Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 6, 2026

Alien Highway

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.

Last revised
Jun 6, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
363 w
Citations
9
Source
Wikipedia ↗
DeveloperMark Haigh-Hutchinson
PublisherVortex Software
PlatformsAmstrad CPC
ZX Spectrum
Release1986
GenreAction
ModeSingle-player

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.1

Reception

Alien Highway received positive reviews.

References

References

  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
External links