Factor 5 studio founder Julian Eggebrecht has been musing over the future of the Turrican series and thinks that a Mario Maker-style approach might be the way forward for new 2D entries in the franchise.
Turrican began life on personal computers before moving over to consoles like the SNES and Mega Drive, and after years of the rights being in limbo, we're finally getting a collection of Turrican titles in the form of Turrican Flashback, which launches on Switch soon.
Speaking to Eurogamer, Eggebrecht ponders where the series could go next in the realm of 2D:
Realistically, the one thing which we'd love to do is a 2D Turrican, if this is really successful - a modern 2D version of Turrican. I don't think I would want to go back into 3D as that's quite frankly not something which really excites me anymore.
But a really nicely done 2D one, which would include the ability for people to do their own levels, similar to Mario Maker. I think the typical pitfall that you have, you have a different memory as the original makeup as the fans who experienced it, and they might want, especially with the Turrican games, it's tricky, right? The first two Amiga Turricans, the original ones, feel vastly different than, say, Super Turrican 2, which was clearly an homage to the Japanese design style.
How do you cater to that? That's always the problem. So I'd love to do something where everybody on the team does our version of what we want do with it - and in all likelihood it will probably feel like one of the old games - but then we also put in all of the tools for the fans. That would really excite me - and then I play a level that I've never seen, or somebody does a weird tweak or a mod which just basically does something completely new with the whole thing - that just blows my mind.
Of course, a 3D Turrican is also a possibility - and Eggebrecht reveals that it very nearly happened on the GameCube. A Space World demo was shown alongside what would eventually become Star Wars Rogue Sqaudron II: Rogue Leader, which he talks about a little:
It was a spiritual successor to Turrican called Tornado, which was basically attempting the whole Turrican-style free roaming levels in 3D. We got to the prototype stage, but then at the end of the day Nintendo basically said, we don't think with your team size you can handle that - we were pitching that as a first party game. And they said, we really, really need Rogue Leader for launch - the only game that they knew at the time which would potentially make it for launch was Luigi's Mansion. So we said let's put Tornado on ice, and it never really came back off it. That demo is unfortunately, as far as I know, completely lost, because that would have only worked on a prototype GameCube and certainly early prototypes of Flipper and Dolphin.
Where would you like to see the Turrican series go next? Would you like to see an all-new 2D entry, or do you think it's time for it to move into 3D, despite Eggebrecht's reservations? Let us know with a comment below.
[source eurogamer.net]
Comments 21
that would be pretty cool.
I am probably the only weirdo who has been excited for Turrican Flashback more than anything else the past couple months...more Turrican is always good and I have been playing GunlordX to keep myself ready for Friday.
If they make new Turrican games, PLEASE. Give me. I love this series and think it's criminally underrated.
I had never even heard of this franchise until last year. Definitely looking forward to discovering it.
So lazy. Instead of designing a game, we’re just going to sell you our tools instead.
I never liked their games anyway. Fully 3D space game with a forced horizon your ship is always leveled too. No thanks. I guess the bump mapping is cool? 🤷♂️
Never played Turrican.
I have a vivid memory of playing Turican 2 on someone's Amiga when I was about 7, and it blowing my tiny mind.
Where is Turrican Flashback ? Does anyone know?
I am completely unfamiliar with the Turrican series, but the video just sold me. More of this would certainly be welcome.
Also, I would love to play the Rogue Squadron games on the Switch.
@Gerald I just found it on Amazon.
More Turrican is always good regardless of it being in 2D or 3D!
@Gerald It's coming out on the 29th. But base.com broke the street date, and I already have a copy! ;P
@Gerald Plus, it came out on the PlayStation store over a week ago. No idea when the eShop download will appear.
That would be awesome! I need to get Turrican Flashback for sure.
Got my copy from base. It's great. The flashback collection is a little bare bones in turns of extras. A few screen sizes and options, save states and rewind feature. But it's the games it does well. The best 4. Turrican 1 and Turrican 2 from the Amiga, then Super Turrican from the Snes and Mega Turrican from the Megadrive. Emulation looks good after a few hours of play. I am having so much fun rediscovering all the secrets from my childhood. Turrican 2 remains my favourite game ever. I just wish it had the c64 versions as well. But even the limited collectors additions do not have those.
Got my copy s few days ago, been playing Amiga Turrican 2. Great game and the title screen soundtrack is still one of the best pieces of music ever in a game:)
@Severian Hey, buddy, you're not alone!
Thanks for the responses @Septiclemon @Gamer_Griff @Slowdive
Have been looking forward to this (loved Turrican 2 on the Amiga). Have gone all digital this gen. so waiting for the eShop release
They should release their Rogue Squadron Trilogy on Switch. Now with the Lucasfilm Games publisher recently opened, that can happen.
Second that, Rogue Squadron Trilogy!!!
6 years ago, IGN interviewed Julian Eggebrecht
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TZn__es1FA
Its trailer was made too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-X8C_8nJQ4
It was ready to run on Wii then. Imagine if this was HD, tightened up and online...
PLEASE MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!!
I will take things "I did not know I wanted" for two hundred, Alex.
@The-Nate Yes!!! Awesome!!!
@Gerald Hey there, if you want the download version of it, I just saw it on the eShop. Go and download some Amiga excellence! heh!
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