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Hot on the heels of Highway Encounter, Vortex has just released Alien Highway - a game using the same graphic techniques but with a slightly different gameplay. It's possible that in the same way people didn't go for Alien 8 because of its similarities to Knightlore, so Alien Highway may not be received as favourably as it would be if the idea were completely original. This would be a shame as there is nothing wrong with re-using a good idea.

As in Highway Encounter the idea is to make your way along a road that connects over many screens. Instead of having five incarnations, your single Vorton has an energy level shown on a bar graph. When this reaches rock bottom you say your prayers. Bumping into the baddies or the electrified road edge depletes your energy while it can be increased at one of the regeneration stations along the way.

The whole aim of the game is to push your square funnel-shaped Terratron into each of seven regeneration stations along the way. The eyeball shaped Zeds are very similar to one of the creatures from Highway Encounter but the others are quite different. There are vertically elongated elliptical baddies that stick to fixed paths - the Zeds wander about all over the place while the kamikaze diamond-shaped ones come straight for you. You seem to have limitless fire power but as before the shots come in threes.

In the previous game there was some strategy involved planning which objects to push on to the next screen to block a fixed path monster. Because you're on your own in this one this aspect isn't as important. One annoying thing in Highway Encounter was that you might never get to see the screens in the early zones but in Alien Highway the screens are arranged in a different order each time you play. This has two effects - firstly you get to see, play and practise more of the screens and secondly you can't predict what will be where on the following screen. It also leads to a greater range of scores if you happen to get an easier selection of screens before being killed.

The scenery off the edge of the road is much more hi-tech and Habitat looking than in Highway Encounter and the excellent loading screen gives a similar sort of sci-fi feeling to the whole thing.

Just a quick mention of the loader - as before, Vortex has used one of those speed loaders that guarantees hours of fun for 664/6218 owners before they actually get the game loaded. Keyboard bashers will be happy to know that the game can be played on either keys or joystick, though the latter is infinitely preferable. Control of the Vorton is of the rotate and push forward variety which can be a bit tricky initially.

What was Vortex supposed to do when it had already produced one of the top five games for the Amstrad? Why, produce another one of course, which is just what they have done.

Alien Highway is perhaps better than the first, as the authors have had a chance to find out what people liked and disliked about the original. I guess it would have been a bit too easy if the edge of the road had remained unelectrified but it was this that killed me off almost every time and I began to wish it had been left as before.

The graphics as you'll already know are in Mode 1, which always gives a nice look to a game even if it does limit the use of colour. (The sound is a slight disappointment but the noise when you kill someone is so good that background music might have spoiled the effect.

All round I think this is destined to become one of the bestsellers - I, for one, wouldn't hesitate to buy a copy. You'll be happy to know there is a sequel planned: "Revenge of the Aliens- Encounter 3" but this isn't due until sometime in 1987, if the programmer finishes it.

I must complement Mark Haigh-Hutchinson on his taste in music - the boss is still the best!

I loved the original Highway Encounter but partly because it was that - original. With books and films, the sequel rarely lives up to expectations and with Alien Encounter this is also true.

I found myself looking for differences the whole time and those I found didn't seem to affect the gameplay - you can move the bomb sideways and the random screens make it more fun for the first few goes but that's about it.

Vortex used to be known for innovation - it will lose its reputation like this. That said, Highway Encounter was brilliant; if you didn't play it you have definitely missed out and should buy this instead.

I hated Highway Encounter, and I hate this too. I just can't get anywhere using the daft controls. I have never got used to playing games diagonally. Rotate and forward might as well be translated to randomise and bump-into.

Okay, maybe it's a bit harsh to blame a game for my own lack of coordination but either way I don't find Alien Highway all that interesting.

Certainly I admire the graphics and animation, which are of the highest quality, but there is very little to capture the imagination and make you go back for more.