Gabriel Jones
@pepsimanvsjoe.bsky.social
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
November 30, 2025 at 5:33 AM
November 30, 2025 at 4:47 AM
Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore
1. Boss fight!
2. I can confirm the game has "coyote time". Hard to tell from a screenshot though.
3. Nope. No sexual tension here. Just a lady who looks like she needs a favor.
4. I just realized this bonus room is Hotel Mario. Close all the doors!
#retrogaming #steam
1. Boss fight!
2. I can confirm the game has "coyote time". Hard to tell from a screenshot though.
3. Nope. No sexual tension here. Just a lady who looks like she needs a favor.
4. I just realized this bonus room is Hotel Mario. Close all the doors!
#retrogaming #steam
November 30, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore
1. Boss fight!
2. I can confirm the game has "coyote time". Hard to tell from a screenshot though.
3. Nope. No sexual tension here. Just a lady who looks like she needs a favor.
4. I just realized this bonus room is Hotel Mario. Close all the doors!
#retrogaming #steam
1. Boss fight!
2. I can confirm the game has "coyote time". Hard to tell from a screenshot though.
3. Nope. No sexual tension here. Just a lady who looks like she needs a favor.
4. I just realized this bonus room is Hotel Mario. Close all the doors!
#retrogaming #steam
Warning! This is my most perverted Tekken Tag Tournament screenshot.
#retrogaming
#retrogaming
November 29, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Warning! This is my most perverted Tekken Tag Tournament screenshot.
#retrogaming
#retrogaming
Getting some time in with Arzette: Jewel of Faramore.
Yep. Definitely neat.
Combat is simple and snappy, with fun upgrades to pick up like this projectile-blocking shield.
Plenty of unhinged cutscenes as well.
#retrogaming #steam
Yep. Definitely neat.
Combat is simple and snappy, with fun upgrades to pick up like this projectile-blocking shield.
Plenty of unhinged cutscenes as well.
#retrogaming #steam
November 29, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Getting some time in with Arzette: Jewel of Faramore.
Yep. Definitely neat.
Combat is simple and snappy, with fun upgrades to pick up like this projectile-blocking shield.
Plenty of unhinged cutscenes as well.
#retrogaming #steam
Yep. Definitely neat.
Combat is simple and snappy, with fun upgrades to pick up like this projectile-blocking shield.
Plenty of unhinged cutscenes as well.
#retrogaming #steam
Another game I completely forgot about: Sonic Triple Trouble 16-bit. 1.5 acts in and I'm thoroughly impressed.
Hopefully I'll finish a playthrough instead of letting this collect dust on my computer for another couple years.
#retrogaming
Hopefully I'll finish a playthrough instead of letting this collect dust on my computer for another couple years.
#retrogaming
November 29, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Another game I completely forgot about: Sonic Triple Trouble 16-bit. 1.5 acts in and I'm thoroughly impressed.
Hopefully I'll finish a playthrough instead of letting this collect dust on my computer for another couple years.
#retrogaming
Hopefully I'll finish a playthrough instead of letting this collect dust on my computer for another couple years.
#retrogaming
Valis 3 on the Sega Genesis.
This has the sauce that was missing from the previous Valis I covered.
The latter half is particularly noteworthy since it loves having its heroines slide underneath spikes and over pits at the same time.
#retrogaming
This has the sauce that was missing from the previous Valis I covered.
The latter half is particularly noteworthy since it loves having its heroines slide underneath spikes and over pits at the same time.
#retrogaming
November 29, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Valis 3 on the Sega Genesis.
This has the sauce that was missing from the previous Valis I covered.
The latter half is particularly noteworthy since it loves having its heroines slide underneath spikes and over pits at the same time.
#retrogaming
This has the sauce that was missing from the previous Valis I covered.
The latter half is particularly noteworthy since it loves having its heroines slide underneath spikes and over pits at the same time.
