Road Runner is a simplistic arcade racing game based on the Looney Tunes cartoons. This game was both developed and published by Atari Games, a company known all across the world for their arcade games. Road Runner first hit the gaming scene in 1985 when it appeared in arcade cabinets. Four years later, Road Runner was ported to several home consoles like Amstrad CPC, Atari 2600, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, ZX Spectrum, and NES.
Although critics did not laud Road Runner, it still did quite well after its release. Road Runner managed to be the second highest-selling game in the UK shortly after it came out. Road Runner is a fun throwback to a retro era that is filled with nostalgia.
Road Runner Premise
This racing game mimics the eternal rivalry between the Road Runner and the super genius, Wile E. Coyote. Players will endlessly run to the left while Wile E. Coyote chases you down. While fleeing, players must dodge speeding cars and the many contraptions invented by Wile E. Coyote. Players will gain points by collecting bird seed and surviving for as long as possible.
Road Runner Main Characters
The Road Runner arcade game brings the Looney Tunes cartoon to life. Players will control the iconic and titular Road Runner. Just like in the cartoon, Wile E. Coyote is a starving predator looking to make the Road Runner into their next meal. Wile E. Coyote uses his superior intelligence to create traps and inventions to keep up with the Road Runner’s crazy speed.
Road Runner Series
The original Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote cartoons first aired in 1949. The comedic battles between these two characters have become permanent classics that entertain audiences even to this day. Although the Road Runner game never received a direct sequel or continuation, both characters have appeared in many other Looney Tunes video games. Here is a list of every game they have appeared in so far.
- Road Runner
- Electronic Road Runner
- Looney Tunes
- The Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle
- The Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle 2
- The Bugs Bunny Birthday Blowout
- Road Runner’s Death Valley Rally
- Wile E. Coyote’s Revenge
- Desert Speedtrap
- Bugs Bunny: Crazy Castle 3
- Desert Demolition
- Sheep, Dog, ‘n’ Wolf
- Looney Tunes B-Ball
- Space Jam
- Looney Tunes Racing
- Taz Express
- Taz: Wanted
- Looney Tunes: Back in Action
- Looney Tunes Double Pack
- Looney Tunes: Space Race
- Looney Tunes Acme Arsenal
- Looney Tunes: Cartoon Conductor
- Looney Tunes Dash
- Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem
Road Runner Cheat Codes
Despite being a very simple game Road Runner does have a few cheat codes. These cheat codes only work on the Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64 consoles. Once these cheat codes are activated, players will have infinite lives and can play as long as they want. For your convenience, we’ve broken down each cheat code in the tables below.
Sadly the many other versions of Road Runner do not have any in-game cheat codes that players can access. Players on these platforms will have to use their own skills to stay out of Wile E. Coyote’s jaws.
Amstrad CPC:
| Effect | Code |
|---|---|
| Infinite Lives | On the menu of the game, simultaneously press the keys U and S. If entered successfully, the words “CHEAT MODE!” will appear on the menu, and your character will now have infinite lives. |
Commodore 64:
| Effect | Code |
|---|---|
| Unlimited Lives | Load or reset the game, then execute the following BASIC commands before running or restarting the program. POKE 35891,165 SYS 4126 |
Road Runner Cheat Code FAQ
Does Road Runner have any cheat codes?
Road Runner has an in-game cheat code for both the Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64 platforms. The cheat code on both platforms gives the player infinite lives. With this active, players can race Wile E. Coyote for as long as they want.
Are these cheat codes permanent?
Thankfully not. For the Amstrad CPC version of the game, the infinite life cheat can be turned off easily. All players have to do is press the U and S keys simultaneously. This will take you out of the cheat mode and give you a normal amount of life again.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Road Runner Cover Art.