Developer: Factor 5 Publisher: Ocean Released: 11/95 Genre: Action
The later years of the 16-bit generation were both amazing and disappointing. There were many brilliant games released, some of which rank among the best games of all time. But at the same time there were so many generic 2d platformers that it was obvious why the move to 3d was necessary. For every Vectorman or Donkey Kong Country 2 you got Izzy’s Quest for the Olympic Rings or Judge Dredd. Mind you we were trading solid but generic 2d goodness for terrible 3d experiments that did not age well but I digress. Of the many brilliant games in that period Super Turrican 2 flew under the radar. This hidden gem boasts some of the highest production values of that generation and has the gameplay to back it up. Super Turrican 2 is one of the best pure action games for the SNES.
In terms of mechanics not a whole lot has changed from the first game. The machine gun upgrades to a wide beam, the laser will slightly bend to track targets, and the flamethrower….sucks. The last weapon is a bouncing shot that will somehow also bounce in the air. Its use is highly situational. Homing missiles were carried over from Mega Turrican but other than that there is not anything new. The Turrican energy wheel returns but now uses a meter. Sadly it is not useful and almost feels like it is there out of obligation. The freeze beam also returns but this time doubles as a grappling hook which sees plenty of use throughout the game.
Those that were upset about Super Turrican’s scaling back of level exploration will be even more disappointed here. Super Turrican 2 trades exploration for all out action in the style of Contra III. I may not have been a fan of the older Turrican titles but the large levels full of secrets is part of what made them unique. The developers have done an extraordinary job with the change in focus though. Super Turrican 2 throws you into one set piece after another, each more fantastical than the last. Some of its best moments are reminiscent of Konami’s title, such as hanging from the bottom of an aircraft while fighting enemies. But even that changes as you descend to the ground and hop from sandworm to sandworm. The game is full of inventive scenarios like this and is better for it.
Super Turrican 2 is longer than its predecessor, fixing that game’s one major flaw. There are five main stages, each split into multiple sections. Honestly this is one of the longer pure action titles of that era and I love it. The game does not simply rely on its length to keep you entertained either. The level variety is high as you also pilot a number of vehicles as well. Some of these like the hover bike, are a bit confusing at first but incredibly fun when you learn the mechanics. There is even a shooting level that pays homage to Axelay with its rolling Mode 7 viewpoint. Unlike most titles that suffer when switching up play styles all are done incredibly well in this case.
To enjoy Super Turrican 2 you will have to dedicate some time. This is a challenging game due to a number of factors. While each weapon can be upgraded none feel as powerful as they should. Either that or the bosses soak up entirely too much damage. Speaking of bosses, the Mode 7 effects may look cool but they are gratuitous and confusing. I am sure many will die repeatedly without even knowing why. Two continues is paltry considering the game’s length and difficulty. I feel even if it were three it would be fair. Not that it is a game breaker as the game is so incredibly fun that I did not mind retracing my steps from the beginning.
Factor 5 built up a reputation for pushing boundaries, going as far back as the Amiga. With that reputation in mind it is no surprise that Super Turrican 2 is one of the best-looking titles on the system. The art direction is fantastic, using the system’s full color palette to paint sweeping vistas. Each set piece is full of detail and special effects, although some of it is gratuitous. The various Mode 7 vehicle segments feature incredibly smooth scaling unlike other titles like Return of the Jedi. The few cutscenes use pre-rendered artwork and feature some slight animation. It’s a bit cheesy now but was very cool in 1995. The soundtrack rises to the same heights and is in Dolby surround sound to boot. I cannot stop praising it, Super Turrican 2 has held up over the last two decades.
In Closing
Super Turrican 2 is the last official title in the series and goes out on a high note. As a pure action title Super Turrican 2 is one of the best of the 16-bit generation. I can understand the disappointment of long time Turrican fans as it loses the series focus. But what it gains more than makes up for it. Amazing titles like this do not come along often, don’t skip this one.
Actually, the axelay stage doesn’t use Mode 7, but simply uses horizontal interrupts to change the vertical scrolling on a per scanline basis and that’s something even the NES can do with a mapper that has a scanline counter.