Home - Turrican | Retro Community

About Turrican

Turrican is one of the most celebrated action game series in European gaming history, originating on the Commodore 64 in 1990. Created by Manfred Trenz, the series introduced players to a power-suit-clad hero navigating enormous non-linear worlds filled with secrets, power-ups, and relentless enemies.

Inseparable from the Turrican experience is the legendary music of Chris Hülsbeck, whose soundtracks - particularly on the Commodore 64 and Amiga - are still considered masterpieces of the chiptune and orchestral game-music genre.

From its humble C64 origins through Amiga ports, SNES adaptations, Mega Drive entries, and finally a modern flashback collection, the Turrican series has endured as a symbol of European game development excellence.

The Games

Turrican

Commodore 64 · 1990

The original Turrican on the Commodore 64 in 1990. Enormous non-linear worlds, a revolutionary power-up wheel, and Chris Hülsbeck's electrifying SID chip soundtrack cemented this as a landmark C64 release.

Highlights

Massive non-linear worlds with hidden areas
Revolutionary power-up wheel mechanic
Chris Hülsbeck's iconic SID chip soundtrack
Multi-directional shoot

PROS

Groundbreaking level design for C64
Exceptional SID soundtrack
Huge replay value

CONS

Steep difficulty curve
Some sprite slowdown

Turrican II: The Final Fight

Commodore 64 · 1991

Turrican II expanded on every aspect of the original with improved graphics, more varied stages, and the legendary "The Wall" level - a vertical shooter homage. Hülsbeck's new SID soundtrack is widely considered his finest.

Highlights

Iconic "The Wall" level - a vertical shooter sequence
Improved sprite work and varied aesthetics
Even more ambitious Hülsbeck SID soundtrack
Longer campaign than its predecessor

PROS

Better visual variety than Turrican I
Hülsbeck's finest C64 composition
More epic adventure

CONS

Maintains high difficulty
Some repetitive enemy placement

Turrican

Amiga · 1990

The Amiga port showcased the platform's power with enhanced colours, smoother scrolling, and Hülsbeck's soundtrack expanded for the superior Amiga audio hardware.

Highlights

Enhanced colour palette and parallax scrolling
Full Amiga audio for richer Hülsbeck soundtrack
All original levels faithfully reproduced
Demonstrated Amiga power

PROS

Visually superior to C64 version
More immersive audio
Faithful to the original

CONS

Some felt it was conservative
Controller support varied

Turrican II: The Final Fight

Amiga · 1991

Widely regarded as one of the finest games ever released on the Amiga. The combination of superior graphics and Hülsbeck's now-legendary orchestral soundtrack created an experience that felt cinematic.

Highlights

Widely cited as one of the greatest Amiga games
Hülsbeck's orchestral title theme - a defining moment
Stunning sprite work and fluid scrolling
The Wall sequence is spectacular on Amiga

PROS

The definitive version of Turrican II
Hülsbeck's soundtrack is a genuine artistic achievement
Perfectly balanced challenge

CONS

Some stages require specific strategies
Original disks are expensive today

Super Turrican

SNES · 1993

Developed by Factor 5, Super Turrican brought the series to the SNES with a console-focused redesign. The standout new addition was the freeze ray weapon, adding tactical depth to the familiar run-and-gun action.

Highlights

Introduced the iconic freeze ray weapon
Factor 5's expert use of SNES Mode 7
Hülsbeck soundtrack adapted for SNES
New level designs exclusive to SNES

PROS

Excellent console adaptation
The freeze ray adds fresh variety
Technically impressive SNES presentation

CONS

More linear than C64/Amiga originals
Slightly shorter campaign
Some Amiga features absent

Mega Turrican

Mega Drive / Genesis · 1994

Released as Turrican 3 in Europe, Mega Turrican introduced a grappling hook for swinging across chasms. The Mega Drive hardware delivered vibrant visuals and a powerful Hülsbeck FM soundtrack.

