I was upset for a second because I read the title too quick and thought you said that his moonwalking was lame.
In stead, I learned a lot of the history of this very odd game. It sounds so odd that I'm not surprised that there's a divide. I mean, at least it sold well.
I agree with all this, from what little I played of this one.
You could maybe call this a “high concept” game. Which usually doesn’t translate as well to games as movies.
A game with a fascinating, unique concept but boring gameplay is a boring game. A movie can have a concept like “snakes are on a plane with Samuel L. Jackson,” and little else, and perhaps keep you engaged for 90 minutes.
The concept of Super Mario Bros. is basically empty nonsense. But it has great gameplay and is thus a great game.
I think Sega really tapped into the cool factor having MJ on board for the first wave of Genesis games. The Genesis version of Moonwalker is kind of like Shinobi with Michael Jackson in it - rescue hostages, beat baddies, use some magic. I think it’s cool how we can finally play those graveyard levels with the Thriller them as originally intended thanks to that leaked prototype build. There’s even a hack for the arcade version to use the actual Michael Jackson tracks for the levels including Thriller. Both games are really fun for a spell, the arcade version perhaps more so if you have some friends to play it with.
Moonwalker definitely has a captivating vibe about it, even if it can't quite hold my interest all the way through. I'd love to play the arcade version with friends one day!
Don't forget he helped make the Sonic 3 soundtrack.
Never Forget
I was upset for a second because I read the title too quick and thought you said that his moonwalking was lame.
In stead, I learned a lot of the history of this very odd game. It sounds so odd that I'm not surprised that there's a divide. I mean, at least it sold well.
No way, can't deny the moonwalk, I don't care where you're from!
THAT'S RIGHT
I agree with all this, from what little I played of this one.
You could maybe call this a “high concept” game. Which usually doesn’t translate as well to games as movies.
A game with a fascinating, unique concept but boring gameplay is a boring game. A movie can have a concept like “snakes are on a plane with Samuel L. Jackson,” and little else, and perhaps keep you engaged for 90 minutes.
The concept of Super Mario Bros. is basically empty nonsense. But it has great gameplay and is thus a great game.
"A game with a fascinating, unique concept but boring gameplay is a boring game."
Hadn't thought of Moonwalker like that, but you're right.
The game's flashy as hell, but almost completely devoid of any substance
You can dance with dogs. How was this game not a bigger hit?
Haha, I know, right?
To be fair to Mike, I think this game was a solid hit at the time, but not the gangbuster smash that Sonic would become.
I think Sega really tapped into the cool factor having MJ on board for the first wave of Genesis games. The Genesis version of Moonwalker is kind of like Shinobi with Michael Jackson in it - rescue hostages, beat baddies, use some magic. I think it’s cool how we can finally play those graveyard levels with the Thriller them as originally intended thanks to that leaked prototype build. There’s even a hack for the arcade version to use the actual Michael Jackson tracks for the levels including Thriller. Both games are really fun for a spell, the arcade version perhaps more so if you have some friends to play it with.
Moonwalker definitely has a captivating vibe about it, even if it can't quite hold my interest all the way through. I'd love to play the arcade version with friends one day!