Turrican Anthology 1 & 2 Review

Game: Turrican Anthology 1 & 2
Genre: Action, Adventure
System: Nintendo Switch (also on PS4)
Developer|Publisher: Factor 5, Ratalaika | ININ Games
Age Rating: EU 7+ | US E 10+
Price: US $34.99 | UK £29.99 | EU € 34,99 (Each)
Release Date: July 29th, 2022

Review code provided with many thanks to Pr Hound.

Retro Memories

Turrican is an awesome series of side-scrolling shooters which was quite the hit on the Amiga, Super Nintendo and Mega Drive (Genesis). My first foray into this series was picking up a used copy of the first game for the Mega Drive at a market stall one Summer holiday with my Grandfather. It came in a cardboard box, which was unusual for Mega Drive games in the UK and had no manual. I was drawn to it for the rather appealing artwork of a cybernetic chap looking like he meant business. The game was crazy hard, but I loved the gameplay and exploration.

Anthology of Games

I would never get a chance to enjoy other entries in the series particularly Mega Turrican which was also released on the Mega Drive. Copies of this game go for ludicrous amounts online and pretty much sums up the reason I don’t really collect retro games these days, but that’s a story for another article. Recently Turrican had a modern console resurgence with Turrican Flashback and the Turrican Anthology 1 & 2.

The Anthology games were originally physical only but thanks to the gaming gods they have seen a digital release. The Anthology games make up the definitive Turrican experience on modern consoles and are well worth purchasing provided you’re ok with a very high price of entry. I decided to review these games together but keep in mind they are sold in two parts.

The very basic plot is that you’re the man in a cyber suit called Turrican on a mission to explore the levels and take down all the mechanical terrors. There is significantly more depth to the plot which can be viewed in the games’ digital manuals. In-game it just presents as shoot all the baddies and win the day, the good old retro way. You jump into the action instantly without having to waste time with overly long cutscenes. 

Games in the Collection

Anthology 1 consists of Turrican 1 & 2 for the Amiga. Probably my two favourite games in the collection. The levels are massive, requiring a lot of exploration with a large variety in design. Enemies and boss fights come in all sorts of mechanical shapes and sizes. The experience is tough as nails and very unforgiving. Health drains with any touch to a hazard rather than taking a hit. It’s not beginner friendly but it sure plays well. You have a fine arsenal of weapons to take them down.

Weapon power-ups are generously scattered across levels, often found in secret boxes such as a spreader gun or laser weapon. You have a morph ball-like ability, which looks a lot like a buzz saw, which can damage enemies and also lay bombs. And you have a satisfying laser beam weapon which can deal some concentrated damage but you do have to stand still to use it. Various special weapons can be fired off but are in limited supply. This is the general formula for all the games in the collection with some changes.

The other notable game is Super Turrican for the Super Nintendo. A more linear experience but still maintains the fast and frantic action the series is known for.  Additionally, you get the directors cut for Super Turrican which adds some cut content to the original game. Lastly a Score Attack version of Mega Turrican for the Mega Drive which is a level to rack up a high score and seems kinda an odd fit for the collection but why not I guess.

Solid List of Games across the Collection

Anthology 2 contains Turrican 3 for the Amiga. Mega Turrican for the Mega Drive and Super Turrican 2 for the Super Nintendo. The extras here are Mega Turrican directors cut and the score attack version of Super Turrican. This collection is probably weaker than the first since Turrican 3 and Mega Turrican is basically the same game. However, some would say Mega Turrican is the best in the series.

The levels are more simple than the first two games but the gameplay is much more action focused with some incredibly huge boss fights. This title is much easier to get into than any other in the collection for newbies. The laser gun is also replaced with a grappling hook which is kinda neat but can be a bit awkward at times. Super Turrican 2 is more of an odd one out. Another linear game ditching the level exploration and serving as just a straightforward run to the right shooting everything in your path. Still a welcome addition though.

It’s a solid list of games across the collection. My only niggle here is it doesn’t feature other console versions of the games. I played the first Turrican on Mega Drive and later the Game Boy, of all systems, but these versions are absent which feels like a missed opportunity. 

The Bells and Whistles

The games are solid and play brilliantly. The emulation feels spot on with no notable issues. You have the usual retro enhancements on this collection such as various graphical filters, save states and a rewind feature or as I like to call it the oopsie daisy corrector. Controls can be customized and mapped to your liking. I particularly loved that your laser or grappling hook is now mapped to the right analogue stick, which is much more convenient than the original control scheme for the game. But if you want to stick to the raw Turrican experience you still can.

A Map Feature Included

A notable enhancement on this collection is a map feature, which allows you to view the level map of the game, which is particularly helpful when trying to navigate the large open maps in the first two games. You can also listen to the game’s various soundtracks in jukebox mode and even view the game’s original paper manuals, enabling me to finally see the instructions from the first game which I missed out on.

Cheats can also be unlocked when finishing each game. But it seems a bit odd not to just have these available from the get-go. You have to earn your right to cheat or just use a code I guess. The only thing that’s missing is some form of documentary, making of feature, detailing how these games were produced. But as far as bells and whistles go these collections are the definitive ways to enjoy the Turrican titles today. 

Cost of Entry

The biggest barrier to entry for the collection is the cost. It’s pretty steep for a retro collection. It’s also very hard to imagine anyone purchasing only one part of this collection, as each collection has been deviously arranged to entice you to grab both. I guess both games together still come in cheaper than obtaining one of these games physically on its native system. Still, it’s a lot more than other retro collections on the eShop.

If you are looking for a cheaper alternative Turrican Flashback is still available which includes the best four games in the series at a much more affordable price point. However, it does lack some of the fancy extras in this collection like the new map system and refined control scheme. 

Conclusion – The Best Turrican Experience on Switch 

Turrican Anthology 1 & 2 is the best way to enjoy the Turrican games on Nintendo Switch provided you don’t mind the steep price tag. I guess you could always ask a loved one to buy it for you for your next birthday or Christmas. But if you do take the plunge you’ll be treated to solid emulation and controls which have been brilliantly adapted to the Nintendo Switch. Some Turrican games are still sadly absent but as it stands this is retro gaming at its finest whether you are a Turrican veteran or discovering it for the very first time. 

Final Verdict: I Like It a Lot