In 1988 Michael Jackson's musical feature film Moonwalker danced into theaters and confirmed Jackson as a pop culture icon. By this time Jackson was well associated with video games, as his songs were so ingrained with pop culture, they blasted through the speakers of every arcade, roller-skating rink, bowling alley and pizza place across America. Basically, every place you could play arcade games, Michael Jackson could be heard.
With Jackson's larger than life personality, superhero-like wardrobe, magical moves and self-professed love of video games, a game based on Moonwalker is a no-brainer. Actually it's surprising MJ hadn't been featured in a game sooner. Of course how the game should be made might not have been totally obvious right off the bat, as none of the three variations actually came out with the film, but instead over the following two years.
The two most popular Moonwalker games are the arcade and SEGA Genesis versions, which are based on Michael's very own concept and design. Released two years after the film, the games set-up are taken from the Smooth Criminal chapter of the feature, with crime lord Mr. Big, played by Joe Pesci in the film, kidnapping the children of the world as part of a plot to conquer the world. The only one who can save the day is the King of Pop himself.
The games share as many similarities as they do differences, but both are totally outrageous, with MJ using his dance magic and trademarked poses as weapons. Both are designed as beat-'em-ups, but with MJ's special powers zapping the baddies as projectiles.
Video games are no strangers to weirdness, andMoonwalker is are chock-full of it, with Bubbles transforming Jackson into a robot and his "Dance Magic" working as a smart bomb. When activated Michael starts to dance. His moves are so addictive all of the enemies, from mobsters to robots, start to dance along. When the number is over, they fall dead or explode.
As the game is obviously geared towards children, it's surprisingly violent. While there is no actual blood and guts, Michael does kill his enemies and sets off more explosions than Rambo, and in both games the final confrontation with Mr. Big ends with him blowing up and no explanation of how the kids MJ rescues in the game get to safety.
The much lesser known Moonwalker games released before the arcade and console versions, were the computer versions for the PC, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 and a few others. This version also also had no involvement with SEGA and little from MJ besides license and likeness.
Arcade Version - Michael Jackson's Moonwalker:
After his initial gaming adventure Michael would pair up again with SEGA to appear in their Dreamcast classic Space Channel 5.
- Original Release Date: 1990
- Publisher/Developer: SEGA
- System: Coin-Op Arcade Game
Viewed from an isometric perspective and of the group is based mostly on all-out arcade style action. Michael has a variety of magical super-powers, allowing him to shoot blasts at enemies and force them to dance until they explode. The game also allows up to four simultaneous co-op players, all taking the role of MJ, just in different colored outfits.
The goal of the game is the same as the console version, to rescue children captured by mobster, Mr. Big, who seeks to take over the world. As he frees each child they give him a health boost or bonus. When a level has been completed and Michael has defeated the boss, all the children he has rescued from the level come out to greet him.
At each level Michael fights through swarms of enemies, ranging from 40s style gangsters, street gang members and killer robots. When needed his faithful pet monkey bubbles runs around and if he and Michael touch, they merge together and become a killer Michael Jackson robot.
In his final confrontation with Mr. Big, he fights big who is in a floating wheelchair. Once defeated the chair explodes. Jackson then turns into a space ship and blasts off just as Mr. Big and his fortress on the moon (you got that…the moon) explodes.
Console Version - Michel Jackson's Moonwalker:
- Original Release Date: 1990
- Publisher/Developer: SEGA
- System: SEGA Genesis / SEGA Master System
The same year Moonwalker hit arcades, it invaded homes with a platformer for SEGA's home consone systems. While there's quite a bit of action, it is not nearly as unrelenting as the arcade version.
While the games goal is the same as the arcade version, there is only one child that Michael needs to rescue, Katie, and he needs to save her over, and over, and over again. Sometimes just in a single hallway he'll save her multiple times. Perhaps if she didn't run off as soon as MJ finds her, she wouldn't get herself caught again.
Bubbles is also on hand, but instead of turning him into a robot, he now jumps on Jackson's shoulders and directs him towards the boss battle. To turn into a robot, you need to catch a falling star which turns you into a mech-style MJ robot.
The other big difference from the arcade version is the side-view platforming design, which allows Michael to jump, and as a robot he can also fly.
In the final confrontation with Mr. Big the game turns into a first-person space shooter as you man the gun turret of a space ship, shooting down Big's space fleet and finally the big boss himself.
In celebration of completing each level, MJ grabs his crotch in one of his more famous moves.
Computer Version - Moonwalker
- Original Release Date: 1989
- Publisher: U.S. Gold
- Developer: Emerald Software
- System: Commodore 64, Amiga, ZX Spectrum, Amistrad CPC, Atari ST
The computer version of Moonwalker only released in Europe and is missing MJ's name from the title as well as any of the king of pop's involvement. Released a year before the arcade and console game, the game was published by U.S. Gold and served simply as a cheap movie licensed title.
The majority of the game is presented as a top-down dungeon crawler, with MJ trying to avoid his adoring fans, stalkers, paparazzi and mobsters. As you move through the maze environment you need to find pick-up items such as keys to help move through the level. Eventually the game switches from top down to a side-scrolling style, similar to what would eventually become the console game.
The graphics are quite primitive, making it tough to identify MJ, while enemies are a bit easier to make out. One looks like an evil cowboy on a horse, another looks like a giant sumo wrestler riding a tricycle. At least the game keeps its sense of weird '80s humor.
While the computer game doesn't have the non-stop action of its later counterparts, it does have a shocking bit of violence. MJ, hero to all children, can find a gun and use it to shoot and kill his enemies. Boy, how times have changed.
