Gabriel Jones

There might be one or two dungeons to explore.

You're limited to 2 items at a time, so only take what you're certain you'll need.

Important items and even map pieces could be held by the locals. In some cases, you might need a translator to speak their language.

UFO 50 - Planet Zoldath

Surprisingly chill. Plunder the planet's natural resources and use items to obtain three map pieces.

Every game is randomly generated, but it shouldn't take too long to figure out how to win.

Not spectacular but still succeeds in concept and execution.
#indiegames

I remember this game having a discount Anna Williams named "Heels".

Also, one of the bad ends where Wirehead and his friends just get wasted by SMGs was kind of dark!

I've played through the game previously, but that was at least a few years back.

Finished Episode 1 of Heretic. Even on the moderate difficulty setting, the average map can have well past a hundred monsters. The labyrinthian level-designs and seemingly constant arrivals of new dangers ensure that there's hardly a moment to rest.
Nevertheless, it's on to Episode 2...
#retrogaming

I just want to reiterate that Lifeforce is a fun watch, an amazing watch if you're stoned.
Still available on tubi as of this moment.

The board contains many demons and a few villagers. Red demons are destroyed with one explosion while purple demons take 2. Each piece has its own explosive range, so chaining them together is essential to win.

Efficient players will be rewarded with more villagers, and more importantly, a surplus of pieces. Try to stock up early on so you'll have more resources for the final rounds.

A chain reaction in process. It doesn't look like much, but I assure you that it's pretty exhilarating when a plan comes together.

Needless to say, the final levels become next to impossible if there are a shortage of pieces. Hitting villagers with explosives is also very costly, but with so many demons around... sigh... It's frustrating.

UFO 50 - Devilition
A demon horde is storming the village. Drive them back with an explosive chain reaction.
A fun puzzle game, though RNG can be a real nuisance. Some of my attempts fell apart because demons would spawn all around villagers, severely limiting my options.

#indiegames

Hexen is one of those games that's actually a lot of fun with a group, especially since the Remaster features map markers that point everyone in the right direction.
Shame there are still only like 5 types of enemies, but at least the traps and puzzles stay interesting.
#retrogaming

I think I still like the NES port of Life Force the most.
There's a kickass skull with floating eyeballs and Ra's secret temple in space.
#retrogaming #konami

A parody of bad SEGA Master System Box Art, as if Sonic 1 had gotten such treatment. On the standard Master System box art template, a squidgy little Sonic, drawn with a bunch of off-model details as if someone only had a blurry screenshot of the game for reference, is in an ambigiously lame action pose with one arm and leg outstretched, next to a ring.

Another parody of bad SEGA Master System Box Art, this time for Sonic 2. This time the artist seems to have recieved a little more guidance - we see a slightly more on-model western Sonic - but still with a few odd incorrect details. He taps his foot and looks impatient as an equally only-vaguely on-model Robotnik steals away Tails, who is mostly just a pair of eyes in a dark cage hanging from the Egg Mobile, with a pair of hands gripping the bars and his two tails sticking out the back.

Another parody of bad Master System Box art, of Sonic 1 again but this time extra low-effort. Sonic, represented as a completely undetailed blue ball, jumps towards two rings. That's it.

Another parody of extra bad Master System Box art, of Sonic 2. Sonic's gloved hand comes from out of frame, giving a two-fingers peace sign, alongside Tails' two tails. Once again, that's it.

Sonic 1 and 2 for SEGA Master System, but if they had gotten that Crap Master System Box Art treatment (please enjoy both "somewhat crap" and "really crap" versions).

Happy 8-Bit Day (8/8)! ...Which isn't a thing but my friends and I think it ought to be.

#sonicfanart
[ #jezmmart | #fanart ]

I remember my stone was treated with lithotripsy, but that's a non-invasive procedure.
Having a tiny Vic Viper shooting lasers everywhere couldn't have been much worse than what I was going through.

Kidney stones cannot be destroyed.

Sometimes I wonder what would've happened if they combined Konami's shmup Life Force with the movie Lifeforce.
"It's worse than I could ever imagine."
"My god..."
"I've never seen so many kidney stones."

"ARGGHHHH!!!"
"It's no good! He has kidney stones in his lungs!"
#retrogaming

"What a bright light! With this, the darker parts of the ocean will be no problem at all!" The spotlight makes the final area much easier to navigate.

You can carry several objects at once. This might save you time on trips, but don't die! Otherwise, you'll have to go back and grab everything again.

"What in the world... What's this ominous statue?" This is the final boss.

The more upgrades you have, the easier the final boss gets. Some experience with shmups also helps, as he does fling a few bullets around.