Highlights

Grappling hook mechanic adds movement dimension
Vibrant Mega Drive visuals
Hülsbeck's Yamaha FM soundtrack
Multiple weapon types including wheel

PROS

Grappling hook is a genuinely creative addition
Excellent level design
One of the strongest Mega Drive action games

CONS

Slightly easier than C64/Amiga games
European Turrican 3 branding caused confusion

Turrican 3: Payment Day

Amiga / C64 · 1993

Turrican 3: Payment Day took the series in a darker direction with a more narrative-driven setup. New weapons, tighter level design, and continued Hülsbeck soundtrack tradition on both Amiga and C64.

Highlights

Darker cinematic narrative tone
New weapon types and refined combat
Released on both Amiga and C64
Continues Hülsbeck soundtrack tradition

PROS

Interesting darker narrative direction
Tight level design
Faithful to series core gameplay

CONS

Shorter campaign than Turrican II
Less musically inspired than Turrican II

Super Turrican 2 SNES · 1995

Super Turrican 2

SNES · 1995

Factor 5's most polished and cinematic Turrican effort. A more linear structure supported a stronger narrative with spectacularly large boss battles. Hülsbeck's SNES compositions were among the finest on the platform.

Highlights

Most polished SNES Turrican entry
Spectacular cinematic boss encounters
New weapon arsenal
Hülsbeck's finest SNES soundtrack

PROS

Stunning presentation
Epic boss fights
Excellent sound design

CONS

Very linear - less exploration
Shorter playtime than Turrican II
Physical copies are very expensive

Rendering Ranger: R2 SNES · 1995

Rendering Ranger: R2

SNES · 1995

A spiritual successor designed by Manfred Trenz exclusively for Japan. Blending run-and-gun with top-down shooter stages, it showcased extraordinary SNES technical effects. Its rarity made it a holy grail for collectors.

Highlights

Designed by Manfred Trenz - unmistakable Turrican DNA
Unique hybrid run-and-gun / top-down shooter
Extraordinary SNES effects: scaling, rotation, transparencies
Japan-only release - extreme rarity

PROS

Technically one of the most impressive SNES titles
Distinctive hybrid gameplay
Strong Turrican feel

CONS

Extreme rarity of original cartridges
Top-down sections vary in quality
Minimal narrative context

Turrican Flashback

PS4 / Nintendo Switch / PS5 · 2021

Published by ININ Games, Turrican Flashback brings four classic Turrican titles to modern consoles with save states, scanline filters, and display options - making these seminal games accessible to a new generation.

Highlights

Four classic titles: Turrican, Turrican II, Super Turrican, Mega Turrican
Save states and rewind functionality
Authentic scanline and CRT filter options
Official release on PS4, Switch, PS5

PROS

Official way to play four classics on modern hardware
Quality-of-life features help newcomers
Celebrates and preserves the series' legacy

CONS

Missing Turrican 3 and SNES entries
Emulation is functional but basic
Physical copies sold out quickly

Turrican - C64 In Action

A selection of screenshots from Turrican on the Commodore 64, showing the variety of levels and encounters that made it legendary.

Turrican C64 - title screen — Title screen - the opening splash that greeted players in 1990.

Turrican C64 - World 1 Level 1 gameplay — World 1-1 - the vast open landscape that defined Turrican's non-linear design.

Turrican C64 - three-headed boss encounter — A fearsome multi-headed boss - the climactic encounters that pushed the C64 to its limits.

Turrican C64 - tunnel boss battle — Tunnel boss - tight corridors and relentless enemy fire.

Turrican C64 - technology level environment — Technology level - industrial environments varied the game's visual palette.

→ View all screenshots in the Gallery

Game Comparison

Title	Platform	Year	Developer
Turrican	Commodore 64	1990	Manfred Trenz / Rainbow Arts
Turrican II: The Final Fight	Commodore 64	1991	Manfred Trenz / Rainbow Arts
Turrican	Amiga	1990	Manfred Trenz / Rainbow Arts
Turrican II: The Final Fight	Amiga	1991	Manfred Trenz / Rainbow Arts
Super Turrican	SNES	1993	Factor 5
Turrican 3: Payment Day	Amiga / C64	1993	Rainbow Arts
Mega Turrican	Mega Drive / Genesis	1994	Factor 5
Super Turrican 2	SNES	1995	Factor 5
Rendering Ranger: R2	SNES	1995	Factor 5
Turrican Flashback	PS4 / Switch / PS5	2021	ININ Games