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52 Games Challenge 2026!!!

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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.


79/100

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

kamikazekeeg:
6 - Doom: The Dark Ages (PC 2025) - BEAT - I really loved the first Doom reboot, and didn't really love Doom Eternal as much, but Dark Ages is okay.  From what I remember I didn't super love the gameplay loop of Eternal, it involved using more particular weapons for kills, where Dark Ages is more about the parry system being how you get health and ammo and you get to tackle stuff however you want for the most part and the parry system does keep you on your toes, though because it's so much a focus, it takes away from some of the direct gunplay action.

Some new things they tried were giant mech fights, which were just kinda middling, and free roam dragon flight areas, which I could do without, those are lame.  The game in general wasn't truly hitting me early on, the first half is just fine, you get your slightly scifi fantasy setting, then hell, but a little over half way, you get a whole new zone to explore and it's way more interesting than anything before.  Kinda that last half/third of the game got way more intense and I just liked the setting more.

Something I feel like I enjoy less is seeing glowing orbs of ammo and health packs around.  They were then in Eternal I believe and functionally similar in 2016, but it was handled like actual ammo supplies in 2016, but a lot of stuff in this game feels like I'm playing Banjo-Kazooie, you go to an area that is lined neatly with ammo, gold bars lay in nice neat lines for you to pick up, it's almost a collectathon.  That stuff was sorta always there, not the gold, upgrades were you actually finding the parts in 2016, it's just boosted to a larger degree.

It's weird to go back to Doom 2016 after this, I thought I'd fire it up to see what was different and it's not as much as I thought, but man I like that game.  Fights against a couple imps or undead soldiers can be enough of a fight, glory kills are kinda satisfying, compared to the other games where they become completely useless fodder because the actual fights are against all the things bigger than you.  The Slayer is like a god tier being, shaking the ground like someone dropping a 1,000 pound wrecking ball...in Doom 2016, he's more just a badass in a suit and the "epicness" comes abit more naturally.

I didn't hate Dark Ages, I took my time with it, didn't burn through the game too fast, honestly just been playing a level here and there for abit, until this past weekend when I went way harder just wanting to beat the game.  Some of these levels are way too big and long, it was sorta the same thing with Eternal where they wanted to up the scale like crazy and it wasn't a ton better for it.  That collectathon aspect I brought up before is why they are so big, I was very back and forth on that throughout the game, hating the secret area hunting, but then wanted to do it more later since you need gold to boost your guns.

I think I might've said I was done with Doom with Eternal, but I think I'm good with Dark Ages unless they try to do something more different, bring it closer to Doom 2016, scale it back down, which I doubt they will, but this game was good enough to be done with the series.  I'm tempted to play through Doom 2016 now proper, played the first level, it's weird not having all these mechanics, but I dig it, it still feels good to play.

bikingjahuty:
18. God of War III (PS3)

Last year, I made it my mission to at least re-beat the first two God of War games in preparation for finally forging ahead in this series. I've never played God of War III, the various God of War spin offs, and of course the modern sequels that have Kratos living in Norse mythology times. I've read numerous sources online that said you don't have to really beat the original GOW trilogy to understand what's going on in 2018's God of War, however I felt like even if that's true, I'd at least appreciate the 2018 game and Ragnarok a lot more if I did. Well, this evening I finally beat God of War III for the first time, and while I mostly enjoyed my experience with it, the game was certainly a mix of pretty high highs and various low lows that have me feeling conflicted.


My biggest gripes and some of my biggest praised revolve around God of War 3's gameplay. Unlike GOW2 which at times felt way too derivative of the first GOW's gameplay, mainly the various abilities, weapons and power ups you receive, GOW3 felt very fresh. GOW3 introduces almost an entirely new set of weapons and abilities while still using the pretty awesome core gameplay found in those first two entries. Combat feels probably the best its felt in any of the first three GOW games, The various abilities you unlike through the course of the game result in some of the best boss battles of the series up to this point...but also some of the worst too. The Hades boss fight has officially become my favorite boss fight in the series, meanwhile fighting the giant scorpion and Zeus to an extent have become some of my least favorite encounters. However, it's not the combat gameplay that drags my opinion of GOW3's overall gameplay down. No, it's kinda everything else for the most part.


