#48: Turrican II: The Final Fight (Rainbow Arts, Amiga, 1991) 

For the most part, it takes what works about the original Turrican, and does it again, only bigger. The focus on exploration is expanded even further, with even more hidden paths and more ability (and occasionally even necessity) to backtrack. The available weapon power-ups are more varied and just generally cooler, with a digitized voice announcing each as they are collected. “LA-SER!” “BOUNCE!” The musical compositions of Chris Huelsbeck are even more of a triumph. And yet, for all the ways in which this sequel improves upon what came before, it comes at the expense of the pervading atmosphere of desolation that characterised the original Turrican and made it stand apart from the slew of run-and-gun platformers available at the time. There’s nothing here like the moment in the first game where the sky darkens as you descend into its pits of despair.