#retrogaming
Just when I thought that I'd seen everything, Mega Man IV on the Game Boy made it so that the heroes actually recoil when they fire charged shots.
"I love it when I fire a charged shot and can't jump for the next few frames, making boss-fights unnecessarily harder." - Nobody
#retrogaming #capcom
"I love it when I fire a charged shot and can't jump for the next few frames, making boss-fights unnecessarily harder." - Nobody
#retrogaming #capcom
November 28, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Just when I thought that I'd seen everything, Mega Man IV on the Game Boy made it so that the heroes actually recoil when they fire charged shots.
"I love it when I fire a charged shot and can't jump for the next few frames, making boss-fights unnecessarily harder." - Nobody
#retrogaming #capcom
"I love it when I fire a charged shot and can't jump for the next few frames, making boss-fights unnecessarily harder." - Nobody
#retrogaming #capcom
Fighting game trash talk
November 28, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Fighting game trash talk
When I brought up Mega Man III GB earlier, @noahsbarks.com mentioned that Dust Man's stage might be the hardest classic MM stage.
It's... definitely a trial. No doubt about that. Most of the jumps have to be perfect. Laugh at my failings in screenshots #1 and #3.
#retrogaming #capcom
It's... definitely a trial. No doubt about that. Most of the jumps have to be perfect. Laugh at my failings in screenshots #1 and #3.
#retrogaming #capcom
November 28, 2025 at 2:09 AM
When I brought up Mega Man III GB earlier, @noahsbarks.com mentioned that Dust Man's stage might be the hardest classic MM stage.
It's... definitely a trial. No doubt about that. Most of the jumps have to be perfect. Laugh at my failings in screenshots #1 and #3.
#retrogaming #capcom
It's... definitely a trial. No doubt about that. Most of the jumps have to be perfect. Laugh at my failings in screenshots #1 and #3.
#retrogaming #capcom
On the plus side, Dr. Wily dies (for real this time) and the heroes can finally enjoy a life of peace.
November 27, 2025 at 4:57 PM
On the plus side, Dr. Wily dies (for real this time) and the heroes can finally enjoy a life of peace.
The second half of Mega Man III / Roll-chan World 3 is packed with that trademark Minakuchi Engineering attitude. The stages are as long and punishing as ever. Many spikes, tight jumps, multiple bosses that can't be trivialized with a random weapon.
It's pretty harsh.
#retrogaming #capcom
It's pretty harsh.
#retrogaming #capcom
November 27, 2025 at 4:56 PM
The second half of Mega Man III / Roll-chan World 3 is packed with that trademark Minakuchi Engineering attitude. The stages are as long and punishing as ever. Many spikes, tight jumps, multiple bosses that can't be trivialized with a random weapon.
It's pretty harsh.
#retrogaming #capcom
It's pretty harsh.
#retrogaming #capcom
Playing Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night after Castlevania: Curse of Darkness is like going from a duck to a phoenix.
There are one or two boring hallways in the entire game instead of hundreds, and Miriam can backstep-cancel to get through them quickly.
There are one or two boring hallways in the entire game instead of hundreds, and Miriam can backstep-cancel to get through them quickly.
November 27, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Playing Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night after Castlevania: Curse of Darkness is like going from a duck to a phoenix.
There are one or two boring hallways in the entire game instead of hundreds, and Miriam can backstep-cancel to get through them quickly.
There are one or two boring hallways in the entire game instead of hundreds, and Miriam can backstep-cancel to get through them quickly.
Roll Chan World 3 aka Mega Man III. I already played through the first two Game Boy Mega Mans (Mega Men?), so might as well continue. #retrogaming #capcom
November 27, 2025 at 5:10 AM
Roll Chan World 3 aka Mega Man III. I already played through the first two Game Boy Mega Mans (Mega Men?), so might as well continue. #retrogaming #capcom
Another game on my "to-play" list is Super Junkoid. Junkoid is a fantastic Metroid conversion for the NES. This SNES sequel looks to deliver more of the chilling atmosphere and strong level-design.