The platforming in GOW3 is definitely the worst in the series up to this point. A new harpy grabbing mechanic is introduced and my god is it awful. I don't know how many times I plummeted to my death when trying to jump to another harpy or onto a ledge. Then there's the issues with some of the platforming when you're not replying on harpies, and just, you know, jumping from one ledge to the next. There are also a plethora of new gameplay mechanics just as sections where you're either flying or plummeting while having to dodge a punch of objects and obstacles. Meandering Kratos in this sections sucks and it's almost a certainty that you will take a needless amount of damage when getting through them. I won't knock GOW3's puzzles too much, but yes, some of them are fairly annoying and tedious as well. Oh, and to top it all off, near the end of the game you're introduced to an escort mechanic which just felt tacked on a frankly just as annoying as escort mechanics are in most games.


While you will be in combat with the various monsters and enemies present in GOW3 most of the time, these other mechanics are enough of an annoyance where it's impossible to to mention them. There were times when playing GOW3 where I thought to myself, "Wow, this game is amazing to play!" only for me to have the opposite opinion of it half an hour later. It was fairly jarring, but in the end, I will say that GOW3's gameplay is better overall than it is worse.


GOW3's best quality consistently is its visuals and presentation. This is a very good looking 7th gem game. Especially the character modeling on Kratos and several other main characters is highly detailed and just gives them new life in terms of how great they look. Although, in saying this, visual fidelity of characters seemed to be a mixed bag, with some of the more minor characters looking noticeably less detailed than Kratos, which was a bit odd looking at times. Still, this didn't distract too much from what was otherwise a game full of very good looking character models and their animations. Likewise, the backgrounds and settings in GOW3 look fantastic! There are a few areas such as the labyrinth that I wasn't as big of a fan of, but like the previous 2 games, GOW3 does an excellent job of portraying the epicness of scale that really gives this series a distinct identity. Fighting, enemy, and boss design and animations are also amazing for the most part.


In terms of GOW3's story, it's definitely the weakest of the original trilogy. The writing just feels a bit all over the place despite the central plot revolving around Kratos' obsession with seeking vengeance against Zeus. There were a few times where you have to go out of your way to find some odd thing, but then another thing needs to be found, and for reasons Kratos seems to care more about those other things than he does getting his revenge. There is also a part towards the end of the game where Kratos just acts weird and it definitely seemed to clash with the character that has been established thus far in the game. I am purposely being vague as not to spoil anything, but yeah, while not terrible, the writing was definitely a lot weaker than it was in GOW and GOW2.


Finally, audio in GOW3 is pretty awesome. Character voice acting, including the inclusion of some recognizable celebrity talent was all really good for the most part. The soundtrack felt like it was lifted from the previous two games, which is fine, but nothing music wise really stood out for me. Still, the soundtrack is perfectly appropriate and fitting for this game which means I have nothing inherently bad to say about it. Sound effects all sound meaty and cool, and the sound design in general is on par with what you'd expect from an early 2010s AAA game.


Beyond mostly enjoying GOW3 and being happy I finally beat it, I am possibly even more excited to move on to the modern GOW games. I know those games have their critics, but overall the consensus seems to be that Santa Monica Studios sent the series in a different direction with a much different Kratos than what we got in the original trilogy and spinoff games. I'm eager to see how this plays out and if I do in fact appreciate GOW 2018 more now that I've recently beat the original trilogy. Still, newer games aside, GOW3 is a fitting and welcome entry in the original canon of games that I'm happy I played and will certainly return to again someday down the road. (2/23/26) [37/50]

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