Evolution of Michael Jackson Video Games: King of Pop in the Best Michael Jackson Games

Qrius

05 May 2023

The renowned pop icon has appeared in multiple Michael Jackson games and most popular musical compositions to deliver captivating gaming experiences that resonate with fans and players. Every appearance of Michael Jackson in video games for PC, Sega, Microsoft Windows, MacOS, etc. was a huge admiration.

Michael Jackson, King of Pop (the main person and inspiration for the creation of milestones best Michael Jackson games)

Some of the best Michael Jackson games were developed with active participation from the late musician, who contributed his voice and signature dance moves. Gameplay examples include enabling players to sing and dance to Jackson’s timeless music videos using motion controls or playing as Michael in hand-to-hand combat games on various gaming systems, like Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox. Among the world’s most popular are: Michael Jackson Moonwalker game, Michael Jackson: The Experience, Michael Jackson At Laker Game, etc.

The 1988 American film “Moonwalker” starring Michael Jackson, inspired this multi-video game franchise developed by Sega. Michael Jackson co-created this Moonwalker Arcade game series with several versions played on various hardware platforms. The plot is adapted from the film and follows Michael’s character as he employs multiple musical and dance techniques to rescue kidnapped kids from a villain Mr Big.

Provider: Bally Technologies

Bally Technologies created the Michael Jackson King of Pop slot machine that features the iconic artist’s famous accessories, hit songs, and stunning visuals. With 5 reels, 3 rows, 25 fixed paylines, and a max bet of 320 credits, this slot will entertain players of all types. Play Michael Jackson slot machine online free with symbols like his iconic glove, a signature hat, sunglasses, sparkly shoes, and card values from Ace to 9. A Wild symbol can replace all other symbols on reels. Michael Jackson slots free play offers numerous bonus features, including:

Bonus Symbol: this only appears on middle reels 2, 3, and 4, and landing on more than 1 spin rewards numerous prizes, including free spins and multipliers.
Free Spins: during bonus rounds, there are 2 free spin features to choose from. The “Beat It Free Spins” offer 10 free spins and locks in place reels 2-5 to increase your chances of winning during bonus rounds, and the “Smooth Criminal Free Spins” offers 5 free spins where at least 2 reels have stacked Wilds.
Stacked Wilds: These symbols come up randomly, typically on 2 reels. They substitute any symbol except the jackpot and bonus symbols, identified by the “WILD” symbol.
Moonwalk Wilds: The “DOUBLE WILD” symbol is depicted in the main game and emerges on reels 2 to 5. It becomes noticeable when King of Pop animates and moonwalks on display.
Jackpot Scatter: landing 5 of a kind on reels rewards 2,500 coins.

Discover the free Michael Jackson slots online in casinos globally for playing with real money. Unfortunately, there are no free trial versions accessible. Its betting range is between 0.40 to 80 coins, corresponding to a min and max bet limit. The bet amount per spin is not directly proportional to the bet per line. To determine the total wager placed, consider a bonus bet of 15x the amount bet per line.

Michael Jackson has significantly impacted video games, with the Sega Genesis game “Moonwalker” in 1990 based on his film of the same name. In 2010, Ubisoft released “Michael Jackson: The Experience,” a music Michael Jackson video game featuring his most famous songs. He actively participated in multiple games’ creations, including their music composition and voice acting, or permitted them to use his likeness and image.

Date: July 24, 1990
Publisher: US Gold
Series: Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker
Platforms: Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, DOS, Amiga, ZX Spectrum, MSX, Atari ST.

Michael Jackson Moonwalker arcade game with 4 level, made available for then-popular 8-bit and 16-bit home computers, was developed by two small software companies, Irish Emerald Software Ltd. and American Keypunch Software, and was released by US Gold, a UK company.

The first level is designed like a top-down maze, and the second level has a similar play but follows the character collecting tokens while riding a motorcycle. The third level is based on a Smooth Criminal music video clip, showing a side-scrolling level where players collect ammunition and shoot at gangsters. The final level involves its character transforming into a robot and shooting at soldiers.

