Turrican
1989 · Platform / Shooter · Commodore 64 / Amiga
Overview
Turrican is a 1990 run and gun video game developed by Factor 5 and published by Rainbow Arts. Designed by Manfred Trenz, it was released for the Commodore 64, and was ported to other systems later. In addition to concept design and character creation, Trenz programmed Turrican on the Commodore 64.
Deep Dive
Turrican is a 1990 run and gun video game developed by Factor 5 and published by Rainbow Arts. Designed by Manfred Trenz, it was released for the Commodore 64, and was ported to other systems later. In addition to concept design and character creation, Trenz programmed Turrican on the Commodore 64. A sequel, 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.