A superb Factor 5 action-platformer, heir to Turrican. Gorgeous, demanding, packed with varied levels, one of the console's best action-platformers.
Your verdict
Category
Action1 player7+
Description
Bren McGuire battles the Enemy's armies in this Factor 5 and Data East run-and-gun for Mega Drive. Published by Data East, released in the United States in 1994. Run-and-gun with Bren McGuire using varied weapons, spectacular bosses and memorable music in this iconic Turrican series entry.
Mega Turrican review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
The armoured hero moves through highly detailed industrial and organic environments, where the glowing grapple he casts draws a clean arc across the screen. The scenery layers metal structures, pulsing flesh and stormy skies, with bosses made of several sections that can be attacked separately.
The soundtrack works the chip with uncommon density, stacking bass, arpeggios and pads to approach the texture of a complete electronic piece. The themes are long, structured in distinct sections, and some passages drop the rhythm to make room for almost atmospheric textures.
The NTSC edition of Mega Turrican is the American version of the Factor 5 game, distributed by Data East in a modest print run on Genesis. Its collector value comes from the cult status of Factor 5 among Turrican fans and from the fact that the US cartridge remains one of the hardest Factor 5 releases to track down complete in box.
Is Mega Turrican still worth playing in 2026?
An action platformer by Factor 5, Mega Turrican offers an ambitious run and gun with a varied weapon system and a grappling hook enabling spectacular aerial movements. The marked sci-fi art direction, the soundtrack by Chris Hülsbeck turned mythical and the technical fluidity make this title an absolute reference of European run and gun. For anyone fond of Turrican games or seeking an excellent atypical run and gun on Mega Drive, an absolutely essential recommendation today still without any hesitation on the Sega machine truly indeed here.
