Alien Highway: Encounter 2 is an isometric action game released by Vortex in 1986 for the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC. It was programmed by Mark Haigh-Hutchinson and is the sequel to Highway Encounter.

Developer(s)Mark Haigh-Hutchinson
Publisher(s)Vortex Software
Platform(s)Amstrad CPC
ZX Spectrum
Release1986
Genre(s)Action
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

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Gameplay is similar to Highway Encounter, with the player controlling a "Vorton" robot in its attempt to deliver a bomb to an alien base at the end of a highway. Various enemies and obstacles lie in its path.

A notable difference is that the player has a single Vorton with an energy meter, instead of five lives; accordingly, the bomb must be pushed by the player, whereas in the previous game it was pushed by the player's spare Vortons.

Development

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Mark Haigh-Hutchinson, the developer of the game:

After Highway Costa [Panayi] wanted to come up with something completely different again. Since I was now working full-time for Vortex it was decided that I should write Alien Highway whilst Costa developed his new ideas. I had previously written Android One for the Amstrad CPC (in my spare time at University) and then converted Highway Encounter to the CPC in 8 weeks after graduation. Alien Highway attempted to retain the essence of the original game yet expand the gameplay and introduce a random element into the game. It was also considerably faster than the original.[1]

Reception

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Alien Highway received positive reviews.

References

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  1. ^ Mark Haigh-Hutchinson, "The History of Vortex Software", March 1995
  2. ^ Wade, Bob (June 1986). "Action Test". Amstrad Action. No. 9. pp. 48–49.
  3. ^ "Reviews". Amtix. No. 8. June 1986. p. 33.
  4. ^ "Reviews". Crash. No. 29. June 1986. p. 23.
  5. ^ "Software Reviews". Computer and Video Games. No. 56. June 1986. pp. 14–15.
  6. ^ Rook, Gary (June 1986). "Software". Sinclair User. No. 51. p. 43.
  7. ^ MacDonald, Rachael (July 1986). "Screen Shots". Your Sinclair. No. 7. p. 35.
  8. ^ Game review, Computer & Video Games issue 56, June 1986, page 14
  9. ^ Game review, Your Sinclair issue 6, July 1986, page 35
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