#retrogaming
#retrogaming
November 26, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Another game on my "to-play" list is Super Junkoid. Junkoid is a fantastic Metroid conversion for the NES. This SNES sequel looks to deliver more of the chilling atmosphere and strong level-design.
#retrogaming
#retrogaming
Hudson Selection Volume 4: Takahashi Meijin no Bouken Jima
It's a Newer Adventure Island for the Playstation 2.
Graphically it's a mixed bag, but I assure you the gameplay is rock-solid.
(Also, I'm not super good at the game or anything, skateboards are just really common)
#retrogaming
It's a Newer Adventure Island for the Playstation 2.
Graphically it's a mixed bag, but I assure you the gameplay is rock-solid.
(Also, I'm not super good at the game or anything, skateboards are just really common)
#retrogaming
November 26, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Hudson Selection Volume 4: Takahashi Meijin no Bouken Jima
It's a Newer Adventure Island for the Playstation 2.
Graphically it's a mixed bag, but I assure you the gameplay is rock-solid.
(Also, I'm not super good at the game or anything, skateboards are just really common)
#retrogaming
It's a Newer Adventure Island for the Playstation 2.
Graphically it's a mixed bag, but I assure you the gameplay is rock-solid.
(Also, I'm not super good at the game or anything, skateboards are just really common)
#retrogaming
Wai Wai World, where Konami's greatest heroes team up to save the day... provided you can find them all.
I'm still a bit lost on unlocking everyone's powers, but I have rescued Goemon and Simon.
How each stage becomes more difficult as I get deeper into them is handled really well.
#retrogaming
I'm still a bit lost on unlocking everyone's powers, but I have rescued Goemon and Simon.
How each stage becomes more difficult as I get deeper into them is handled really well.
#retrogaming
November 26, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Wai Wai World, where Konami's greatest heroes team up to save the day... provided you can find them all.
I'm still a bit lost on unlocking everyone's powers, but I have rescued Goemon and Simon.
How each stage becomes more difficult as I get deeper into them is handled really well.
#retrogaming
I'm still a bit lost on unlocking everyone's powers, but I have rescued Goemon and Simon.
How each stage becomes more difficult as I get deeper into them is handled really well.
#retrogaming
Oh right.
I nearly forgot about my Black Friday haul.
Trying to keep it light because I might have to shop for a new refrigerator.
I nearly forgot about my Black Friday haul.
Trying to keep it light because I might have to shop for a new refrigerator.
November 25, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Oh right.
I nearly forgot about my Black Friday haul.
Trying to keep it light because I might have to shop for a new refrigerator.
I nearly forgot about my Black Friday haul.
Trying to keep it light because I might have to shop for a new refrigerator.
One of the rewards for completing the game is Trevor Belmont mode. I uh... I think I'll just stick with the NES game for my Trevor fix.
Curse of Darkness is large in all of the wrong ways, and I don't have the strength to run through mostly empty corridors for another dozen hours.
#retrogaming
Curse of Darkness is large in all of the wrong ways, and I don't have the strength to run through mostly empty corridors for another dozen hours.
#retrogaming
November 25, 2025 at 4:05 PM
One of the rewards for completing the game is Trevor Belmont mode. I uh... I think I'll just stick with the NES game for my Trevor fix.
Curse of Darkness is large in all of the wrong ways, and I don't have the strength to run through mostly empty corridors for another dozen hours.
#retrogaming
Curse of Darkness is large in all of the wrong ways, and I don't have the strength to run through mostly empty corridors for another dozen hours.
#retrogaming
Dracula teleports less than usual, but he does have a grab that does insane damage, so watch for that. Second form is of course big and winged. I didn't get any shots of its super attacks (Sorry!).
Main tactic was spamming invincibility potions (yes that's a thing in this game)
...and done!