Date: August 24, 1990
Publisher: Sega
Series: Michael Jackson Moonwalker Sega Genesis
Platforms: Sega Genesis, Sega Master System

Sega developed this version for home video consoles by adapting it for computers. It involves playing King of Pop’s character embarking on a mission to rescue kidnapped children from a villain Mr Big, as depicted in the film. The levels and music of this Michael Jackson Moonwalker Sega game were inspired by the acclaimed “Thriller” album and movie.

It revolves around saving children scattered throughout all levels and defeating enemies. The ultimate level is reached after discovering all children, where a player challenges Mr Big and sends an army of enemies to defeat the player. Destroy enemies in the Moonwalker Genesis by making them dance.

Date: July 20, 1990
Publisher: Sega
Series: Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker
Platforms: Arcade

Sega and Triumph collaborated to create the Moonwalker arcade video game, launched on the Sega System 18 arcade platform. Superstar characters rely on magical abilities to defeat opponents rather than physical contact. These powers enable players to launch attacks from close and far distances. Additionally, multiple individuals participate simultaneously, each assuming role in varying suit colors, like white, red, or black. The character’s special attack is called “Dance Magic” and consists of 3 separate dance routines in the MJ Moonwalker video game.

Date: 2012
Publisher: Java
Series: MJ Moonwalker
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, MacOS

Several fan-made MJ Moonwalker games were developed using Java, but they are not official releases and are not endorsed by estate or Sega. These are usually accessible for free download on websites and forums dedicated to retro gaming and fan-made projects.

It is challenging to pinpoint an exact date when Java versions of Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker first appeared because fan-made games were created and uploaded to various platforms anytime. Still, its earliest Java version references are on gaming forums and websites from 2010 and 2011, becoming a staple in 2012. The Java versions of Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker were designed for desktop and laptop computers running on Windows or MacOS. Some versions may have been optimized for mobile devices.

Michael Jackson: The Experience is a music-related video game based on songs. Its gameplay concerns a player’s interactions with music and individual songs. Developed and published by Ubisoft, this Michael Jackson Experience video game featured several of the most fantastic hit singles.

Michael Jackson: The Experience [2010]

Date of issue: November 23, 2010 (North America); November 26, 2010 (Europe)
Genre: Music/Rhythm
Developer: Ubisoft Sao Paulo
Platforms: Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, Wii

Michael Jackson Dance Experience was first released for Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, and Nintendo Wii. On the DS version, MJ appeared on screen while players tapped on the bottom screen to play along with the songs. The PlayStation Portable edition has the same exciting gameplay and songs as the original but offers more song options and a diverse gaming experience, making it a thrilling variation.

Among all the releases, the Wii has the most diverse features. Players physically follow the onscreen dance steps to the songs. There are 3 Michael Jackson Experience Wii modes: Classic, Duo, and Crew. The Classic mode involves players following a choreographed superstar routine. The Duo mode is used for duets or videos with 2 leading players. The Crew mode has 3 players, with 1 playing the role of Michael and 2 others as backup dancers. Players can choose to play as backup dancers while performing the songs. Michael Jackson Experience Wii offers a “Dance School” feature, teaching players real-life choreography from various music videos and live performances.

Date of issue: April 12, 2011 (North America); April 15, 2011 (Europe)
Genre: Music/Rhythm
Developer: Ubisoft
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Its second edition, created for PlayStation Move and Xbox 360 Kinect, is similar to Wii but with more songs for players to sing and dance together. Players attach microphones for singing, recording 30-second video clips or pictures, and sharing them on social media via the PlayStation 3. The Xbox 360’s Kinect edition features a different dance choreography with full body tracking and Player Projection technology to put in the player’s image. Michael Jackson’s dance game includes 2 modes: Solo and Party, with additional modes: Dance, Performance, and Master Performance. Party mode features the options “Co-Op” and “Battle.”

Co-Op enables players to alternate turns to sing a song, and Battle let’s 2 teams compete for the highest score. Party mode offers Dance, Performance, and Master Performance modes. Activate the “King Power” bonus by hitting a pop-up crown, multiplying the player’s score by 8.

