Strategy Elements
Basically if you memorize the level layouts in the early levels, you can do the same patterns. However, truck movement seems to be random, so you cannot repeat that part.
Seeds appear in the same spots, as do most mines. There is onscreen display at the top middle of the screen that shows how many seeds (up to 5) you have missed. Once you miss the fifth you lose a life.
There are safe pathways and obstacles that appear in the same spot, so remember which way to go each time, and execute the same paths.
If you stay too long in one area, the screen will automatically scroll to the right, and push you offscreen. However, if you pick up a seed, you do have more time to stay on that area. If you execute this properly, you can get many tongue bonuses to increase your score.
Basic Strategy
Road Runner has you run from the left side of the screen to the right down a long, multi-screen road. Along the way you must pick up the piles of birdseed that you see on the road. Doing so increases your speed meter at the top of the screen, while missing a pile decreases it. Your meter starts at five, so if you miss five seed piles in a row you'll pass out and Wily E. Coyote will grab you. Likewise, if you miss three, get one, then miss three you'll lose as your total loss will be five piles. As you manuever through the winding roads, Wily E. Coyote is not your only hazard however. Trcuks, boulders, and other environment hazards dot the roads of the desert.
Wily E. Coyote chases the Road Runner in a number of ways. His initial plan of attack is to simply rush after you. This is easy enough to avoid, but do not get too much of a lead on Wily E. Coyote. In the tradition of cheap video gaming, if you get about ¾ of the screen in front of him, he'll gain a second wind and rush straight at you, easily passing through any hazards or walls in the way. Instead keep him about ½ a screen behind you.
His second mode of attack (appearing in the second stage) is to ride a rocket. This is the easiest of his strategies to avoid. Wily will fly off the screen in a straight line. He will then appear, flying the opposite way, horizontally in line with the Road Runner. He will fly across the screen in a straight line and disappear off the other end, repeating the process anew. To avoid him, simply move up or down out of his way as he flies towards you. In some turns in the road this can be tough, so always look ahead and take precautions (i.e. wait in one spot a bit) so that you can make the narrow straight spots in a single flyby of Wile's.
His third attack style is to ride a pogo stick. This allows him to bounce over the sections of desert that function as walls for the Road Runner. This form is hard to avoid, but it can be done. On the wider roads, move in large circles and he'll generally land away from you (he'll try to land wherever you were when he bounces off the ground). In the tighter roads, move back and forth as you go, pausing if necessary to avoid running right into him. If the road is a long horizontal stretch, move right-to-left as you progress forward. If it is a long vertical stretch, an up-and-down movement is prefered.
Wile will also, in the later stages, acquire what the manual calls "invisible paint." This paint makes him faster, but you can stop him from collecting it by picking up the item yourself before he does.
Stage Warps
There is only one warp at the beginning of the game if you used a continue. Maneuver into the cave, and you will start at the last level you completed.
Stage breakdown
Here are the 4 main stages (and substages). The will continually repeat with more and more obstacles and traffic added through each cycle.
Level 1-Main Road (part 1)
Cycle 1 - Let coyote get close to you, and get as many tongue bonuses as possible, once you go under the first rock bridge, just run through the rest of the level. Avoid the few trucks that show up near the end. The seeds are always in the same spot, so learn to move near each one ahead of time.
Level 1-Winding pathway (part 2)
Cycle 1 - Move through the winding pathway as quick as possible. Avoid the coyote. Do not waste time on this level.
Level 2-Wile on a Rocket (part 1)
Cycle 1 - Run through the winding areas. Stopping as your reach safe areas and observe where Wile is on the rocket. Move once he reaches the left or right side to continue. The basic maze never changes.
Level 2-Wile on Pogo Stick (part 2)
Cycle 1 - Again, move through the maze area. You can lure Wile to an area, by staying in one spot for a second or two. Immeadiately move to another area or you will be captured. Wile only speeds up once if you are too far off the screen.
Level 2-Wile chasing through falling rocks (part 3)
Cycle 1 - The last area of level 2, you will run down a road with boulders falling continuously. Avoid the falling rocks, and lure Wile closer so they fall on him. This will stun him momentarily. It is possible to be captured and have a rock fall on Wile and escape.
Level 3-Running through desert maze (part 1)
Cycle 1- Wile will chase you through a horizontal/vertical maze. It does not change, so memorize the layout so you wont get trapped. It is possible to double back in certain areas so you won't get trapped. Wile is allowed to move throughout the area, whereas you are restricted to road areas.
Level 3-Avoiding cannons (part 2)
Cycle 1- At the end of the maze, there are is open area leading to a few restricted pathways. These pathways have cannons. The only way to destroy Wile is to get far ahead, so he is on a rocket skates.
Level 4-Running through glue/Wile on helicopter with dynamite (part 1)
Cycle 1- Run through the glue or hop over it.Pick up the seeds and avoid the coyote. Partway through Wile will stop chasing you and get into a helicopter and throw dynamite at you. Make abrupt direction changes, or circular moves to avoid.
Level 4-Cliffs/Bridge/End stage (part 2)
Cycle 1- There are a few hops that you have to make over gaps. It is possible to lure Wile to fall off. However master the timing of the jumps. At the end you will see a brige that you need to get over. After this there a few more seeds. You DONT need to get all of them to complete the stage.
After this, the stages will cycle over again, getting harder with more obstacles.