Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 19hJust in case anyone was wondering if Ico remains one of the most hauntingly beautiful and well designed video games ever made, yeah, I can confirm it's still one of the most hauntingly beautiful and well designed video games ever made. 020
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 03/10/2026This week for #RandomGameSaturday I present Dragon Quest Heroes. The first collaboration between Square Enix and Koei Tecmo, it's a licensed Warriors-style spin-off like you'd expect, but with more emphasis placed on Tower Defense elements such as waves of mobs and defending locations. 091
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 30/09/2026And that's The Dog Island finished. This story is happy end! I'll admit it: I was crying. Absolutely easy recommend for dog lovers and fans of cosy little adventure games. Probably my favourite game I've played this year. Oh, and if you have pets: cherish them. 110
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 29/09/2026Day 2 of The Dog Island: My doggy sister is so ill that she struggles to eat food. As an aside, I hate that I know exactly how that feels... So of course I go and fish for her favourite food. She sends me a Sunflower in return that I now proudly wear. I'm telling you, this game is all the feels. 101
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 28/09/2026I booted up The Dog Island on PS2. I was not expecting to get hit in the feels like that. I think all pet owners understand the trauma of seeing a loved one in pain. So yeah, if a game offers a journey to get a magical medicine to save a sickly sibling, you better believe I'm emotionally invested. 100
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 28/09/2026I was playing the demo for the Dynasty Warriors 3 remaster and enjoyed myself so much that I booted up the PS2 original. It really struck me just how much technology has progressed over the last 25 years. I'd say they've done a good job of updating the classic while still respecting the original. 010
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 26/09/2026In this week's selection for #RandomGameSaturday I humbly submit E.X. Troopers. A spinoff of the Lost Planet franchise that uses recycled assets from the cancelled Mega Man Legends 3. A real curio. I hear there's a fan translation available for this nowadays, I really need to check it out. 171
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 23/09/2026Huh. Just saw that at some point I crept into the top 1% of users on RetroAchievements and only just noticed. It's a weird feeling, as it wasn't a goal I was actively seeking - quite frankly I'm too old to be chasing competition - but there is a certain sense of pride in achieving it nonetheless. 010
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 19/09/2026Good morning #RandomGameSaturday peeps, today my choice is Yakuza. Released in Europe 20 years ago, the English dub is infamously crass with its liberal use of swearing. Still, a lot of effort has clearly gone into the localisation, showing remarkable confidence in the series' chances in the West. 1100
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 14/09/2026On a somewhat related note, I was playing The Adventures of Lomax earlier today and was struck by the simplicity of the password system. 8 spaces, 4 possible choices each. It struck me how we've lost the elegance of designing simple password systems in the era of save games. 000
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 12/09/2026For today's #RandomGameSaturday the hand has chosen Soul Blade. The Namco fighter that wasn't Tekken, it's a humble start to a series that wouldn't find its footing until the sequel. Putting the series' resident gimp Voldo front and centre of the European cover was an incredibly bold choice... 37912
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 05/09/2026Today in #RandomGameSaturday we have Gotcha Force. A cute little arcade arena battler that definitely derives a lot of its DNA from the Capcom developed Gundam Versus games, the usage of small toy robots as playable characters also brings to mind the Virtual-ON series. 1112
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 30/08/2026Just got my 300th platinum trophy with Shin Megami Tensei III. It was my first MegaTen game back in the day and it's still my favourite now. I know the remaster isn't without its issues (the FMV's are *shockingly* compressed) but it's good to be able to play a classic again with modern conveniences. 020
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 29/08/2026I'd like to dedicate my #RandomGameSaturday this week to the late Tim Curry with Brütal Legend. The last game I played starring Tim before his retirement, he provided a memorably hammy performance that stole every scene he was in. A truly great talent and the world is lesser for his absence. 0123
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 22/08/2026For #RandomGameSaturday this week I've got Dark Cloud. Level-5's debut title is a game that plays like a Zelda, with some light RPG mechanics and even a town building mode. It lacks the graphical prowess of later Level-5 titles, but it has far more heart than any of their recent developments. 1113615
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 15/08/2026Well, it took until the game coming to an end to finally do it, but I finally worked up the motivation to solo flawless the Grasp of Avarice dungeon in Destiny 2. Sure, it's not the hardest dungeon in the game and it's been power crept pretty hard, but it feels nice to have finally done it. 010
