Turrican

Turrican is a sci-fi action platformer where you control a bio-engineered cyborg warrior on a mission to reclaim the lost colony of Alterra from the three-headed artificial intelligence M.O.R.G.U.L. Journey through vast worlds filled with exploring opportunities and secret rooms. Equip yourself with multiple weapons—standard shots, mines, lasers, and a devastating super weapon—while utilizing a unique transforming ability into a spinning buzz-saw. Battle hostile robotic creatures, uncover hidden power-ups and extra lives, and face massive end-level bosses. Amass valuable faceted gems throughout your adventure as you navigate through this challenging sci-fi experience.

PC Engine

Released in 1991 by Accolade under its Ballistic label and ported by The Code Monkeys, Turrican arrived on the compact HuCard format. The PC Engine version features good graphics with solid visual presentation suited to the handheld experience. Music tracks sound noticeably better than the Genesis version, with one memorable composition per world capturing the game's atmospheric sci-fi setting. However, the HuCard's limited storage forced compromises—an entire world featuring jetpack stages was removed from this port. Despite these limitations, this remains the best handheld Turrican experience when played on a PC Engine GT or TurboExpress portable unit. Challenging timing and demanding controls make it rewarding for dedicated players seeking adventure on NEC's powerful portable system.