Alien Highway
{{more citations needed|date=October 2017}}
{{short description|1986 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title =
|image = Alien Highway Coverart.png
|developer = Mark Haigh-Hutchinson
|publisher = Vortex Software
|released = 1986
|genre = Action
|modes = Single-player
|platforms = Amstrad CPC
ZX Spectrum
}}
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.
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.
Development
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.Mark Haigh-Hutchinson, "The History of Vortex Software", March 1995
Reception
{{VG reviews
|AAction = 89%{{cite magazine|magazine=Amstrad Action|title=Action Test|last=Wade|first=Bob|pages=48–49|date=June 1986|issue=9|url=https://archive.org/details/amstrad-action-009/page/n47/mode/2up/}}
|Amtix = 80%{{cite magazine|magazine=Amtix|title=Reviews|page=33|date=June 1986|issue=8|url=https://archive.org/details/amtix-magazine-08/page/n31/mode/2up/}}
|CRASH = 88%{{cite magazine|magazine=Crash|title=Reviews|page=23|date=June 1986|issue=29|url=https://archive.org/details/Crash_No._29_1986-06_Newsfield_GB/page/n21/mode/2up/}}
|CVG = 33/40{{cite magazine|magazine=Computer and Video Games|title=Software Reviews|pages=14–15|date=June 1986|issue=56|url=https://archive.org/details/ComputerAndVideoGamesIssue056Jun86/page/n13/mode/2up/}}
|SUser = {{rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine|magazine=Sinclair User|title=Software|last=Rook|first=Gary|page=43|date=June 1986|issue=51|url=https://archive.org/details/sinclair-user-magazine-051/page/n41/mode/2up/}}
|YSinclair = 9/10{{cite magazine|magazine=Your Sinclair|title=Screen Shots|last=MacDonald|first=Rachael|page=35|date=July 1986|issue=7|url=https://archive.org/details/your-sinclair-07/page/n35/mode/2up/}}
| award1Pub = Computer and Video Games
| award1 = C+VG HitGame review, Computer & Video Games issue 56, June 1986, page 14
| award2Pub = Your Sinclair
| award2 = MegagameGame review, Your Sinclair issue 6, July 1986, page 35
}}
Alien Highway received positive reviews.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Internet Archive game|/zx_Alien_Highway_Encounter_2_1986_Vortex_Software}}
- {{WoS game|id=0000151|name=Alien Highway}}
- {{moby game|id=/alien-highway-encounter-2|name=Alien Highway}}
Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom
Category:Video games with isometric graphics