Michael Jackson's Moonwalker
- This page is about several arcade and video games. For information about the Michael Jackson music video please see: Moonwalker
Michael Jackson's Moonwalker is the name of several video games created by Sega in 1990 that incorporate the personage of and were co-developed by Michael Jackson. The arcade version and home versions differ in terms of gameplay, but the story and concept remain constant. The story, which is taken from the Moonwalker music video, follows Michael, using various music and dance related abilities, on a quest to save kidnapped children from the hands of the evil "Mr. Big". The games incorporated synthesized versions of the musician's hits, such as "Beat It" and "Billie Jean". The games have now achieved cult status and are remembered for being a memorable point in Jackson's change to a different stage persona from Thriller, to Bad.
Arcade version
| Michael Jackson's Moonwalker | |
|---|---|
| Title Screen | |
| Developer(s) | Sega |
| Publisher(s) | Sega |
| Designer(s) | Michael Jackson |
| Release |  1990 25th August 1990 |
| Genre(s) | Beat 'em up/Run and gun |
| Mode(s) | One to three players simultaneously |
| Arcade system | Sega System 18 |
Moonwalker was first developed into an arcade video game by Sega with the help of Jackson. The arcade has distinctively different gameplay from its console counterparts, focusing more on beat 'em up gameplay elements rather than platform.
Story
Template:Spoiler Mr. Big, an insidious drug dealer, has kidnapped children for no apparent reason. Michael, in an effort to save the children, goes after Mr. Big, and eventually discovers his plot to take over the world using a large laser cannon built on the moon. Each level is begun with a small comic book-style presentation of the ongoing conflict with Mr. Big and Michael, intending to show a transition from one level's setting to the next. These cut-scenes, however, do not reveal any additional plot details.
At the conclusion of the game, more of the story is revealed, which is also highlighted by some as adding to the peculiarity of the title.:
- Mr. Big's evil plot has been foiled with the destruction of his deadly doomsday weapon - the gigantic laser cannon. And with his massive fortress reduced to cinders, he is no longer a threat to mankind.
- But what of Michael?
- All that is known that he was last seen soaring away from the crumbling enemy stronghold, heading toward the distant horizon.
- And the children that he saved?
- Well...
- They're smiling, because deep down in their hearts, they know that Michael will return one day to share with them another wondrous and magical adventure.
Gameplay
The game is essentially an isometric beat-em-up, although Jackson attacks with magic powers instead of physical contact, and has the ability to shoot magic power at enemies instead of getting close enough for a melee attack. A map of the stage is shown before it begins, and after which, Jackson must get from the start to the end without losing all his health, rescuing all the children and defeating all the enemies along the way.
The game can also be played multiplayer; if the cabinet supports it, up to three people can play simultaneously. The second player's character dons a scarlet outfit, while the third player's character is dressed in black. The characters all have armbands: red for black outfit, black for red outfit, and black for white outfit.
Dancing Magic: Arguably the most stand-out feature, Sega takes the concept of the "smart bomb" or "screen zapper" and changes it to the form of dancing. Once activated, a heavenly spotlight shines on the player and the player starts to dance several of the high-energy moves that have become Jackson's hallmarks. All the enemies on screen dance with Jackson, mirroring him exactly. At the end of the dance solo, all the enemies on screen will be eliminated. However, bosses do not dance but do take a significant amount of damage. There are three different dance routines that may be performed, and the player starts with three of these attacks per credit.
Bubbles: Part of the peculiarity of this game, comes from this weird power-up. Bubbles the chimpanzee, Michael's real-life pet, appears in each level. Once collected or rescued, the chimp transforms Michael into a robotic version of the pop singer that has the ability to shoot laser bursts and absorb significantly more damage.
Levels
- 1. Cavern: This level resembles a subterranean hideout and consists of long corridors with blue doors periodically. It starts with Mr. Big taunting Michael. The enemies consist of suit-wearing henchmen and small robotic mobile gun emplacements. There is no boss.
- Background music – "Bad"
- 2. Amusement Quarter: This level takes place in a nightclub and highly resembles the first level from the console version. Additionally, half of the level takes place outside on a street during daytime. The enemies consist of suit-wearing henchmen, and soldiers. The bosses for this level are two mobile robotic gun emplacements.
- Background music – "Smooth Criminal"
- 3. Night Street: This level is very similar to the outdoor half of the Amusement Quarter, but takes place at night. The gangsters and soldiers again make their appearance in this level, but are joined by many more robots. There are robots that hide under manholes, large conspicuous-looking AT-ST-like robots, and shirtless men who control armored dobermans. Mr. Big confronts Michael in this level, in the form of a laser-shooting hovercraft surrounded by eight floating laser pods.
- Background music – "Beat It"
- 4. Graveyard: In an almost complete departure in theme, this level takes place and has all the common elements of a horror movie graveyard. Enemies consist mostly of zombies and ghosts. The boss is yet another Mr. Big contraption; a large stationary three-tubed ghost generator.
- Background music – "Another Part of Me", although one would logically think that "Thriller" would be more appropriate given the setting of the level
- 5. Evil Fortress: This level takes place on Mr. Big's fortress on the moon, where he is preparing to fire a large laser cannon. Almost the entire level takes place on a rising elevator, where wave after wave of enemies appear. The last boss is Mr. Big piloting a large mechanical spider.
