Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (USA, Europe)

What is Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (USA, Europe)?

Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (USA, Europe) is a side-scrolling action game developed for the Master System platform, released in 1990. Based on Michael Jackson's iconic Moonwalker film and tour, the game follows the pop legend as he rescues kidnapped children, battles enemies with magical dance moves, and transforms into a robotic form for powerful attacks. The game features appearances by Jackson's pet monkey Bubbles and incorporates themes of rhythm, combat, and platforming challenges.

Game Features

• Side-scrolling action gameplay with vibrant 16-bit visuals
• Dance-based combat mechanics using rhythmic button inputs
• Playable character transformations into a robotic super-form
• Rescue missions involving kidnapped children as core objectives
• Inclusion of Michael Jackson's pet monkey Bubbles as an assist character
• Arcade-style difficulty with boss battles and stage progression
• Later adapted for arcade cabinets on the Mega-Tech hardware

How to Play Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (USA, Europe)?

1. Movement: Use the arrow keys or WASD to navigate left/right and jump over obstacles.
2. Basic Attacks: Press Z (A button) to perform punches, kicks, or standard dance moves.
3. Special Moves: Hold directional inputs while pressing X (B button) to execute charged attacks or summon Bubbles for assistance.
4. Robot Transformation: Activate the robotic form by rapidly inputting a down-up-down-up directional sequence + X, unleashing powerful screen-wide attacks.
5. Rescue Children: Reach captured children in each stage and guide them to safety while fending off enemies.
6. Health Management: Collect power-ups (e.g., hearts) to restore health and avoid taking damage from enemies or environmental hazards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Michael Jackson's Moonwalker a platformer or beat-'em-up?
The game blends side-scrolling action with dance-based combat, combining platforming elements and rhythmic attack patterns rather than traditional beat-'em-up mechanics.

Can I play as Bubbles the monkey in this version?
No, Bubbles appears as an assist character to aid Michael but is not a playable character in the Master System version.

Are there dance-off sequences against enemies?
Yes, the game features rhythm-based combat where timed button presses (e.g., rapid Z/X inputs) trigger dance moves to defeat foes creatively.