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How to experience Hülsbeck's games - from C64 emulation to modern official releases.

Chris Hülsbeck's games span four decades and half a dozen platforms. This page covers both the classic titles (accessible via free, legal emulation) and the modern releases available on current storefronts. All emulators listed are free and open source. All modern releases listed are official, commercially available products.

Commodore 64 - VICE Emulator

The Versatile Commodore Emulator (VICE) is the gold-standard open-source emulator for the Commodore 64 and related machines. Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, VICE emulates the hardware accurately enough that SID music plays with timing and filter characteristics close to original silicon - a meaningful consideration for Hülsbeck's compositions, which rely on specific envelope and filter behaviour for their character.

Getting Started

  1. Download VICE from vice-project.sourceforge.io (free, open source, legal)
  2. Install the application appropriate for your operating system. VICE includes x64sc (the accurate C64 emulator) - use this version for music accuracy
  3. Source .d64 disk image files for the games you want to play. Public domain releases of several Hülsbeck titles are available through the Internet Archive and Lemon64's download section
  4. In VICE, use File → Attach Disk Image to load a .d64 file, then type LOAD"*",8,1 and press Return to load the game

Recommended Titles

The following Hülsbeck games have public domain or freely redistributable disk images available through legitimate archive sources:

  • The Great Giana Sisters - the 1987 Rainbow Arts classic. The game was recalled from sale but has since been made available by the original rights holders for non-commercial personal use. Search the Internet Archive for "Giana Sisters C64"
  • Katakis - the 1987 horizontal shooter, widely considered a technical tour de force for C64 audio. Multiple dumps are available through Lemon64 and the C64 Games DB
  • Turrican - the 1990 Gold Medal winner. Original releases and subsequent compilations have been made available through archive channels. The C64 version's SID score benefits significantly from accurate SID chip emulation

SID Configuration

For the most accurate audio reproduction, set VICE's SID emulation to "ReSID" (Settings → Sound Settings → SID Model). Use SID model 8580 for most Hülsbeck titles from 1987 onwards. The filter behaviour differs between 6581 and 8580 chips; Hülsbeck composed primarily on the 8580, which has a cleaner filter resonance characteristic.

Amiga - FS-UAE and WinFellow

The Amiga versions of Turrican II, Apidya, and other Hülsbeck titles are the fullest expressions of his TFMX compositions. Accurate Amiga emulation is required to experience these scores as intended - the Paula chip's four hardware channels and the TFMX software mixer's seven-channel implementation are hardware-specific features that browser-based players cannot fully replicate.

FS-UAE - Cross-Platform

FS-UAE is the recommended emulator for users on macOS and Linux, with Windows support also available. It is based on the UAE (Unix Amiga Emulator) core and provides accurate emulation of the Amiga 500 and 1200 - the platforms for which most Hülsbeck Amiga titles were developed. FS-UAE includes a launcher application that simplifies game library management.

Game files for FS-UAE are stored as ADF (Amiga Disk File) images. TFMX audio data is embedded in the ADF and plays through FS-UAE's Paula emulation. The emulator's audio settings should be set to 44.1 kHz for accurate timing.

WinFellow - Windows

WinFellow is a Windows-specific Amiga emulator that has historically offered particularly accurate audio emulation of the Paula chip. It is a good alternative for Windows users who find FS-UAE's configuration more complex than desired. WinFellow's strength is simplicity: it loads ADF files with minimal setup and plays TFMX audio accurately.

Recommended Amiga Titles

  • Turrican II: The Final Fight - the definitive Hülsbeck Amiga score. Seven-channel TFMX at its peak. Approximately 40 minutes of music across six environments
  • Apidya - the experimental 1992 Kaiko title. Field recording textures and modal harmonies not found in any other Amiga game score
  • Turrican - the original 1990 score, simpler than Turrican II but demonstrating TFMX's core capabilities clearly

ADF files for the above titles are available through the Internet Archive's software archive and the English Amiga Board's download section, subject to applicable regional laws. The Amiga copyright situation is complex; legitimate ADF sources include titles released under the Amiga Forever licence by Cloanto.

Turrican Flashback - Official (2021)

Turrican Flashback, published by ININ Games in 2021, is the definitive official compilation of the Turrican series. Released for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC, it collects all five original Turrican games in enhanced versions with modern display options, rewind functionality, and save states.

What's Included

  • Turrican (C64 / Amiga original)
  • Turrican II: The Final Fight (Amiga version)
  • Super Turrican (SNES)
  • Mega Turrican (Mega Drive / Genesis)
  • Super Turrican 2 (SNES)

Each game is presented in its best original version with the original audio intact. Turrican II's TFMX score plays from the Amiga original. The compilation includes a digital art book and production materials.

Where to Buy

Turrican Flashback is available through major platform storefronts (PlayStation Store, Nintendo eShop, Steam) and through the ININ Games direct store at store.inin.games. Physical editions are available for PS4 and Nintendo Switch through ININ Games and specialist retro game retailers.

This is the most straightforward legal route to experiencing the Turrican games and their Hülsbeck scores on modern hardware, and purchasing supports the ongoing work of bringing classic game music to new audiences.

Modern Releases

PC Steam

Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams

2012 - Black Forest Games

A spiritual successor to The Great Giana Sisters, Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams features a new score by Hülsbeck that weaves through the game's twin-world mechanic. The game is currently active on Steam and represents the most direct continuation of the original 1987 game's spirit - right down to the title character design.

The Steam version includes the original soundtrack composed by Hülsbeck, plus a "Groovy" music mode featuring remixes by the demoscene artist Machinae Supremacy. The base game and its expansion Rise of the Owlverlord are both available.

Search Steam for "Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams"

PC Steam itch.io

X-Out: Resurfaced

2025 - Rainbow Arts (remaster)

X-Out: Resurfaced is a 2025 remaster of the 1990 Rainbow Arts underwater shooter, featuring Hülsbeck's new arrangements of his original compositions alongside the remastered gameplay. The update brings the game to contemporary platforms while preserving the aesthetic of the original.

The remaster is notable as a direct collaboration between Hülsbeck and the original rights holders, ensuring the new arrangements carry his authorial intent. It is available on Steam and itch.io - two of the most artist-friendly digital distribution platforms, making it a good choice for fans who want to support Hülsbeck directly.

Available on Steam and itch.io - search for "X-Out Resurfaced"

PC Steam

Tiny Thor

2023 - Fabian Rastorfer / Megame

Tiny Thor is a 2023 indie platformer developed by Fabian Rastorfer with an original score by Chris Hülsbeck. The game draws heavily on the visual and mechanical language of 16-bit SNES platformers - a deliberate aesthetic choice that invited Hülsbeck's involvement as a composer whose work defined that era of game audio.

The score is one of Hülsbeck's most substantial recent original compositions, demonstrating his continued command of melodic platformer music more than three decades after The Great Giana Sisters. For fans of the classic Rainbow Arts output, Tiny Thor is the closest available approximation of that era's sound in a modern game context.

Search Steam for "Tiny Thor"