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 15/08/2026It's #RandomGameSaturday time and this week my hand has sought out Samurai Warriors 3. Despite being a big musou fan and owning this since it was released, I only played it for the first time this year. There's a lot of that old school Koei charm here, but the game runs terribly for an exclusive... 092
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 08/08/2026I finally decided to start working on my PS3 backlog, so this week's pick for #RandomGameSaturday goes to Ratchet & Clank: Q-Force. Booting it up and seeing the franchise's 10th anniversary logo kind of made me feel horribly old some nearly 14 years after its release... 071
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 01/08/2026A bit of an odd one for today's #RandomGameSaturday with Blazing Beaks. My copy is unusual in that it came with a doodle drawn by one of the developers. As you can see, they've taken the opportunity to craft an intricate narrative that recontextualises the entire conceit of ducks shooting mutants. 071
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 25/07/2026We're returning to nature for this week's #RandomGameSaturday with the OG farming life simulator, Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life. It's not my favourite game in the series, but the muted colour palette and more grounded, melancholic storyline certainly makes it one of the more memorable. 0111
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 18/07/2026My pick for #RandomGameSaturday this week is Eternal Ring, a fantasy action RPG made by From Software and released on PlayStation platforms. Not to be confused with Elden Ring, a fantasy action RPG made by From Software and released on PlayStation platforms. 070
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 17/07/2026Things I learned today: the developer of Ape Escape P is SIMS Co., Ltd. A name that may not be familiar to most, unless you're like me and grew up playing a whole bunch of Sonic the Hedgehog games on the Game Gear. Looks like they're still around too, which is heartening to see. 031
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 11/07/2026Some lazy #RandomGameSaturday afternoon vibes with Bioshock 2. I was thinking about Bioshock 2 and Infinite earlier this week. They both tackle similar themes of paternity, but Infinite is more cynical while 2 is more idealistic. I don't think it's a coincidence that 2 is my preferred sequel. 161
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 07/07/2026I've just finished Time Hollow for the Nintendo DS. If a Konami visual novel about time travel starring a cat sounds familiar to you, it was nagging at me too. It's only when the credits rolled that it clicked: both Time Hollow and Shadow of Memories share a writer in one Junko Kawano. Neat! 081
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 04/07/2026Apropos of nothing announced this week, for #RandomGameSaturday I have a PlayStation game that was digital-only but got a physical release. Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara takes Capcom's two officially licensed arcade brawlers from the 90's and packages them with some modern conveniences. 0195
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 04/07/2026Finished up my 277th Platinum trophy last night with Cyberpunk 2077. I've been wanting to play it for a while now and this seemed like the perfect time to finally do so. I really enjoyed my time in Night City and Cherami Leigh nailed it as fem V. It wasn't an *entirely* bug-free experience though... 020
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 27/06/2026For today's #RandomGameSaturday I've grabbed Dewy's Adventure. I'm fascinated by the "Produced by Shingo Mukaitoge" credit on the cover. Was this Konami's attempt at grooming a second auteur ala Hideo Kojima? If so, it didn't work: it appears he left Konami after they stopped developing Wii games. 061
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 21/06/2026I decided to play through Get Even this weekend. Wasn't sure what to expect going in, but a psychological thriller with a strong stealth emphasis that gave me Condemned: Criminal Origins vibes except everyone has a Bri'ish accent was not on the bingo card. A genuine short but sweet surprise. 010
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 20/06/2026I see some PS1 love this week on #RandomGameSaturday so here's my contribution with Ape Escape. Fun fact: the PAL disc uses copy protection that triggers every time on a PS3. Imagine my reaction to finally getting a chance to play the original, only to be greeted by an unresponsive title screen. 0164
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 13/06/2026I just met a player in Destiny 2 called "Nep's Pudding", so today's #RandomGameSaturday is dedicated to my fellow Nep Nep fans. The Hyperdimension Neptunia Hypercollection puts the first three games in the series on one disc. That's an awful lot of anthropomorphised consoles for your purchase. 060
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 06/06/2026A new Gundam game got announced which got me thinking about other Gundam games, so for #RandomGameSaturday I've got a little Federation Vs Zeon action. This is the first Gundam video game I owned and it's still one of my favourites. The DNA of this game can still be felt in the more modern titles. 071