Main tactic was spamming invincibility potions (yes that's a thing in this game)
...and done!
November 25, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Dracula teleports less than usual, but he does have a grab that does insane damage, so watch for that. Second form is of course big and winged. I didn't get any shots of its super attacks (Sorry!).
Main tactic was spamming invincibility potions (yes that's a thing in this game)
...and done!
Main tactic was spamming invincibility potions (yes that's a thing in this game)
...and done!
Here's Death. His most notable aspect is the huge explosion spell he'll occasionally throw out. If you're trying to craft one of the ultimate weapons, then you'll have to figure out a way to tank that massive explosion so you can steal the needed material. I didn't bother with that.
#retrogaming
#retrogaming
November 25, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Here's Death. His most notable aspect is the huge explosion spell he'll occasionally throw out. If you're trying to craft one of the ultimate weapons, then you'll have to figure out a way to tank that massive explosion so you can steal the needed material. I didn't bother with that.
#retrogaming
#retrogaming
Dracula' Castle is much less impressive than usual.
I gave Lament of Innocence a lot of shit for its "hallways & rooms" level-design, and this game is orders of magnitude worse. There are eight floors of this nonsense.
It really doesn't help that Hector is even slower than Leon.
#retrogaming
I gave Lament of Innocence a lot of shit for its "hallways & rooms" level-design, and this game is orders of magnitude worse. There are eight floors of this nonsense.
It really doesn't help that Hector is even slower than Leon.
#retrogaming
November 25, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Dracula' Castle is much less impressive than usual.
I gave Lament of Innocence a lot of shit for its "hallways & rooms" level-design, and this game is orders of magnitude worse. There are eight floors of this nonsense.
It really doesn't help that Hector is even slower than Leon.
#retrogaming
I gave Lament of Innocence a lot of shit for its "hallways & rooms" level-design, and this game is orders of magnitude worse. There are eight floors of this nonsense.
It really doesn't help that Hector is even slower than Leon.
#retrogaming
Let's finish Castlevania: Curse of Darkness
First off, I raised some familiars that can make the screen explode.
Next, I crafted and sold a bunch of armor. One of the fairies has a full-heal spell that costs $5,000 a use. Pocket change.
All set for the Castle!
#retrogaming #konami
First off, I raised some familiars that can make the screen explode.
Next, I crafted and sold a bunch of armor. One of the fairies has a full-heal spell that costs $5,000 a use. Pocket change.
All set for the Castle!
#retrogaming #konami
November 25, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Let's finish Castlevania: Curse of Darkness
First off, I raised some familiars that can make the screen explode.
Next, I crafted and sold a bunch of armor. One of the fairies has a full-heal spell that costs $5,000 a use. Pocket change.
All set for the Castle!
#retrogaming #konami
First off, I raised some familiars that can make the screen explode.
Next, I crafted and sold a bunch of armor. One of the fairies has a full-heal spell that costs $5,000 a use. Pocket change.
All set for the Castle!
#retrogaming #konami
Not to be outdone, Valis drops a big heart at the beginning of this volcanic stage. I don't have any idea why. Yuko starts each new stage with full health.
November 25, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Not to be outdone, Valis drops a big heart at the beginning of this volcanic stage. I don't have any idea why. Yuko starts each new stage with full health.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
I don't want to pick on Casino Night Zone too much, but it is a bit silly for there to be invincibility and shield power-ups in an act where most players will see a single enemy and one set of spikes.
I don't want to pick on Casino Night Zone too much, but it is a bit silly for there to be invincibility and shield power-ups in an act where most players will see a single enemy and one set of spikes.
November 25, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
I don't want to pick on Casino Night Zone too much, but it is a bit silly for there to be invincibility and shield power-ups in an act where most players will see a single enemy and one set of spikes.
I don't want to pick on Casino Night Zone too much, but it is a bit silly for there to be invincibility and shield power-ups in an act where most players will see a single enemy and one set of spikes.