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Gabriel Jones

@pepsimanvsjoe.bsky.social

1.9K followers 880 following 4.6K posts

Former game critic who can't find his niche. Interests include retro / obscure / arcade games, music (Mostly VGM & Prince), and whatever catches my eye (even if it's just for a moment). 1981 he/him

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Gabriel Jones @pepsimanvsjoe.bsky.social · 14d

October #promosky

My name is (still) Gabriel and I'm (still) talking about #retrogaming.

If you love the games of yesteryear as well as indies & doujins, then follow along.
This month, I'm reviewing classic Batman games and whatever else catches my interest.
pepsimanvsjoe.blogspot.com

Batman: The Video Game by Sunsoft for NES

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Gabriel Jones @pepsimanvsjoe.bsky.social · 13m

Today's look is at - you guessed it - Sword of Vermilion for the Sega Genesis.
pepsimanvsjoe.blogspot.com/2025/10/2025...
YMMV, but I had to dig a little to figure out why I've played this game off and on for almost 35 years.
#retrogaming

2025 Special - Sword of Vermilion

pepsimanvsjoe.blogspot.com

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Reposted by Gabriel Jones

ro @sanroku3.bsky.social · 28m

ギルの洞窟のエンカウント率にお怒りな先生

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uni🍙Giri @uni555zl.bsky.social · 3h

私服バッツさん楽しみだなｧ

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Rowye - D3D coming Oct 21st! @rowye.bsky.social · 19h

1 WEEK
7 DAYS
168 HOURS
10080 MINUTES

Until Darkenstein 3-D is in your hands!

D3D is a free game and has:
· Natsees to kill
· Rats to throw
· Pies to eat
· No MTX
· Love for Enemy Territory
· Love for RtCW
· Love for Doom
· Lots of love put into it!

Are you ready for this? 🔥

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Reposted by Gabriel Jones

D. Piskorowski @pd-cgt.bsky.social · 11h

Granada's in here and for my money that's a top 10 genesis shooter and a top tank shooter period

GSK | ALL CITY SLOP SHOP (ETA SOON) @allcityslopshop.com · 12h

Telenet Shooting Collection's coming to PC on November 10 store.steampowered.com/app/3888230/... as with the Valis comp PC port, it's a free launcher with individual purchases for each game (& only $5 each, not the $15 they're charging on Switch)

Telenet Shooting Collection Launcher on Steam

Welcome to Shooter Heaven! The classic Telenet Japan & Wolf Team shooters are back! Note: The “Telenet Shooting Collection Launcher” is a free game launcher that lets you play titles from Telenet ...

store.steampowered.com

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Gabriel Jones @pepsimanvsjoe.bsky.social · 12h

I published another review to my blog, but I'm going to wait a day or two before spamming links to it.

Reposted by Gabriel Jones

thelexhex AKA illyrilex 💫 @thelexhex.bsky.social · 12h

Got an impersonator up in here! Please report this asshole before they try to do damage please and thank you!

bsky.app/profile/thel...

bsky.app

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Gabriel Jones @pepsimanvsjoe.bsky.social · 1d

Batman Returns for Game Gear has a Shinobi-level of quality that's only held back from greatness - or at least very goodness - by a lack of stages & replay-value.
pepsimanvsjoe.blogspot.com/2025/10/bat-...

#retrogaming #sega

Bat-Octoberfest - Batman Returns (Game Gear)

pepsimanvsjoe.blogspot.com

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Reposted by Gabriel Jones

ThatPunkin' 🎃 @thatpunk.bsky.social · 22h

And on the 7th day... we put him to REST.

CV3 Linear hack, first time playing CV3, trial by fire, all paths in one shot...

DONE! 🕹️🦇‼️
twitch.tv/thatpunk_
#retrogaming #twitch #castlevania

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Gabriel Jones @pepsimanvsjoe.bsky.social · 17h

Tonight's look is Batman Eternity, a romhack of Batman Forever for the Sega Genesis that tries to make the game enjoyable.
pepsimanvsjoe.blogspot.com/2025/10/bat-...
Unfortunately, Sisyphus has a better chance at getting his rock up the mountain than Batman Forever has at getting good.
#retrogaming

Bat-Octoberfest - Batman Forever (Eternity rom-hack)

pepsimanvsjoe.blogspot.com

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Reposted by Gabriel Jones

Drew🖨️ @drewprints.bsky.social · 1d

Comix Zone #crt

Closeup of Sketch from the title screen of Comix Zone

Closeup of Mortus in the opening sequence of Comix Zone

Closeup of Sketch in the opening sequence of Comix Zone

Sketch throwing a punch in the first stage of Comix Zone

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Reposted by Gabriel Jones

St1ka @st1ka.bsky.social · 21h

I am covering EVERY First Person Shooter EVER made in Japan.

