Why This Game?
I have been sitting on this one for a while, but decided it was finally time to crack this one open over the weekend and grab the relatively easy platinum in NCIS for PS3. This is one of those famously easy games to platinum, all of the trophies are unmissable, but what ended up being more interesting was how much fun I had with it. I’ll get to that a bit later, but suffice to say that this might be my most-recommended easy platinum ever earned.
Was it Quick?
I’m honestly not sure if this is the fastest platinum I’ve ever gotten, but it’s definitely up there. Containing a total of 4 episodes, this game is super short. Each episode should take you somewhere around an hour, though they do vary in length a bit. In a day where I had other things going on, I was easily able to finish the game and collect my coveted 100% in just two sittings. (9 out of 10)
Was it Easy?
In stark contrast to the entry from last week, this is about as easy as you can get. Just play through the game and you’re done. Combined with the short length, this makes it feel like one of the easiest platinum trophies out there. There are a couple of crime scenes in the game with some reasonably tough clues to spot, but I never used a guide and came out pretty quickly. Yes, if you’re looking for a mindless platinum, this is where you should look first, perhaps even before the majority of the Telltale games out there. (10 out of 10)
Was It Fun?
This one looked like a bit of a slog from the outside looking in. I’m pleased to say that I couldn’t have been more wrong. Let me be clear: NCIS is not a well-made game. The character models look awful, I am still convinced one of the voice-actors is computer-generated and some of the controls are bafflingly poorly thought-out. That said, sometimes a game transcends quality and just becomes beautiful in spite of its flaws. Coming into the game having never seen a single episode of the NCIS TV show, I could not differentiate between intentional wackiness and hastily designed jankiness. This made for constant hilarious moments that deserves its own drinking game. (9 out of 10)
Any Other Thoughts?
Going into this game, I expected it to be fairly similar to the CSI games I’ve played in the past. In many ways this ended up being true, but where those games can end up taking themselves more seriously than perhaps they deserve, it felt as though NCIS knew exactly what it is: a hastily-developed cash grab for a popular procedural crime show. Going into this game with the right frame of mind will make you enjoy the entire experience and come out the other ended with one of the easiest platinums out there.