Date of issue: November 7, 2011 (North America); April 15, 2011 (Europe)
Genre: Music/Rhythm
Developer: Ubisoft
Platforms: PlayStation Vita, Nintendo 3DS, iOS

Released on November 7, 2011, in North America and November 11, 2011, in Europe, the Nintendo 3DS edition retained similar qualities to the Nintendo DS game. However, its PlayStation Vita and iOS editions had an overall quality improvement. The iPhone and iPad versions released on December 7, 2011, and the PlayStation Vita on February 15, 2012, in North America and February 22, 2012, in Europe had more detailed graphics and a more defined HD view with included motion sensor support, trophy support, multiplayer mode, and ease of using the touch bar to play.

Another example is Michael Jackson in video games, published by Midway Games in 2000 and developed for Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and Game Boy Advance. Gameplay in the second version resembles the original. However, it includes newly added characters like Shaquille O’Neal, a former NBA superstar. The character was created using motion capture technology and digital photography, and his voice was also used.

This is a sequel to Space Channel 5, a music video game released in 1999 by United Game Artists. Sega launched the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2 versions in Japan in February 2002, while gaming companies SCEE and Agetec released the PlayStation 2 version worldwide in 2003, for Europe and North America. Later in 2011, Sega brought out a high-definition version for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. Another example of Michael Jackson in games, Space Micheal with an appearance from the superstar.

Plants vs Zombies was created by PopCap Games and launched on May 5, 2009. It was originally designed for Microsoft Windows and MacOS but has been adjusted to support platforms like PlayStation and Xbox 360, as well as mobile devices.

The tower defense video game features a lineup of defensive plants trying to protect a house from zombies during a zombie apocalypse. It featured a “dancing zombie,” closely resembling a superstar in his Thriller apparel. This zombie dances across a lawn and summons four backup dancers to perform a selection of music video dances, including the classic MJ moonwalk. Although created before the pop icon’s death as a tribute to the zombie character he portrayed in his Thriller music video, after his death, his estate protested. Zombie was too similar to the late singer, and they replaced it with another generic disco-themed dancing zombie.

Planet Michael was a planned Massively Multimedia Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) meant to be developed and released by SEE Digital Studios AB and SEE Virtual Worlds, LLC, respectively, in 2011. It was inspired by the renowned superstar’s life, music, and videos available for Microsoft Windows users.

Its concept was set on a planet inside the Entropia Universe, another MMO game run by Swedish software company Mind Ark. It was supposed to focus on adventure, questing, exciting music, and dance-related gameplay, including purchases for real money to replenish their gaming accounts. Unfortunately, Planet Michael was never released because its concept was abandoned for undisclosed reasons.

Inspired by South Park’s animated series, this game appeals to existing fans by featuring the main characters as superheroes turned detectives who must resolve various wrongdoings. The final boss, summoned from an otherworldly place, boastfully displays the classic MJ moonwalk and vocal riffs until he is defeated. This game is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, and Nintendo Switch.

The Summoning is a contemporary horror video game in the “Escape the Ayuwoki” series by DeadlyCrow Games. Play as a character kidnapped and locked in an ancient mansion to find a hidden key and escape a creepy-scampering animatronic character called “Ayuwoki”, bearing an unnatural resemblance. “Ayuwoki” is a play on the lyric “Annie, are you okay” from the singer’s hit, Smooth Criminal. Listen to a distorted version of Smooth Criminal as the background music, heavy breathing and the later musicians’ signature “hee-hee” vocal riff. It is available for players to play on Microsoft’s Windows, MacOS, and mobile devices powered by Android and iOS.

Notably, King of Pop was heavily involved in creating several Sega games. He first approached the software company back in 1988 with a request to develop a video game that would accurately capture his persona. This eventually led to the Moonwalker games release in 1990. His contributions to video game creation varied, including voice acting, music production, live performances, and overall image and likeness. Some other Sega games he was involved in include:

Scramble Training: This is a laserdisc video game released in 1993 for arcades. Running on the AS-1 motion simulator cabinet from Sega. It was a pre-rendered 3D computer graphics interactive game with up to eight players to participate.
Space Channel 5 and Space Channel 5: Part 2: In Space Channel 5 and its sequel, a fictional character named Space Michael, voiced by the late superstar, utilizes his singing and dancing abilities to battle robots and joins forces with the protagonist to combat villains.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3: Back in 2005, Star was reportedly hired by Sega to create music for the upcoming Sonic 3 video game. That project was eventually abandoned due to internal conflicts stemming from relationships between Michael and the company.

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