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I've never really liked tortoises - they're enough to put you off your meat pie - but Turbo is different. He's no slowcoach - well, not since he decided to hibernate in Doctor Mulliner's 'Matter Doesn't Matter' chamber and got zapped by a massive bolt of lightning. That sure put the wind up him, and now the cute little fella can run along at speed, leap high into the air and use weapons. He even wears a bandanna, but he's no pizza fan.

He'd much rather chew on the baddies in six levels. Why? Well, after inadvertently ruining the Doe's experiment, he thinks he ought to help out by recovering six objects vital for the Mad Professor's cybernetic prototype. Trouble is, each item is located in a different time zone, including Prehistoric, Ice Age and Ancient Egyptian.

Turbo zooms along the horizontally scrolling levels, picking up fruit, energy and weapons. There are loads of platforms (including the moving variety) to jump on, but watch out for the crumbling ones. Baddies take away one of Turbo's 'hits' on contact - those continue-plays really come in useful, and avoid much multi-load frustration (although it's very quick anyway).

If Turbo's unarmed he can still kill nasties by jumping on their heads, crouching to hit them with his hard shell. Some take more than one hit to kill - the big end-of-level baddies are well 'ard and very difficult to hit on the head without getting hurt.

Each level contains loads of surprises like invisible platforms and even secret entrances to bonus, fruit-collecting levels. There's even some Chuck Rock-style rock chucking required to cross stretches of water - instead of sinking, they float backwards and forwards.

Otherwise, there's not the depth and variety of gameplay of Chuck Rock, but it's still a stonker of a platform game. There's new things to do and see on every level, all efficiently animated with some attractive scenery. Packed with action, Turbo's certainly not at all lethargic, and you won't want to put it back in its box till you've completed it. Well worth shelling out for.

Presentation 90%
Quick multi-load, plus useful continue plays.

Graphics 80%
Each time zone has a distinctive look.

Sound 74%
Okay in-game effects and a good title tune.

Hookability 83%
This platform action is instantly playable.

Lastability 81%
It's six levels of sheer fun and frolics all the way!

Overall 81%