|
Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Ultimate Productions
Genre: Platformer
Release: December 31, 1990
Platforms: Arcade, Sega Master System, Sega Genesis, Game Gear
Reviewer: Eric
 If Sega knew what would come of Michael Jackson I’m sure this game wouldn’t
get all the buzz it did. Sega banked on Moonwalker to be the in game at the time
and for the most part it was. The Genesis sold more systems and Jackson got a
nice fat paycheck. After eighteen years though is this game still worth seeking
out?
Looking at this Genesis with a serious face is impossible. Before Aerosmith sold
out with Revolution X Michael Jackson was on the cover of this bad game. As much
as this game scares me today I still found some good qualities about it.
Michael Jackson is a jukebox hero that’s looking to stop Mr. Big’s well dressed
henchmen. Why does Jackson need to stop these dancing freaks? Mr. Big is
kidnapping children and instead of calling trained professionals Michael Jackson
will dance. Oh Jackson will dance and save the children, taking them back to his
place to ride all the rides in his amusement park.
Jackson uses his own dance techniques to win his battles. When our hero kicks
these well dressed gentlemen you’ll see magic stars float in the sky. Take that
you scary man, feel the wrath of my magical stars.
If dancing and kicking enemies isn’t your thing you can also throw your hat. For
a game based around a music star it really does have quite a few attacks, more
than you’d think. Jackson can also spin around; I mean he is stronger than Mario
if you think about it.
The enemy AI in this game is a bit on the easy side for the time. The character
designs are just as bad. All of the well dressed henchmen must have shopped at
the same place as Michael Jackson and the thugs…well the thugs are just silly
looking. These are the only guys you seem to fight in this game, boss battles,
with real bosses, are absent from the game. Guess Sega didn’t want Jackson to
look like a wimp in front of the children.
 All of this is just build up to the games final moment, where you find the final
child. Remember that monkey Michael Jackson use to have, Bubbles? Let’s just say
he saves the day for Jackson in a acid trip sort of way. The more I think about
it this game feels like an acid trip.
There’s got to be something real good about this game, right? Or there is and
it’s the games music. At the time you couldn’t use CD quality music, but you
could use midi versions and this game is full of them. When this game was
released it was the crown achiever in music and even to this day it is one of
the better sounded Sega Genesis games.
Final Verdict
Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker is a fine game if you haven’t played any games past
the Genesis era. The music was entertaining and the gameplay for the most part
wasn’t half bad. Sure if you compare this to the best platform game on either
the Genesis or SNES then this game stinks.
If you still have a Genesis and a few extra bucks then buy this game. Worst case
you’ll play it for a few weeks and then you can try to pawn it off on somebody
else.
Rating
6 out of 10
Michael Jackson's Moonwalker Commercial
|
