No one is going to ever look back and think any LCD game was groundbreaking and could hold one’s attention. They don’t have to be, that is not the market they are developed for. LCD games as a whole are developed for rather simplistic gameplay – most you are not even moving, your character occupies part of the screen and stays there – obstacles, enemies, etc come to you. LCD Highway Gamy by Radio Shack is kind of one of those style games. Your car occupies the bottom line on the screen. Still, it is a fun time waster – probably the highest praise you can give an LCD game.
I know, most people looking at LCD Highway Game today are probably wondering why was this interesting. Ever. Simple games like this were what gaming was built on. Hardware was limited and so games were limited.
The inherent design of an LCD screen means you are not getting much in terms of graphics. Audio is kept simple as well. Probably due to costs and I cannot really see someone sitting down to compose music for a game like this.
LCD Highway Game keeps you at the bottom row of the screen. Your job is to avoid obstacles in the road while picking up pedestrians on the left side of the screen and bringing them to the bus stop signs on the right.
Each obstacle stays in its lane EVERY time. There is no variety other than what combination you must avoid.
Your controls are simple as well. Left button moves your car left and the right button moves your car to the right.A fun time waster, which is what most LCD games of this time were meant for (road trips for instance).
When I was growing up I remember wanting a Nintendo Game Boy, I was the perfect age for one, I was born in 1976, but my parents couldn’t afford one. Instead, here and there I would get an LCD game as a gift. Usually unlicensed stuff, we didn’t know any better at the time. I don’t remember having LCD Highway Game, but I do remember having a baseball one.
I remember getting my first Tiger Electronics LCD game, Simon’s Quest (affiliate link) then the next I remember getting was Mega Man 2 (affiliate link). I remember having more in between but the point is, generic releases by Radio Shack and the other stores back then were not going to cut it anymore.
I am not saying Tiger was better, just back then, I was more impressed, felt challenged (though now I realize it was just fighting the inherent design flaws of the hardware, not good game programming). Still, at the end of the day, Tiger’s offerings were not much different than previous LCD games.
Kind of like transitioning from 8-Bit to 16-Bit gaming. For the most part, until the add-in chips started making an appearance, 16-Bit was just more detailed 8-Bit stuff we played already. Still, game design wise, there is no comparison to LCD games.
If you are not happy with playing LCD Highway Game in your browser then check out eBay using my free to use affiliate link. They have a few deals available on this one.
