52 Games Challenge 2026!!!

[dhaabi]

09. Witch and Hero II || Nintendo 3DS || 02.17.2026



Twelve years ago, I first played Witch and Hero and greatly enjoyed my time with it despite its straightforward gameplay and rudimentary presentation. About two years ago now, I found out that it received not one but two sequels, so I was keen on playing through those in time. Well, I've now finally played through the second entry, aptly named Witch and Hero II.

With simple gameplay that replicates a subset of RPGs from the mid-1980s, Witch and Hero II is an action-RPG emphasizing bump combat mechanics. So what that means exactly is that the combat largely revolves moving around the field while pummeling straight into enemies to attack and defeat them. However, Witch and Hero II is, in some way, even simpler than the games it's inspired by as there isn't an overworld to explore but instead stages with a single-screen battle display. At the beginning of each stage, the two titular characters Little Witch and Little Hero are at center-screen while hordes of enemies surround them in never-ending waves. And as a result, combat is a battle of attrition. Unlike in the first title, the player can now control both characters individually and simultaneously: one with the directional pad and the other with face buttons. Before, the witch character was unable to move while the hero was forced to guard her. That same structure still remains, though, as Little Witch is slow, weak, and often without any means of offense. At first, controlling both characters in tandem was a bit difficult to perform as they're often performing two separate tasks—attacking as Little Hero and evading as Little Witch—but I became more accustomed to it as the game progressed.

Adding depth to combat, Witch and Hero II has a dedicated leveling system. Leveling up is dependent on collecting enemy spoils which yields EXP points, but I found player level progression more minor than the alternative that's the skill level system. Alongside EXP points, gold can be collected which can later be exchanged at the main menu shop. The shop itself offers some variability to allow players to strengthen their characters' individual stats in the way they'd like to prioritize. For instance, players can choose to spend gold on Little Hero's defense power or the Little Witch's spell power. Altogether, there are five separate stats to upgrade. While gold isn't limited by any means, the cost of leveling skills prevents players from quickly purchasing upgrades in bulk. So, players will naturally choose which upgrades they think best suit their play style, though a more balanced build seems most practical to me. And if it was not made aware, spoils are not automatically picked up but instead must be gathered, so it's easily possible to preemptively end the stage by defeating its boss enemy before collecting everything.

While it may seem that the game is designed around Little Hero protecting Little Witch, that's certainly not true. Together, the two are on a quest that relates to the events of the first game utilizing each of the pair's strengths: physical and magic power. But while Little Hero can attack freely, Little Witch has a finite amount of magic available to her at any one time. As enemies are defeated, magic power fragments that's represented by blood droplets must be collected, and it's only after the magic meter is full will one of two magic attacks be performed in a short burst. Little Witch is very much a passive force, meaning it's Little Hero who's at the forefront of combat. As a result, it's common for him to be temporarily knocked out. Little Witch can more quickly revive him, so there is a level of strategy involved to defeat certain enemies or to knock them back further away in addition to ensuring the two characters are near each other when this happens. Because while the hero can be knocked out any number of times, the witch will die when her health is depleted that instantly results in failing the stage.

With thirty stages to complete, Witch and Hero II offers a considerable amount of content despite its lack of variety. But it's this simplicity that the game strives to achieve and does accomplish; the campaign is especially ideal for short pick-up-and-play sessions as stages can be completed in two or three minutes. Stages can be freely selected once unlocked, so players are capable of grinding. In fact, grinding may be expected considering there can be difficulty spikes from stage to stage. However, I wasn't overly focused on rushing through the campaign, so I'd regularly go back to past stages to earn more gold for leveling up stats. I'm sure that progressing through the game playing each stage only once is possible, though I imagine it'd be a challenge.

After all this time, the games' elementary gameplay remains fun to play. I'm glad to have revisited the series by playing through Witch and Hero II, and I know I'll be playing the third and final title sooner than later.

