3]
All incarnations of the game feature Dance Magic, a special ability where enemies are compelled to dance to short sections of "Bad", "Thriller", and "Another Part of Me" before being defeated as a result.[3]
Rounds
| Cavern | |
|---|---|
| Amusement Quarter | |
| Night Street | |
| Graveyard | |
| Evil Fortress | |
History
Moonwalker’s arcade hardware incorporates a "suicide battery" - a battery which, after it stops working, renders the game inoperable.[4] This makes original working releases a rare sight in the modern age. Despite this, some boards can be revived by replacing individual chips, resulting in a new copyright message of (C) 1990 RESS.
Production credits
- 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 and Design by: Michael Jackson
Magazine articles
- Main article: Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (System 18)/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
Physical scans
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 "Long" instructions "Long" instructions (2) | ||||
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Instuction card(s) | ||||
References
- ↑ File:BangorDailyNews US 1990-01-17; Page 19.png
- ↑ File:DetroitFreePress US 1990-12-13; Page 36 (3C).png
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/michael-jacksons-moonwalker-arcade
- ↑ http://www.arcadecollecting.com/dead/ (Wayback Machine: 2020-11-11 19:04)
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S6H2iHue4A
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