- Background music – a reprise of "Bad"
Screenshot gallery
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A 'peculiar' robot enemy
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Michael taking on some thugs.
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The three different types of children
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Mission two cutscene
Console versions
| Michael Jackson's Moonwalker | |
|---|---|
| Screenshot of Michael Jackson's Moonwalker video game | |
| Developer(s) | Sega |
| Publisher(s) | Sega |
| Platform(s) | Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, C64, Game Gear, SMS, Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis, ZX Spectrum |
| Release | 1990 |
| Genre(s) | Beat 'em up/Platformer |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Home versions of the game were released for Sega's Genesis/Mega Drive and Master System home video game systems, though the gameplay was completely different to the arcade version. The console versions of the game were actually based on an evolved version of the home computer versions of the game (with gameplay somewhat similar to the Shinobi series), in contrast to the arcade version which was a three-quarters view shooter/fighter type game. The game involved the player controlling the pop star in a quest to save children (called "Katies", since they were all young blonde females) that had been kidnapped by an evil gangster, though in the arcade version Katie was one of several children who could be rescued.
The game's levels and music were borrowed from the film (though many of the music tracks were taken from Jackson's Thriller album as well) and the player had the ability to destroy enemies by making them dance. In the console game Michael could become a robot by rescuing a certain child first, and then grabbing a comet that fell from the sky. In the arcade version, Michael became a robot by rescuing his chimp pal Bubbles. The arcade version also had the novel feature of three simultaneous players (each controlling Jackson's character in a different colored Smooth Criminal outfit).
Gameplay
The gameplay is focused on finding the doors where children, specifically a girl which resembles Katie from the movie, which are scattered throughout certain doors. Most of the doors are empty or contain enemies. In contrast to the arcade version, Michael's moves more closely resemble his trademark dancing moves. For example, the standard attack is a stylized high kick that is commonly incorporated into his dance routines. The player has combination health/ability bar. One button will allow Michael to spin, being invulnerable in the process. However, this spin move will depreciate health. If the spin is held for more than two seconds, Michael will throw his hat in a fashion of a boomerang which will destroy most enemies. The longer the spin move is held, the wider distance that the fedora will cover. Michael can also use the magic to slide down banisters and eliminate multiple enemies in the process. Almost every stage has three levels, designated in Super Mario Bros. fashion as X-1,X-2,X-3. However, the final level of the Sega Genesis/Megadrive version was a first person "flight sim" type battle between Michael (now transformed into a space ship) and Mr. Big's ship.
Levels
- Stage 1 – Club 30
- Background music – Smooth Criminal
- Stage 2 – Street
- Background music – Beat It
- Stage 3 – Woods
- Background music – Another Part of Me
- Stage 4 – Cavern
- Background music – Billie Jean
- Stage 5 – The Enemy Hideout
- Background music – Bad
- Stage 6 – Michael's Battle Plane
Incorporation of Michael Jackson trademarks
- In the beginning of level 1-1, in mimicking the Moonwalker movie, the environment appears dark until Michael flips a quarter into a jukebox which starts playing Smooth Criminal.
- When performing each attack move Jackson will shout "Wooo", a sound he makes commonly in his performances.
- Occasionally, there is a brief cutscene between levels, in which Jackson shouts "Wooo" for no reason whatsoever.
- The jumping attack shows Michael raising up his arms, mimicking another dance move.
- A Moonwalk can be performed if the player attacks and then suddenly pushes the directional pad in either horizontal direction.
Peculiarities
- After rescuing all the children on a level, Bubbles the chimpanzee will be magically carried to Michael where he will rest on his shoulders and point Michael in the direction of the level's boss battle.
- The ad (displayed further up on this page) suggests that the song Thriller was included in the game. The third stage, much of it in a graveyard, and with zombies as the main enemy, suggests that song was to be used, but Another Part of Me was used instead
Home computer versions
Versions of the game with completely different gameplay to both the arcade and console versions were released for the popular 8-bit and 16-bit home computers of the time. The games featured five different levels. The first was a top-down maze-style level based on the 'Speed Bunny' 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. The next level was similar gameplay, riding the motorcycle collecting tokens, upon which turning into a car in order to jump a barrier to the next part. The third level was a sort of side-scrolling level based on the "Smooth Criminal" clip, collecting ammunition and shooting at gangsters in openings above you. The final level involved morphing into a robot and shooting at soldiers in openings. This version of the game was noted to be the hardest version by far, indeed it was literally impossible to complete the first stage without losing at least one life due to the impossibility of collecting all pieces before time ran out.
Legacy
A sequel was planned, but after accusations arose that Jackson had molested children, Sega halted these plans. Jackson was also supposed to compose the music for Sonic the Hedgehog 3, but those plans fell through for the same reason - although his personal song writing team still wrote the soundtrack, Jackson himself was not publicly involved. Jackson later would go on to have a cameo role in Sega's Space Channel 5 duo of music/rhythm games for the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2. Jackson also appeared as a secret character in Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2.
References
External links
- 1990 arcade games
- 1990 computer and video games
- Amiga games
- Amstrad CPC games
- Arcade games
- Atari ST games
- Commodore 64 games
- Sega games
- Game Gear games
- Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis games
- Michael Jackson
- Beat 'em ups
- Run and gun computer and video games
- Scrolling fighter games
- Computer and video games based on licensed properties
- Computer and video games featuring cooperative gameplay
- Cancelled Super NES games