[marvelvscapcom2]

12. Plants Vs. Zombies: Replanted [PS5] - finished Feb 22nd, 2026




Plants vs Zombies replanted is a modern retake of a classic game.  It surprisingly doesnt change much. Did it add 50 new levels of pea shooting excellence for the 40 USD? Nope.  Did it give you more plants to plant? Not at all. It gave you exactly what you remember. Plants vs zombies.  A game that was free like almost 16 years ago on popcap games website playing on an old laptop running windows vista. 

For that, I gotta say. It isn't as ground breaking or refreshing as it should be.  It is an iconic tactics kinda game and with that comes nostalgia and fun. It's an amazingly fun and addictive game with a zenful entertainment factor. But shit, even the original ps3 console version over 13 years ago had peggle bundled in and was 30 dollars for all of it.  This feels a tad cash in.  It had no need to be 40 dollars.  20 or 10 is fine.  I honestly cant see much difference between this and what I played in middle school. I'm almost 30 now lol.  So yeah.


With that said. The game itself is clever, colorful, fun, cute, everything you remember.  But I just think more could have been done. But I will rate it on what quality of game it always was.  I will say they have added some things.  None major.  But one fun addition is you are now allowed to click L3 which then speeds up the entire game. This is a blessing to expedite the early level slow ups and get your sunshines quicker. It adds challenge for die hards as well b overall I love this game. I just wish they did more than replant the game. I wish they added fertilizer.


83/100

[marvelvscapcom2]

13. Color A Dinosaur [NES] - Finished Feb 22nd, 2026




A DINO TIME PORTAL OF SENTIMENTALITY


The 80s were such a glorious time.  Hair bands, Irocs and primative tech that somehow felt so space age. Clunky Grey plastic, vintage computing slowly unvieling color in a digital landscape of hollow. Before the advent of the internet or better yet to be more clear commercial internet to consumer homes. There was a day where electronic innovation came in the form of 8 Tracks in cars, giga pets and the magic 8 ball was about as state of the art as humanity had.  Watching people push the envelope further and further to reach what tech would eventually be is cute.  I have been mocked for wanting Color a dinosaur for years. It's oddly been something that makes me long for a time I wasnt born within. But I finally got a copy.  Not because it's castlevania symphony of the night. Not because it's this big cinematic experience. But because it's not...  it's a window into a simpler time.  And that is truly what I love about it.  It is so funny, that it's epic.  Like how ROB robot sucks. But everyone wants one because it's so cool.


And in playing it, I imagine it's history. Somewhere a child got this game for their birthday or some mom got it from a Ame's super mart or something. Someone who is now in their 50s maybe. And it became their digital coloring book for a day.  Seeing the colored paint magically fill the lines I bet blew minds back then.  Or at least was a relaxing goof for parents to enjoy quiet for an hour or so.  It's the berlin wall of games. It's a Bicentennial quarter. It's a lava lamp on grandma's dresser. It's everything and nothing at all.  And sometimes to me games aren't about the glit and glam. It's about remembering what life was like at a different time.  Now Mario Paint would go on to take this idea and perfect it. Many PC games had this tech earlier.  And of course now we have apps that can do this. But my point is, this concept is not extinct. It's part of our culture.  And Color A Dinosaur is hilarity, an anti game of sorts. A tech demo that makes me smile.  And for me. That is worth what was asked to own it.  I love Barachiosauruses. I got to paint one all goofy colors.  Even the dinosaurs themselves dont take it seriously. They smile and goof about. 


Now ponder actual dinosaurs.  Going extinct millions of years ago but leaving such an impact that humans glorify you with 1980s Nintendo games. It tells a story. To me it's kinda like when you get a cartridge with a blockbuster sticker. A name written on.  Or my favorite yet. Cheat code papers on the inside. I even have a game that says "to Kelcey love Adam" on a copy of FF13.  It's like the game holds a archival footprint that was just a fleeting moment to 2 star crossed lovers but now is immortalized by my curation.  Kinda intense.  Well Color a Dinosaur is why the earth exists. 


Rating - Not Rateable