From 1985 to 2025, that's over 40 years and 70 games of gaming history.

Link: youtu.be/F80Cl6WzBNo?...

This was without a doubt the most ambitious video I've ever made.

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Gabriel Jones @pepsimanvsjoe.bsky.social · 21h

Sonic X is already off to a great start.

Sonic the Hedgehog jumping off of a cliff while laughing excitedly.

Sonic the Hedgehog falling into the abyss while laughing excitedly.

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Gabriel Jones @pepsimanvsjoe.bsky.social · 22h

The 50s are going to be a motherfucker.

Gabriel Jones @pepsimanvsjoe.bsky.social · 22h

I was kicking around ideas of what to say about Sword of Vermilion only to slip on the realization that it's a game I've been playing for around 35 years.

The reminder that I'm getting old and don't have much to look forward to besides aging (and bills) is as harsh as ever.

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Reposted by Gabriel Jones

Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 23h

D'Angelo has died after a battle with pancreatic cancer, his former manager says. He was 51

D'Angelo Dead at 51

Grammy-winning R&B soul singer D'Angelo is dead from pancreatic cancer ... TMZ has learned.

www.tmz.com

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Gabriel Jones @pepsimanvsjoe.bsky.social · 23h

And that's game!

I've got to say though.
The Sword of Vermilion looks less impressive than I expected.

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Gabriel Jones @pepsimanvsjoe.bsky.social · 23h

I don't think a final boss that has to hit me 789 times to kill me stands much of a chance.
Afterwards, I'm free to revisit the entire world (without random encounters) and celebrate with everyone. The game doesn't end until I go to a specific point.

Cook: "Today, everything's on the house!"

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Gabriel Jones @pepsimanvsjoe.bsky.social · 23h

Alright. It's time for Sword of Vermilion to end.
Using the cursed Old Nick Armor and Rafeal's Stick, I give myself an armor class of 2500.
Now, literally everything in the final dungeon can only do 1 HP of damage.
#retrogaming #sega #genesis

You can't pet the dragon in Sword of Vermilion, but you can still try.

I want to avoid leveling up, because it'll reduce my glitched stats to normal.

Even 1500+ armor class is more than enough to crush the game.

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Gabriel Jones @pepsimanvsjoe.bsky.social · 1d

After killing two more Demons, once of which was somewhere in a dungeon with SIX floors, the King was still hesitant to give up the ring.
He relented, but you know what they say:
"Too late for that, fucker!"
Thus, the king is dead and his kingdom destroyed.
#retrogaming

There's not much of a strategy beyond "hit the demon and hope you outlast it"

In fairness, the 6 floor dungeon is very straightforward and actually kind-of short.
But screw that King anyway.

King: "Why you insolent... OK, OK, sheathe your sword--no need for violence!"

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Reposted by Gabriel Jones

東屋十四郎🎨 @azumaya146.bsky.social · 1d

お絵描きしてる。

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Shadow Realm DJ TRiST @dezm101.bsky.social · 1d

The Contra stage from Konami Wai Wai World 2 #retrogaming #NES

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Gabriel Jones @pepsimanvsjoe.bsky.social · 1d

Glanced at Dissidia Duellum long enough to confirm that this is the exact hat I pictured a modern day Kain Highwind would wear.

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Gabriel Jones @pepsimanvsjoe.bsky.social · 1d

Mikito Ichikawa, Batman Returns GG's sound programmer, is still an active game developer via his company Mindware.
Both Heiankyo Alien and Uootoy 3671 are personal favorites of mine.
store.steampowered.com/search/?deve...

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Gabriel Jones @pepsimanvsjoe.bsky.social · 1d

Bat-Octoberfest - Batman Returns (Game Gear)

pepsimanvsjoe.blogspot.com

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