Captain Ishtar VS. The Federation’s Most Wanted (2024, Alf Yngve)

Captain Ishtar VS. The Federation’s Most Wanted, designed by Alf Yngve, is an ambitious modern-day C64 title published by Psytronik Software in 2024. Let’s take a closer look at what this space epic has in store for us!

CAPTAIN ISHTAR VS. THE FEDERATION’S MOST WANTED is a five-part  enhanced SEUCK release for the Commodore 64.

Story and concept

Captain Ishtar VS. The Federation’s Most Wanted is set in a distant future where the Federation of Planets relies on brave space pilots to keep order in the galaxy. The game’s protagonist, Captain Ishtar, is a fearless star marshal from the planet Mars, tasked with hunting down the galaxy’s most dangerous criminals. He faces three main adversaries in the course of the mission:

• Zartharn: A terrorist with an army of robots attacking the city-planet Magnar.

• Cozzi Clone Gang: A gang of clones who are plundering the mining planet Fromachis-3.

• Nemor: A mysterious shapeshifting impostor hiding on the trading planet Basarre.
  

The story is framed by animated intros and endings, which, while graphically simple, set the mood nicely and add a kind of B-movie sci-fi charm. The narrative is not overly complicated, but given the limitations of the Commodore 64, it gives the player sufficient motivation to embark on the adventure.

Gameplay

What makes Captain Ishtar VS. The Federation’s Most Wanted so special is that it’s divided into five separate sections, each offering a different style of gameplay. This variety is a credit to the talents of Alf Yngve, who used a tool called SEUCK (Shoot ‘Em Up Construction Kit) to create the game and then greatly expanded its capabilities.

• Part 1 – Space Rails Shooter: A first-person shooter stage where Captain Ishtar’s spaceship engages the enemy fleet. Fast-paced, reflex-testing combat is the focus here.
• Part Two – Run ‘n’ gun: As you reach the planet’s surface, side-scrolling action begins.
• Part 3 – More Challenges.
  

The gameplay cleverly combines arcade-style action and strategic elements. Enemies come in waves, and the maps are varied enough to avoid becoming monotonous. The SEUCK-based engine does have its limitations – in the form of minor slowdowns, for example – but this doesn’t detract significantly from the experience.

Graphics and sound

For a Commodore 64, the visual world of Captain Ishtar is impressive. The isometric view of the astronaut sections and the colourful sprites in the run ‘n’ gun sections look outstanding. The backgrounds are rich in detail and the movement of the characters – especially Ishtar’s jetpack jumps – is smooth and enjoyable. And the animated transitions are an added bonus to the production.
On the soundtrack front, Richard Bayliss’s score is a standout. Making the most of the SID-chip’s capabilities, the melodies are both epic and catchy, perfectly suited to the atmosphere of the space adventure. The sound effects are simple but functional and don’t overwhelm the music, which is key for a game like this.

Rating

Captain Ishtar VS. The Federation’s Most Wanted is a highly ambitious project that successfully combines a retro feel with modern game design ideas. Alf Yngve and the team at Psytronik have created a title that doesn’t just build on nostalgia, but offers real fun.

Positives:

• Varied gameplay with five separate parts.
• Creative storytelling with animated walkthroughs.
• Excellent music and atmosphere.

Negatives:

• Sometimes noticeable technical slowdown due to the SEUCK engine.
• Lack of a stronger connecting narrative between the walkthroughs.
• Runs only on PAL systems, lacking NTSC compatibility.

Summary

It’s not perfect, but the flaws are dwarfed by its good features. If you love space shooters and are curious to see what this 8-bit legend can still do, Captain Ishtar VS. The Federation’s Most Wanted is an unmissable experience.

Rating: 8.5/10

A real gem that deservedly bears Alf Yngve’s name, and proves that the Commodore 64 still has a place in the world of modern indie games.