Michael Jackson's Moonwalker
| Michael Jackson's Moonwalker | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) |
Emerald Software Keypunch Software |
| Publisher(s) | U.S. Gold |
| Composer(s) | Michael Jackson |
| Engine | various |
| Platform(s) | Amiga Amstrad Atari ST Commodore 64 DOS MSX Spectrum |
| Release date(s) | July 24, 1990 |
| Genre(s) | Maze game/Beat 'em up/Platformer/Shooter game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Michael Jackson's Moonwalker | |
|---|---|
European arcade flyer of Michael Jackson's Moonwalker.
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|
| Developer(s) |
Sega Triumph |
| Publisher(s) | Sega |
| Producer(s) | Michael Jackson |
| Designer(s) | Michael Jackson |
| Composer(s) | Tohru Nakabayashi |
| Platform(s) | Arcade |
| Release date(s) |
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| Genre(s) | Beat 'em up/Run and gun |
| Mode(s) | One to three players simultaneously |
| Cabinet | Upright |
| Arcade system | Sega System 18 |
| Display | Standard horizontal, raster graphics |
| Michael Jackson's Moonwalker | |
|---|---|
Front cover of the European Mega Drive version.
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| Developer(s) |
Sega (MD/Genesis) Arc System Works (SMS) |
| Publisher(s) | Sega |
| Producer(s) |
Michael Jackson Roppyaku Tsurumi |
| Designer(s) | Roppyaku Tsurumi |
| Composer(s) | Hiroshi Kubota Takayuki Nakamura |
| Platform(s) | Mega Drive/Genesis, Master System |
| Release date(s) | |
| Genre(s) | Beat 'em up/Platformer |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Aggregate score | |
|---|---|
| Aggregator | Score |
| GameRankings | 54.2 |
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
| CVG | 90% |
| Crash | 70% |
| Sinclair User | 6/10 |
| Your Sinclair | 75% |
| MegaTech | 85% |
| Zzap!64 | 60% |
| Mega | 78% |
| Sega Power | 90% |
| Compute's Guide | 19/20 |
Michael Jackson's Moonwalker is the name of several video games based on the 1988 Michael Jackson film Moonwalker. U.S. Gold published various games for home computers, released in 1989, whilst Sega developed two similarly themed beat 'em up video games in 1990; one released for arcades and another released for the Mega Drive/Genesis and Master System. Each of the games' stories loosely follow the story of the film, in which Michael Jackson must rescue kidnapped children from the evil Mr. Big, and incorporate synthesized versions of the musician's hits, such as Beat It and Smooth Criminal. The games, particularly the Genesis adaptation, have achieved cult status.
Versions of the game were released for the popular 8-bit and 16-bit home computers of the time. They were developed by two small software houses, Irish Emerald Software Ltd and American Keypunch Software, and published by U.K. company U.S. Gold. The home computer versions are the only games to make reference to the early portions of the film.
The games feature four different levels. The first is a top-down maze-style level based on the 'Speed Demon' short, involving wandering the studio to collect various items and costume pieces, with the final piece being the motorcycle, all whilst trying to avoid the crazed fans. Stealth elements are used, with an onscreen map similar to that used in Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. The next level has similar gameplay, riding the motorcycle collecting tokens. The motorcycle turns into a car in order to jump a barrier to the next part.
The third level is a side-scrolling level based on the "Smooth Criminal" clip. The player collects ammunition and shoots at gangsters in openings above the player character.
The final level involves morphing into a robot and shooting at soldiers in openings, with the player controlling a crosshair. The four songs used were "Bad", "Speed Demon", "Smooth Criminal" and "The Way You Make Me Feel".
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