Turrican Flashback

Although this is not the complete Turrican story, there are nevertheless four extremely playable arcade platform shooters in this collection. Turrican is an iconic 90s series that fits the Switch like a glove.

A great collection of legitimate classics that are still fantastic fun to play. If you enjoy run and gun games and have never played the Turrican games this is the best way to experience them today.

Welcome back... to Turrican. This collection is a wonderfully nostalgic flashback trip to a brilliant run-and-gun franchise, that still shows impressively, why it was so special back in the days.

This is a solid compilation of four classic games with minor updates to make them more enjoyable today.

The Turrican games have stood the gameplay test of time as elegantly as any of their contemporaries - the likes of Super Metroid, Gunstar Heroes and Metal Slug. These are uncomplicated, elemental experiences - run, roll, jump, blast lasers at robots until robots explode, repeat (unless the time runs out on a level - there are some sprawling ones!) - but such was their purity at the source that no amount of time passed can significantly dull them. They are tough as nails, mind, very much designed with the arcade mentality of having players blast through their pocket change to make progress (even though Turrican was only ever a home-gaming concern), so consider that before taking the plunge. Or, alternatively, cheat. I'll allow it.

It's a pity that the Turrican Flahsback collection doesn't include any extra at all and Super Turrican 2, arguably one of the better games of the bunch. The price point is also too high, but the games included are great.

Turrican Flashback is still a solid collection. Super Turrican 2 is an odd and stark omission, but it’s nice to have the rest of the series readily available on current platforms, keeping their history and influence alive.

Turrican Flashback is a retro gamer or wannabe retro gamer’s dream. A re-release of classic titles with some ways to even the challenging playing field makes this a go-to title for anyone who’s actually played games on the Commodore 64 or someone who would like to get a taste of some stylish games from the very early ’90s without being bombarded in strange mechanics or dodgy translations.

It's beautiful (if you like colored pixels), it moves well and lets off steam, with a big dose of challenge. Too bad this compilation took the easy way out because with more games and a bonus section, it would have had a lot more going for it. But fans and the curious will appreciate it.

It’s rare to see Amiga games surfacing at all, so it’s a real treat to have two of the very best available on Switch, along with entirely enjoyable Mega Drive and SNES efforts. We know we’ve harped on this, but it really is a baffling shame that Super Turrican 2 was left off the set, given that it’s still a joyous and impressive experience and that its inclusion would have made this compilation basically complete. As it is, though, Turrican Flashback is still a lot of fun with plenty of gameplay to offer, and a nice window into a type of game you rarely see anymore. Except in Gunlord X, we suppose.

If one’s reaction to the mere mention of Turrican is to jump with excitement, then this package is manna from heaven — buy it now, even though it’s a no-frills, incomplete collection. For newcomers who might be craving some retro action, it’s a solid package that will test one’s skills. Maybe nab it on sale, though.

For $29.99, you get a fun collection with Turrican Flashback, but it’s one you may want to wishlist if you’re not an enthusiast. It takes a more straightforward approach when it comes to Nintendo Switch compilations, one that’s hard to overlook. I just wish it felt more complete.

Modern gamers ultimately won’t get much from these games due to the difficulty, and hardcore Turrican fans will be disappointed with what is a solid but notably incomplete collection.

A welcome return for a beloved Amiga classic but while this compilation proves the games still have charm it lacks accessibility and features, especially given the high price.