Play Michael Jackson's Moonwalker Online

Summary

Playing Michael Jackson's Moonwalker on the Master System feels like stepping into a neon‑lit music video where every level is a set from the 1988 film. I guide MJ through side‑scrolling stages, hunting down the kidnapped kids—each one a tiny replica of Katie—who hide behind doors and other scenery. The soundtrack is a mash‑up of the movie’s cues and familiar Thriller and Bad tracks, while the combat is oddly rhythmic: a high‑kick serves as the basic attack, and holding the button lets MJ Moonwalk backwards. Pressing the special button spins him, either flinging his hat or, if held longer, pulling all on‑screen foes into a forced dance that damages them, though it drains health that rescued children instantly replenish. Rescuing a particular child triggers a comet that transforms MJ into a robot for a brief power boost. Unlike the arcade version, the Master System omits Bubbles, so after the last child the game jumps straight into the final enemy rush.

Storyline

Michael Jackson's Moonwalker on the Sega Master System pits the King of Pop against the nefarious Mr. Big, who has kidnapped a group of children that look like Katie from the film. Michael dons his Smooth Criminal outfit and must battle through five distinct domains, each split into four rounds of platform‑style action. He searches each level, opening doors and shifting scenery to locate and rescue the hidden kids while blasting any henchmen that cross his path.

When all the children in a round are safe, Mr. Big appears and unleashes a wave of his toughest goons, forcing Michael into a frantic enemy‑rush before the next round begins. Unlike the arcade version, the Master System cut out Bubbles; the game jumps straight from the final rescued child to the enemy assault.

Each stage features its own Michael soundtrack, pulling tracks like "Smooth Criminal," "Beat It" and "Bad" to keep the pace funky. The storyline loosely mirrors the "Smooth Criminal" segment of the Moonwalker film, with the hero rescuing the kids and bringing Mr. Big to justice.