I am a huge fan of the amazing Factor 5 game Turrican II: The Final Fight released in 1991. Even though it's been 33 years since it was released, I still regularly find my inner joystick waggler hankering after this stone cold classic, or at the very least craving a wee read around the subject matter, perhaps open up the Wikipedia page or find a YouTube analysis of the game.
Why is Turrican II: The Final Fight so good?
As well as an unwavering sense of nostalgia that keeps me returning to this game, there's also a hypnotic je ne sais quoi about Turrican II: The Final Fight that keeps it fresh no matter how many times I revisit this work of art. Maybe it's that I was an impressionable young whippersnapper in the year 1992 when I first discovered Turrican II: The Final Fight, or the fact that Factor 5 were absolutely at the top of their game when they released said game. It's hard to pinpoint something so transcendental. Once you love a piece of art you become faithful to it's ethos.
Turrican II: The Final Fight is a game that is still relevant
One thing's for sure though, Turrican II: The Final Fight has stood the test of time and then some. It remains as powerful and relevant today as it did in 1991. And why wouldn't it? With incredible and memorable soundtrack by Chris Huelsbeck like that, it's no wonder people return to this game again and again. I can't imagine life without it John.
Factor 5 knocked it out the park
But it's not just the incredible and memorable soundtrack by Chris Huelsbeck that make this game great. It's the overall package. The challenging and satisfying gameplay is a tour de force. The impressive and colourful graphics is integral, as is the variety of weapons and power-ups. And who can forget unforgettable boss battles. When Factor 5 created this timeless classic, never mind the ball park, they knocked this one out of the solar system. This bad boy is in danger of bothering Voyager.
Has Turrican II: The Final Fight stood the test of time?
Of course, there are other games out there to be argued for. Harder, better, faster, stronger. Some might argue that Populous is better than Turrican II: The Final Fight, or that Bullfrog Productions is better than Factor 5. They may well have a point. But for me, Turrican II: The Final Fight will always hold a special place in my heart. And 33 years tickling the meridian response does not lie.
Turrican II: The Final Fight in conclusion
To sum up, Turrican II: The Final Fight is a wonderful thing, a game of unrivalled quality. It's a game that has etched itself into the psyche, distributing untold tingles up the spine, hogging synapses and monopolising neurons that could otherwise be put to use appreciating more important, or perhaps more useful information. But no matter what life throws at me, I know I can always rely on Turrican II: The Final Fight to deliver the goods.