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Prepare for a close encounter of the fourth kind! Mix Ultimate style 3D graphics with a touch of Zaxxon and you've got this original and addictive new release from Tornado Low Level/Cyclone programmer Costa Panayi.

The scenario goes like this. Aliens have taken over earth. And you have been given the task of preventing the domination of the world. Stop yawning - I haven't got to the good bit yet!

You control five Vortons - Alien-8 style droids - and the deadly Lasertron, the only weapon able to halt the alien invasion. You must guide the Vortons and the Lasertron along the last highway not controlled by the aliens - fighting off various alien warriors along the way until you reach Zone Zero where your mission has to be completed or the alien hordes will overrun earth.

The screen display shows a scrolling 3D highway - with your Vortons lined up in a neat crocodile ready to take the Lasertron to the alien base. You get five Vortons to complete the journey through 30 "zones" or screens, controlling one at a time with joystick or keyboard.

Each Vorton is armed with a blaster to knock off the alien warriors who come at you. Run out of Vortons and the Lasertron is lost!

As we've already mentioned, Encounter is a sort of cross between Alien 8 and Zaxxon - lots of zapping to be done and obstacles to be overcome.

The graphics are exciting and well animated, the sound as good as the Spectrum allows and gameplay very addictive. The Vortons are cute little characters and the aliens suitably nasty looking!

Highway Encounter is another well presented and extremely playable game from Vortex. If you like your shoot-'em-ups to have a bit of style - then this is the game for you.