UFO 50 - Porgy complete!

If you have 3-5 hours to spare, then this undersea adventure is a must-play. Hunting down upgrades and bringing them back to base lends a nice twist to the metroidvania formula.

Only a few items can be equipped at once, adding extra dimension to a great game.
#indiegames

Gradius Origins also has a "show hitbox" feature, so you can see the difference between original mode and easy mode for yourself.
(Left is Original)
(Right is Easy)
#retrogaming #konami

Arcade Appreciation - Gradius

I wrote a few words on Gradius 1.
It's been a long time since I covered any arcade games on the blog. Funny, considering that arcade games were the main reason why I started writing about games in the first place.

Oh well
pepsimanvsjoe.blogspot.com/2025/08/arca...

#konami #retrogaming

The Crossbow is one of my favorite weapons in Heretic, and it has received a notable buff in the remaster.
Nice and punchy.

You'll probably be seeing more reposts than usual from me.
At least until my wrist gets better.
Playing shmups on an arcade stick while suffering "mild" wrist pain was a big mistake.

There are 6 characters, all with different skills and strengths.

Hitting the ball builds up a charge meter, allowing for special attacks.

Ayumi wins! (I didn't see this very often in my play-through)

Get used to seeing the continue screen. By the way, you can't use continues if you want the cherry. My first (and most assuredly last) attempt took me 19 continues... I feel like I'm playing another old-school SNK fighter.

UFO 50 - Bushido Ball
If you've played Air Hockey and wished you could drop bombs or caltrops to mess with your opponent, then this for you.
HOWEVER, playing against the AI will drain your soul, especially if you try for the no continues run.

Make a friend and play with them instead.
#indiegames

Rescuing 200 oopies wins the game. Next time, maybe I should try riskier strategies to get a hi-score.

UFO 50 - Magic Garden
A charming little game where you lead a chain of oopies to happiness over and over again. Sip magic potions to go berserk on the meanies that get in your way.
It's like Snake meets Ms. Pac-Man... or something. Simple to grasp, difficult to master.

Not bad at all!
#indiegames

If you want to unlock the first two, enter the Konami code on the Gradius or Salamander version select menus respectively (on Playstation go ⬆️⬆️⬇️⬇️⬅️➡️⬅️➡️OX instead of BA)

YouTube video by Tricky Eileen You Missed This in Virtua Fighter Reveal

You missed it.

The new Virtua Fighter gameplay reveal just quietly showed off blue parries, perfect tech, and a mechanic that might change everything.

I broke it all down:
youtu.be/B8NKRXl4h7c

Arcade Appreciation - Gradius

I wrote a few words on Gradius 1.
It's been a long time since I covered any arcade games on the blog. Funny, considering that arcade games were the main reason why I started writing about games in the first place.

Oh well
pepsimanvsjoe.blogspot.com/2025/08/arca...

#konami #retrogaming

I've been spending time figuring out what I want to say on Gradius 1. The short version is that it's an arcade classic that still holds up wonderfully.
Maybe not as exciting and inventive as its successors, but there is a fundamental grittiness that's quite fun to experience.
#retrogaming #konami

This VR Troopers game is b-a-a-a-d BAD.
- Moves do about the same damage whether they're blocked or not.
- Wake-up options are nonexistent.
- Annoying "Battle Grid" fights. You have to redo fights if you lose.
+ The visual effects are neat. Late-era Genesis could do some magic.
#retrogaming

Games* is back on the menu, people!

Feed me!

*these would be ~375 word $10 section essays, just to be clear

Seriously, my first Steam purchase was the entire Id library back in 2005, so getting these "free" remasters every 1 to 2 years is a treat.

Heretic is legit. I did a play-through a couple years back and it has aged like fine wine.

If the enhanced edition makes enemies at tad less bullet-spongey, then it's perfect.

That's neat.
I wasn't expecting to find a Heretic & Hexen remaster sitting in my Steam library.
#retrogaming

Gradius Origins also has a "show hitbox" feature, so you can see the difference between original mode and easy mode for yourself.
(Left is Original)
(Right is Easy)
#retrogaming #konami

Position your ship in this spot. With the right option positioning and missiles, you should be able to defeat this boss without moving.

And just as I figured, there is a safe spot.
Spoiler alert!
Credit goes to this 1-life clear video by BlazingLazers69
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJoh...
Congrats to them btw. Salamander is a tough cookie.

Yeah uh... I don't have any idea how I managed to screw up the 4th boss.
He should be flooding the screen with balls, but he's on a vacay, apparently.