Road Runner [Unlicensed] (NES) Playthrough
2Playthrough of Tengen's unlicensed 1989 arcade action game for the NES, Road Runner.
Tengen's unlicensed 1989 arcade-style action game Road Runner for the NES is a home adaptation of Atari’s 1985 arcade title based on the classic Warner Bros. cartoon. In the game, players take control of the Road Runner as he sprints down long stretches of desert highway, trying to avoid the endless traps and schemes of his determined pursuer, Wile E. Coyote. True to the spirit of the animated series, the gameplay focuses on speed, evasion, and cartoon-style mischief.
The action unfolds as an endless runner of sorts, with the Road Runner needing to stay ahead of Wile E. while collecting bird seed to maintain his stamina. If the player misses too many seeds, the Road Runner slows down, making him an easier target. Along the way, Wile E. employs various Acme gadgets like rockets, catapults, and even disguises to try and catch the speedy bird. The game cleverly incorporates visual gags and slapstick moments from the cartoons, capturing their playful tone within the NES's technical limits.
Visually, the game does a decent job recreating the Southwestern backdrop and recognizable characters with bright, cartoon-inspired graphics. The animation is simple but effective, and the Road Runner’s signature “beep beep” makes frequent appearances. The unlicensed nature of the game means it doesn’t feature the official Nintendo Seal of Quality, but it runs competently on NES hardware and doesn’t suffer from the instability sometimes associated with unlicensed titles.
While Road Runner may not have the depth or polish of some other NES action games, it’s a fun and faithful tribute to the cartoon. Its repetitive structure and limited gameplay variety may not hold attention for long sessions, but for fans of the source material or collectors interested in unlicensed NES history, it offers a charming, nostalgic diversion.