| The Return of Ishtar | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Namco |
| Publisher(s) | Namco, SPS |
| Year released | 1986 |
| System(s) | Arcade, Fujitsu FM-7, MSX2, NEC PC-8801, NEC PC-9801, Sharp X68000, Wii |
| Preceded by | The Tower of Druaga |
| Followed by | The Quest of Ki |
| Series | Babylonian Castle Saga, Arcade Archives |
| Japanese title | イシターの復活 (Ishtar no Fukkatsu) |
|---|---|
| Genre(s) | Action RPG |
| Players | 2 |
| Modes | Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) |  |
| Arcade Archives The Return of Ishtar | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Namco |
| Publisher(s) | Hamster Corporation |
| Year released | 2022 |
| System(s) | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 |
| Rating(s) |     |
The Return of Ishtar is an arcade game that was released by Namco in 1986. It runs on Namco System 86 hardware and is the sequel to The Tower of Druaga. It was also the only Namco game that required a second player to play it. It was the first game from the company to have a password feature to give players the opportunity to continue from where they left off after getting a game over, but it was also their first to not feature a scoring system. It was later ported to the MSX2, NEC PC-8801, Fujitsu FM-7, and Sharp X68000 platforms. It was also included in Namco Museum Vol. 4 for the PlayStation.
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Title screen.
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Attraction: "GIL use sword".
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Attraction: "KI cast a spell".
Story[edit | edit source]
This storyline is taken from the game's attract mode (if you wait through the two attract room sequences before inserting a coin):
GIL the Golden Knight went off to the tower to defeat DRUAGA. There are many monsters waiting there, as well as traps. But GIL overcomes the obstacles courageously. The Goddess ISHTAR saw GIL fighting and compassionately provides GIL with powers to defeat DRUAGA. And GIL fights on with the help of the shinning (sic) Blue Crystal Rod, to defeat DRUAGA and seal DRUAGA's magic power with the Ruby Mace. Because DRUAGA's magic was disspelled, GIL's lover KI could return to human form. And the tower which was restored by DRUAGA's magic power, returned ruins again, so the exit could not be found. The original resident of the tower, QUOX the Dragon, went back off to his dwelling because DRUAGA's magic was dispelled. But other monsters lost the powers that controlled them, and became more fierce, and kept on wandering inside the tower. Although they had defeated DRUAGA, the world was still sealed in darkness. To save the world, GIL and KI must take out the Blue Crystal Rod, which is the center of the power of Goddess ISHTAR safely out of the tower. The world is waiting for "The Return of ISHTAR" © NAMCO 1986
Gameplay[edit | edit source]
It is vastly different to its predecessor The Tower of Druaga. Possessing more RPG elements and focuses more on exploration and navigation. Rather than memorizing treasure spawns, you are instead memorizing rooms and how they connect and where they lead. And like a traditional RPG, the main characters can level up as they slay monsters, open chest, and discover new rooms. With the main goal of finding a way out the Tower. The tower itself has over 120 rooms to explore and they are all connected to each other. Every one can be backtracked and revisited if you wish to try a different door on said room. All rooms have an individual time limit that limits how long you can stay in each room, but can be restored with the right spells. and most have keys that can be found that can open a room's corresponding doors.
Table of Contents
- Top of the Tower
- Druaga's Grave
- Observatory
- Treasure Storage
- Banquet Area
- Jewely Storage
- Empty Gallery
- Food Storage
- Shunned Cavern
- Locked Room
- Storage Chamber
- Slave Pen
- Solarium
- Secret Chamber
- Kitchen
- Chieftain's Room
- Play Room
- Spoils Room
- Empty Cistern
- Rest Room
- Small Dome
- The Staircase
- Watch Tower
- Pantry
- Adept's Room
- Large Hall
- Water Line
- Party Room
- Dining Room
- Colosseum
- Training Yard
- Pupil's Room
- Green Court
- Undead Graveyard
- Knight's Chamber
- Inviolate Area
- Junction
- Chapel of Evil
- Temple of Chaos
- Sacred Chamber
- Shrine of Evil
- Specter Cell
- Cave of Gramarye
- Priest's Quarter
- Chantry
- Holy of Holies
- Intricate Path
- Trap Ceiling
- Private Alter
- Goblin's Lair
- Passway
- Cross Point
- Forgotten Room
- Trophy Room
- Upward Passway
- Thief's Hideout
- Trap Door Room
- Alchemist's Room
- Boudoir
- Museum
- Library
- Mazy Quarter
- Dormitory
- Quox's Labyrinth
- Lounge
- Audience Hall
- Common Hall
- Fire Escape
- Queen's Room
- Attendant's Room
- Closet Chamber
- Servant's Hall
- Antechamber
- Throne Room
- King's Room
- Red Court
- Dragon's Lair
- Boulder Passage
- Administration
- Secret Corridor
- Forbidden Hall
- Laboratory
- Armory
- Weapon Storage
- Armor Storage
- Shield Storage
- Helm Storage
- Cursed Room
- Dead End
- Remains
- Calvary Prison
- Arcade Passway
- Maze Passage
- Condemned Ward
- Arched Hallway
- Ancient Ruin
- Common Chamber
- Vanguard Room
- Command Post
- Guard Room
- Harness Storage
- Jailer Chamber
- Barracks
- Chief's Quarter
- Blue Court
- Hall of Warriors
- Crypt
- Barrel Vault
- Torture Chamber
- Maze Vestibule
- First Cell
- Second Cell
- Third Cell
- Fourth Cell
- Store Room
- Exercise Field
- Guest Chamber
- Leader's Room
- Stable
- Chariot Hanger
- Common Room
- Waiting Room
- Portcullis
- Under the Moat
- Secret Staircase
- Water Duct
- Entrant Hall
- Main Gate