This may sound like a joke, but the closest point of comparison I can make for this game is Devil May Cry. On the surface it’s just a generic “collect all the items” platformer, but there’s an unobvious level of nuance that can make Moonwalker feel like a proto action game. New players will just walk around and do basic attacks as usual, but expert players can chain hat throws after stylish aerial spins to fluidly clear obstacles and defeat multiple enemies at the same time. However, the magic meter spent on these fancier attacks and your health are one in the same, so you have to strike a balance between offence and defense. There’s also room for showing off, where moonwalking requires the attack button to be held, diminishing your ability to react to new enemies in favor of looking cool. It’s reminiscent of managing Devil Trigger, Devil May Cry’s main source of healing and burst damage, which requires players to get in enemies’ faces and do taunts to build up, wordlessly guiding players to the most exciting playstyle possible. The best way to play both of these games is in a stylishly risky way, even when Moonwalker’s implementation is rudimentary by comparison. It may be bland when played like a normal platformer, but it becomes enjoyable when you start mapping out the stages, planning how to style over obstacles, and routing magic usage to make each level a choreographed performance. Of course, I don’t mean to imply that this game deserves to be labeled one of the greats, but it does have some neat ideas that go unappreciated because it’s just seen as a joke. Michael Jackson’s pop cultural relevance is the lowest it’s been since 1969 (I’m serious, that’s when Want You Back came out) and the game’s been riffed on by every critic in history, but that just highlights how fun it can be to approach games with an open mind. Even the weirdest games can have something to love, or interesting connections to your other favorites.