Desert Speedtrap Starring Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote

The Road Runnerr's still plagued by the same old nemesis - Wile E. Coyote. In the cartoons, the fine-feathered bird makes his escape with the greatest of ease. In this Game Gear adventure, things are a lot tougher for the speedy fowl.

Beep, Beep

As the Road Runner, you've got to race through multiple stages of hop-n-bop action. The premise is simple: get to the exit before time or your health runs out.

Each stage looks like a scene out of a classic Road Runner cartoon. When he's not evading the hostile desert flora and fauna, the Road Runner has to look out for Wile E., who's looking mighty hungry. The coyote always makes a last-ditch effort to snag the bird, usually while riding atop his latest ACME contraption.

Desert Speedtrap's graphics look like the original cartoon, although the sprites are too small. The various enemies aren't particularly imaginative, and they're often difficult to spot, since they blend in with the terrain. The cool-looking intermission screens are worth watching.

The music's uninspiring, livened up only by the Warner Brothers theme. The Road Runner's beep sounds more like a broken car horn.

The game's controls are very difficult to manage. Button presses make the Road Runner leap with abandon. It's frustratingly difficult to make him hop and jump where you want him to.

Not a Fun Run

Adjustable challenge makes the cart good for beginners in the early levels, but its toughness at the harder difficulty settings is due to frustrating, imprecise controls, not complicated game play. This cute cart's good for a play or two, but if you're looking for a top-notch Game Gear product, you may have to send away to ACME.

Beep beep! Here comes everyone's desert - dwelling fowl in an all - new Game Gear adventure. It's Desert Speedtrap - starring Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote. In this cart, you play the part of the infamous Roadrunner who needs to avoid the overly-hungry Wile E. Coyote. Go on the run (no pun intended) through the desert as you avoid all types of dangerous obstacles like killer tumbleweeds and ravenous vultures. The Roadrunner must also face an unseen enemy - time. That's right, you must complete each level in a set amount of time or face annihilation! Your only hope is to collect enough star icons to replenish your ticking life clock! Whew! Warp to bonus rooms which contain lots of stars. You can eat birdseed which will replace some of your life meter, too.

Other icons are available as well, like additional star points and extra time. So what are you waiting for? The Roadrunner needs your help, so pick up a copy of Desert Speedtrap starring Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner. Hurry up, time's a wasting!

In Level 2, Roadrunner must be on the lookout for a number of things. First, priority must be given to collecting stars. You can find them all over the place! Second, learn to use the jumping springs to get to inaccessible locations the Roadrunner must navigate. With a little practice, this level will be a cakewalk.

Level 3 represents somewhat more of a challenge to our feathered friend. Watch out for vultures and tumble-weeds as you speed across the desert. Also of a concern is that crazy Wile E. Coyote, who is now behind the wheel of a bus! Be careful, because he'll try to run you over! Remember to duck!

Level 4 is a real pain! Now the Roadrunner must deal with killer plants, jaw-snapping creatures, and that bus-driving-psycho - Wile E. Coyote. Make sure that you allow yourself enough time to cross this level because you may just run out! For this reason, remember to pick up plenty of stars!

This is another of those games for a portable system that almost looks like 16-Bit! The plot is essentially the Same as Death Valley Rally for Super NES in that you must speed through huge levels while avoiding traps.