The German studio Factor 5 spent the 1990s building a reputation for extracting more from console hardware than it was supposed to give. Super Turrican 2, released in 1995, is a late Super Nintendo game and in many respects a demonstration of what the machine could do at the end of its life.

The Turrican series combines run-and-gun shooting with platforming across large, branching levels that can be traversed in more than one way. Your character carries multiple weapon types, can transform into a rolling ball, and above all wields a beam that can be held and swept in a full circle - the mechanic players remember most clearly, because nothing else at the time did anything similar. The stages are big and layered; progress is not simply left to right but a matter of exploration.

Factor 5 was equally known for its audio work. Their SNES output stands among the best music the console produced, and that is part of why the name is still spoken of with respect decades later.

Arriving in 1995 meant the game reached shops when market attention had already moved to new consoles and 3D graphics. Titles released at the end of a generation usually combine the finest craftsmanship with the smallest audience, and this is a textbook case.

It plays well today because it rests on solid controls and legible design. It is demanding but fair - almost every death can be explained. Anyone who enjoys action platformers built around firepower and exploration should know it.