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 30/05/2026I've been playing a lot of platformers lately, so how about one for #RandomGameSaturday with Croc? It's the platformer with tank controls. It shouldn't work (and it doesn't really) but levels are short and lives plentiful enough that it doesn't feel too punishing. I can see why it's a cult classic. 0122
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 23/05/2026This week in #RandomGameSaturday my hands have stumbled upon Virtua Quest. Despite the name (explicitly being called Virtua Fighter in Japan), this is an action RPG set in a generic cyberspace shonen anime world where kids find the digital souls of the fighting game characters for glorified cameos. 0111
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 16/05/2026For #RandomGameSaturday this week, I've grabbed Operation Winback. Developed by Omega Force before they made the juggernaut that was Dynasty Warriors, this is a third person shooter with one of the earliest examples of cover-based shooting in a video game that I can think of. 2448
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 09/05/2026No objections to this week's #RandomGameSaturday with the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection. I imported a Japanese version originally, convinced it wouldn't get a physical edition in the west. When I learned that it did get a European release, I immediately went out and purchased a copy. 271
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 04/05/2026I played through the original Armored Core today. It's actually a much shorter game than I remember it being, and it's one of From Soft's easier titles if you can get used to the controls. Still, it's reassuring just how many of the fundamentals of the series were there right from the beginning. 010
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 02/05/2026I needed a distraction this morning, so here's an early #RandomGameSaturday to start the day with Bujingai Swordmaster. If I had a penny for every PS2 action game starring Gackt, I'd have two pennies. Which isn't a lot, but it is weird it happened twice. 25211
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 25/04/2026Good #RandomGameSaturday to you all, this Saturday the random game is Universe at War. A RTS from the makers of Command & Conquer, published by a Sega who at this point had a strong PC strategy presence. The game's now stuck behind Games for Windows Live, so good luck getting it to run these days. 060
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 22/04/2026I was not aware of this, so of course I had to look it up and yup, that's a giant chicken costume running for candidacy. I would have been too young to appreciate the sentiment at the time, but I think it says it all about the quirkiness of British politics that they managed to snag 18 votes. 020
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 18/04/2026For #RandomGameSaturday I've got 3D Dot Game Heroes, From Soft's take on the classic Zelda formula. The game has a character customisation tool, which UK publisher SouthPeak took advantage of by releasing skins allowing you to play as one of the leaders of the big 3 political parties at the time. 061
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 11/04/2026For today's #RandomGameSaturday I have Ridge Racer on the PS Vita. Honestly more a vehicle for selling DLC than for racing, it none the less managed to snag a Daytona USA collaboration which gave Takenobu Mitsuyoshi an excuse to sing us a new song, so it's not the most ignoble end to a franchise. 081
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 04/04/2026I'm taking a trip to the Silent Line for #RandomGameSaturday this week with this Armored Core 3 expansion pack. Being an AC fan in Europe was difficult. It took five different publishers to get all seven PS2 games released. I remember frequent delays and worries about cancellations abounding. 081
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 28/03/2026Been playing a lot of Wii this week, so decided for #RandomGameSaturday to go with this gorgeous slipcase for Okami. They used a reflective material for Amaterasu to make her stand out and embossed the logo to make it feel premium in the hands. Someone at Capcom Europe was passionate about this. 1193
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 21/03/2026Went to the PS2 shelf for today's #RandomGameSaturday and got Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution. My personal favourite in the franchise, this one added a quest mode where you fought against AI based on the play styles of real players in the scene. I was pretty decent with Kagemaru back in the day... 170
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 14/03/2026Getting ready for the Wii rollout on RetroAchievements with this week's #RandomGameSaturday pick, Ivy the Kiwi? The first platformer designed by convicted criminal Yuji Naka after he left Sega to go independent, it's no The NewZealand Story but it isn't without its own charm. 0152
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 07/03/2026I've spent the last few days playing through Popful Mail on the Mega CD. The sprite work is solid, the antics of legally distinct Lina Inverse kept me amused and aside from some dodgy platforming sections it was a fun 12 hours. Plus it has a bunny girl as a shopkeeper so it's automatically awesome. 010
Zonerunner @zonerunner.co.uk · 07/03/2026Oh yeah! It's #RandomGameSaturday and this week I have picked Ikaruga. I am absolutely terrible at this - there's something about flying *into* enemy bullet patterns that violates every muscle memory in my body - but there's something about the game's unrelenting aggression that demands my respect. 0101
