Michael Jackson
The playable hero, using dance moves, kicks, and a thrown hat to rescue kidnapped children.
Documented for this version
D-pad | Move Michael |
|---|---|
A | Throw Michael's hat |
B | Kick |
C | Perform the dance attack |
Button assignments are for the Sega Genesis version.
No separate control combination is listed when the action is uncertain.
How it plays
The game uses a side-view perspective across several scrolling stages. Michael moves through urban and fantastical environments, defeats enemies with kicks and his thrown hat, and searches for children hidden throughout each level.
Rescuing every child is the main objective, while the dance attack provides a powerful way to clear groups of enemies. Stages end with boss encounters or set-piece challenges, and the final confrontation leads to Mr. Big.
Plan your run
Search the full width of each stage rather than rushing toward the exit. Children can be placed away from the main route, and rescuing them is central to completing a level.
Save the dance attack for crowded encounters or dangerous sections. Use the hat to hit enemies from a safer distance, and keep moving when several enemies approach at once.
Meet the cast
The playable hero, using dance moves, kicks, and a thrown hat to rescue kidnapped children.
The game's criminal antagonist, who kidnaps the children and commands the opposition.
Before you begin
Explore side paths before leaving an area.
Use the hat against enemies that are awkward to reach with a kick.
Reserve the dance attack for groups or difficult encounters.
Michael Jackson's Moonwalker is a 1990 Sega action game developed and published by Sega for the Genesis. Loosely based on the film Moonwalker, it casts Michael Jackson as a heroic performer searching for kidnapped children and confronting the criminal Mr. Big. The game combines side-scrolling platforming with beat 'em up combat, collectible rescues, and a distinctive dance-based special move. Its colorful presentation, licensed music, and unusual premise made it memorable, although reviews were mixed because of repetitive combat and uneven difficulty. The Genesis version remains a notable example of a licensed action game shaped around a pop star's image.
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