Turrican II MS-DOS to Amiga AGA: The Ultimate Way to Play the Classic Action Shooter

In 1995, Sun Project delivered an enhanced port of Turrican II to MS-DOS, redefining the experience of Rainbow Arts and Factor 5’s acclaimed action shooter for PC gamers.

This release, boasting increased color depth, improved environmental details, and a fresh character sprite, quickly gained acclaim as one of the definitive ways to enjoy the iconic game.

Fast-forward to the present, and the global retro gaming community is abuzz with news of an ambitious initiative to bring this MS-DOS version to Amiga AGA hardware—a project that could set a new standard for experiencing Turrican II. The effort, spearheaded by developer Alastair Murray (known online as SonicSloth) and highlighted by IndieRetroNews, culminated in a full Amiga AGA conversion that leverages the visual benefits of the platform’s advanced 24-bit/256 color modes.

Originally conceived as a learning project in assembly language, much of the new version was ultimately written in C, reflecting the technical expertise brought to bear by Murray and his team. Key features of the Amiga AGA version include smooth 50Hz and 60Hz action, support for 2-button joysticks and Amiga CD32 joypads, and robust user-definable controls.

Players are also given the option to switch out the MS-DOS character sprite for the classic Amiga look, making it the most customizable and authentic version to date.

Additional enhancements such as a built-in trainer mode, the ability to look down before making jumps (reducing blind leaps of faith), restored parallax scrolling, and a range of hidden features add depth and replay value for dedicated fans. The unofficial conversion is available free to download via Alastair Murray’s itch.io page.

To enjoy the new Amiga AGA version of Turrican II, players will need original AGA Amiga hardware (A1200, A4000, or CD32), 2MB Fast RAM for the floppy edition, or 8MB for the recommended WHDLoad release.

Alternatively, the game supports emulators and devices like the A500 Mini.

In testing across various machines, most reported issues have surfaced from software emulation inconsistencies; Murray advises users to update their emulator firmware or software to ensure optimal compatibility. With this new Amiga AGA version, the storied legacy of Turrican II continues to evolve, inviting both nostalgic players and new audiences to experience one of the most revered titles in retro gaming history—in perhaps its most visually impressive and feature-rich form yet.

Xbox Series X|S Amiga MS-DOS Turrican DOS Turrican II Amiga AGA Rainbow Arts Factor 5 Sun Project SonicSloth Alastair Murray IndieRetroNews itch.io A1200 A4000 CD32 A500 Mini WHDLoad