Mega Turrican can be viewed as Turrican 3. This is mainly because it was marketed as such on the Commodore Amiga. On that platform this game was called Turrican 3: Payment Day. Originally planned for release in 1993, Factor 5 would have to wait almost a year for launch. Data East picked up worldwide distribution rights and worked with Sony for the European Sega Mega Drive release. Rainbow Arts and Renegade handled the Commodore Amiga version in European countries. Interesting that we almost did not see the console release of Mega Turrican.

Mega Turrican is not Contra

Contra is a run and gun game. Mega Turrican is a run and gun game. Yet, they are different styles of run and gun games. Contra is straight action and blasting through each level. This game rewards exploration a bit and offers it in the first place. This is also the first time a grappling hook has been offered in the series. Contra does not do that.

Both franchises offer multiple weapons to players. Mega Turrican is a little sparser here. You can pick up one of three upgradeable shots. A spread gun type, a laser, and a ground shot (like that one weapon in R-Type). You can also use “wheel-mode” – think of the morph ball in Metroid.

Graphically impressive

One thing many people talk about is graphics with Sega Genesis games. Particularly titles like Castlevania Bloodlines (buy it), Gunstar Heroes (buy it), and Contra Hard Corps (buy it). Everyone marvels at the sprite usage and number of enemies on screen, etc.

Mega Turrican is right up there with those titles as far as that stuff goes. There is always something going on in the backgrounds here. Pulsating alien looking landscapes, industrial settings with steam and more. Factor 5 put a lot into the details in this one.

This was also a console exclusive as it did not appear on the Super Nintendo or TurboGrafx-16. Just wanted to throw that out there for anyone collecting Genesis exclusives. Just be prepared, other collectors already know about Mega Turrican.

Carl Williams

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