Pt FTW

I have just done something which made me very pleased. In fact, I was so pleased I broke out the Alan Partridge-isms. I got through “Cashback!” “Spiceworld!” and “Jurassic Park!” in a matter of seconds. What had made me so happy was that I had finally achieved my first PS3 Platinum Trophy, which is to say I had finally collected all of the Trophies available for that game. (If you live on planet Xbox and have no idea what I’m on about – it is the equivalent of scoring all 1000G for a title)

Now, I’m keenly aware that many of you out there probably find it surprising that I consider this to be news, or  that I have never done this before. Heck, Ready Up’s very own Jake quite literally lives on achievement points. I actually think he aims for 2,500 per day, just like calories. It is, however, sadly true – in about four years of next generation gaming, I have never scored 1,000 achievement points or collected a Platinum trophy on either of my consoles.

Partly it’s down to my attitude towards doing things for points or trophies that, effectively, mean dick all. Mostly, though, it’s down to the fact that I tend to buy and play a LOT of games, and by the time I’ve finished one game’s main story I’m already starting another. In fact, during the time I was playing Assassin’s Creed 2 – the donor of my Platinum trophy – I have also been playing Modern Warfare 2 and the new Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time. Just like last year, the two months before Christmas have been packed with gaming goodness, so I’m genuinely surprised that now is the time I’ve finally broken my duck. (No duck-shagging jokes at the back, please)

Of course, some games have ludicrous Achievements or Trophies that you are never going to manage, so there is immediately no point trying. Some require you to be number one in the world leaderboards, some require you to play a certain game every day for 100 days, and some require you to smother your genitals with honey and hump a wasps’ nest. I made that last one up, but frankly I’d rather do that than play Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway once a day every day for 100 days.

Assassin’s Creed 2, on the other hand, wasn’t too unreasonable with its demands. Many of the trophies were for the story, some for fighting and the rest were for collectables. I’m sure all score-whores and trophy-trollops know only too well that it’s always the collectables that take the most time. Assassin’s Creed 2 provides you with 100 hidden feathers, across five  – count ’em – five separate maps. With most games, even using a walkthrough it would be nothing like my idea of fun to go collecting. However, the world created on AC2 was so engrossing, I actually welcomed the chance to spend more time in it. Collecting was suddenly fun. If I had my own Animus at home, nothing would ever get done.

So, I’ve finally done it. I experienced the thrill of my very first Platinum trophy, and I loved it. Am I hooked though? Will I do it again? Personally, I doubt it, but then I’d never say never.

After all, there’s always Assassin’s Creed 3, right?