Turrican
1989 · Platform / Shooter · Commodore 64 / Amiga
Overview
Manfred Trenz's run-and-gun for the Commodore 64, a technical showpiece of huge, explorable levels and heavy firepower that became one of Europe's best-loved home computer series.
Deep Dive
Turrican was designed by Manfred Trenz, developed by Factor 5 and published by Rainbow Arts. Trenz created the concept and characters and programmed the Commodore 64 version himself; it was released in 1990 and converted to other systems afterwards. The game combined run-and-gun shooting with large, open levels to explore, giving the player a powerful arm cannon, a rotating lightning beam and the ability to roll into an indestructible wheel. Its scale and speed on the C64 made it a showcase for the machine. Turrican II: The Final Fight followed in 1991 for the Commodore 64 and other platforms.
Developer Story
Turrican was designed by Manfred Trenz at Rainbow Arts in 1989 for the Commodore 64 and Amiga. The game combined the exploration of Metroid with the action of Contra, creating a huge, non-linear world of explosive platforming. Chris Hülsbeck's soundtrack — particularly for the Amiga version — is considered one of the finest in European gaming. Factor 5 ported the game and went on to develop the sequel.
Did You Know?
- Turrican's world was enormous by 1989 standards — multiple large areas with hidden rooms and items rewarded thorough exploration.
- Chris Hülsbeck's Amiga soundtrack used the platform's four-channel audio to create music that rivalled professional compositions.
- The wheel transformation (rolling into a ball) and the line laser were direct Metroid references — Trenz cited it as a primary influence.
- Factor 5, who ported and co-developed Turrican sequels, later became known for the Rogue Squadron Star Wars games on GameCube.
Sources & further reading
- Turrican — Wikipedia
