Alien Highway
Alien Highway: Encounter 2 is an isometric 3D arcade adventure 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 |
Release | 1986 |
Genre(s) | Arcade adventure |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Gameplay
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.
Background
Mark Haigh-Hutchinson, the developer
"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
Publication | Score |
---|---|
Amstrad Action | 89%[2] |
Amtix | 80%[3] |
Crash | 88%[4] |
CVG | 33/40[5] |
Sinclair User | [6] |
Your Sinclair | 9/10[7] |
Alien Highway received positive reviews.
References
- Mark Haigh-Hutchinson, "The History of Vortex Software", March 1995
- Wade, Bob (June 1986). "Action Test". Amstrad Action. No. 9. pp. 48–49.
- "Reviews". Amtix. No. 8. June 1986. p. 33.
- "Reviews". Crash. No. 29. June 1986. p. 23.
- "Software Reviews". Computer and Video Games. No. 56. June 1986. pp. 14–15.
- Rook, Gary (June 1986). "Software". Sinclair User. No. 51. p. 43.
- MacDonald, Rachael (July 1986). "Screen Shots". Your Sinclair. No. 7. p. 35.
External links
- Alien Highway can be played for free in the browser at the Internet Archive
- Alien Highway at SpectrumComputing.co.uk