Unbelievable! The Laziest Trophy Lists in PS5 History? Say it isn't so!
Let's get straight to the point: Trophies are a fun bonus, but they're not the sole reason we play games. A fantastic game with lackluster Trophies is still a fantastic game.
However, it's reasonable to expect modern PS5 games to offer an engaging set of Trophies. After all, it's part of the PlayStation experience, and who doesn't love a good Platinum to show off?
Enter Hamster, the Japanese developer behind the Arcade Archives series. Over the years, they've realized that Trophies add value to their retro releases. Their original Arcade Archives titles lacked Trophies, but the updated Arcade Archives 2 series includes Platinums that are easy yet satisfying to unlock.
But with their new Console Archives collection, it seems they've taken a step back. Cool Boarders and Ninja Gaiden 2, released this week, have Trophy lists that are an absolute joke - worse even than the typical shovelware.
Each game has a mere four Trophies, which you can unlock by playing for ten minutes on three different days. You can even cheat the system clock to get them all in one go!
The lack of effort is even more glaring when you consider that Cool Boarders already has a PS5 Trophy list, thanks to Sony's PS Plus Premium emulation program. That version has 40 Trophies and a Platinum!
The reason for the re-release is a rights issue: the Western editions were owned by Sony, while the Japanese version was held by UEP Systems. The Console Archives option is based on the Japanese build.
This is a real letdown. We're glad Console Archives exists and are excited for the classic games it will bring to the PS Store. But we can't help but hope Hamster reconsiders their Trophy approach. We understand the desire for a simple implementation, but a bit more thought and effort would be greatly appreciated.
And this is the part most people miss: it's not just about the Trophies themselves, but the experience they create. A well-designed Trophy list can enhance the gameplay and provide a sense of achievement.
So, what do you think? Are Trophies an essential part of the gaming experience, or just a nice bonus? And what's your take on Hamster's approach? Let us know in the comments!
