Michael Jackson's Moonwalker
- Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (1990 on Arcade)
Description official description
Michael Jackson's Moonwalker is based on the Michael Jackson movie. Mr. Big has kidnapped children and has nasty things in store for them, like drugging them and making them slaves. So it's up to Michael to use his magical powers and dancing talent to try to catch Mr. Big and rescue his little friends.
Michael Jackson can jump, throw magical stars, and dance to counter his opponents as he looks for the hidden children. Stages come in various shapes and sizes from some of Jackson's hit videos which take place in streets and graveyards.
Spellings
- マイケル・ジャクソンズ モーンウォーカー - Japanese spelling
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Credits (Genesis version)
15 People (14 developers, 1 thanks)
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Reviews
Critics
Average score: 67% (based on 34 ratings)
Players
Average score: 3.6 out of 5 (based on 81 ratings with 5 reviews)
The Good
This is a really good platformer, with smooth action, and impressive tunes, based on the 1 hour-long music video. Controls are easy to learn, the graphics are pretty impressive, excellent remakes of all his hit songs, Beat It being an great a piece. Level design is OK. But the best is dance forms done on here when using lots of magic. The moves are just exact!
The Bad
Although it all sounds great, gameplay seems to be a bit too easy, even with Hard mode on. The enemys are slow moving and don't react to your moves quickly.
The Bottom Line
Basically, a platformer with a musical twist! There are plenty of enemys to come by, while you must look for missing children that Mr. Big wants to drug up! Besides bullys and Gangsters, watch out for dogs, Zombies, and bombs!
Genesis · by Robbb (99) · 2004
This is a decent cash-in, but I prefer the arcade version more.
The Good
The first me and most people will think is awesome is the music...it really is...a nice 16-bit rendition of Michael's best music. Also, the graphics are OK and MJ's sprite is well-animated. Also, the star you get in Round 2,3, and 5 that turns to a robot to have 30 seconds of ROBOT MAYHEM (that is awesome)...the moves you can do are also awesome, too!
The Bad
The gameplay's plain repetitive, all you do is get all the girls in the level. The enemy sprites are less animated, which looks wooden and awkward. Also, the later levels are plain annoying (Round 4-1,4-2,4-3, and 5-2)...the ending is horrid, all you get is MJ and that black kid in the movie dancing while the credits scroll. Also, how does when they jump and they touch me, how does it hurt someone? It doesn't make sense
The Bottom Line
Overall, this is a decent cash-in of the movie, although I wish they took more months on this game (as the arcade and the Genesis were released the same time on August 1990)...other than that, sidescroller and MJ fans will be pleased with this game, others, probably not.
Genesis · by Mavi Bacon (13) · 2009
The Good
Style! Old skool style!
I like this game alot, it isn't that good to play all day though..
If you are a fan of the guy and love the music, then this game is definately worthy to put next to his album collection!
First of all though.. forget all the stuff about kids! (because little girls shout "Michael" when you save them) If you understand his personality and accept his story about his personal life then things about saving children is about as normal as decaptiating someone, or, stealing a car in a game.
The music is a fantastic remake of his most popular songs such as 'smooth criminal' and he "ooh's" and "aoww's" all over the place! This gives you a more diverse approach for playing the game a long time and let's you be creative with the "ooh"!'
The Bad
Same old same old same old!
You save a kid, kick a guy, save a kid and then after about 5 minutes of that.. the boss you meet at the end of a level, IS NOT A BOSS!
Instead, seems more like a bout of lazy programming!
You work your way through 3 stages of the above mentioned.. to fight a SLIGHTLY HARDER BAD GUY! (But I have to say that the 'magic' dancing special move is alot of fun to pull off! Reinacting 'Thriller' all over again!
The Bottom Line
It's a funky platformer I wish the true arcade version replaced.(that was a more fun isometric version, instead of this one which is just 2D left and right movement)
It's a unique experience for the mega drive/genesis!
It's full of charming moments and a nice approach to the world of Michael Jackson!
But..
If you hate Michael Jackson, you'll only like it when you make him die.
Genesis · by MrBee (28) · 2005
Discussion
Subject | By | Date |
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Genesis Moonwalker in the arcade? | Pseudo_Intellectual (66362) | May 26, 2014 |
Trivia
Development
The game design for Moonwalker was actually done by Michael Jackson himself.
Genesis
This Michael Jackson game (and others with celebrity names) was part of a line of games that were celebrity endorsed by famous athletes and singers. This was part of the advertising strategy for North America.
Master System version
In the Genesis version there are female enemies in the first level which don't attack but have to be hit in order to clear the way. They are not featured in the Master System version.
Information also contributed by Guy Chapman
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Related Sites +
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Video review of Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (WARNING: Language)
The Angry Video Game Nerd, James Rolfe, reviews Michael Jackson's Moonwalker on Genesis.
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Contributors to this Entry
Game added by Syed GJ.
SEGA Master System added by PCGamer77. Arcade added by Michael Cassidy.
Additional contributors: Robbb, formercontrib, LepricahnsGold, j.raido 【雷堂嬢太朗】, Patrick Bregger.
Game added October 11, 2002. Last modified April 9, 2024.