Highway Encounter is another classic ZX Spectrum game created by the talented and prolific Costa Panayi of Vortex Software. It was first published in 1985.

You control a robot called a ‘Vorton’ (which looks a bit like Dalek), and who must push a bomb through a thirty-screen length of road towards an alien base in order to destroy it. The Vorton can move in eight directions and can fire a ball of plasma from its head. The weapon can be used for shooting alien defenders who attack you, and also for moving barrels and other obstacles that block the way.

Some obstacles require that the robot leave the bomb behind to clear the way ahead, although this can lead to an early death if not careful.

Highway Encounter is simple to play and very challenging. Graphically it is appealing too and seems to have stood the test of time rather well. It’s still worth playing today, along with its 1986 sequel, Alien Highway.

More: Highway Encounter on Wikipedia