As I write this I’m watching my 7-year old niece racing around in Forza Horizon 4 using my Logitech steering wheel. She’s just done about a dozen donuts while trying to run over a deer, loudly complaining that they always manage to jump out of her way. A few minutes earlier she screamed at the GPS for telling her to turn right before yelling again because she missed the turn. She’s been cackling like a witch pretty much the entire time, though, so at least she’s having fun. At least, I think she’s having fun. That maniacal laugh is kind of concerning. Maybe I should take her to a vet or something.

Since getting my grubby hands on a PS5 I’ve found myself chasing Trophies a bit more, something I didn’t used to to. Back in the days of the Xbox 360 I did hunt Achievements a bit, but eventually lost interest. Even with my renewed interest though, getting a Platinum trophy just looked like too much work, to be honest, and would be liable to kick my interest in a game firmly in the nuts. Hitman 3 was different though, because it’s already a game about replaying it multiple times in different ways and that’s exactly what Hitman 3’s Platinum trophy wanted me to do. I loved the hell out of getting the full mastery of the various levels and pulling off the specific kills needed. The final thing I needed to do for my Platinum trophy was gas the two targets in Mendoza at the same time, something which I quickly discovered did not involve bodily functions, to my dismay. Funnily enough also meant failing the mission because Diana Burnwood got gassed in the process, although weirdly if you us a sedative instead of a lethal gas then Diana is complete unaffected. What’s that about? According to my PS5 my Platinum trophy had only been earned by 0.5% of other players and that felt kinda good.

I might see about getting a few more Platinum trophies. I’d quite like to do Spider-Man: Miles Morales or maybe Control now that I have the new Ultimate Edition courtesy of PSN. The one I’d really like to get is Tony Hawks Pro Skater 1+2, but I don’t think I even have the skills. I’ve already spent hours and hours just trying to get the trophy for doing all the hard Get There gaps and wound up thinking about hurling my controller into the nearest wall.

Nabbing the trophy did give me a random idea that I thought I’d chuck up here for a laugh. Would it be cool if when you unlocked a Platinum trophy you got a little unique QR code or something that you could use to buy a 3D printed Platinum trophy complete with the name of the game on it, your PSN name and the date and time you unlocked the trophy? I think it would be cool, and I could easily see myself chasing some Plats if I also got to have a physical collection. Who knows, maybe some entrepid Sony employee will snaffle my idea and I spend the rest of my life ranting about how my awesome idea was totally stolen.

I did end up having to get a new Dualsense because of the stick drift I was experiencing got to the point of making some games unplayable. I couldn’t complete a level in Hitman without spending most of either fighting the camera or staring at the ceiling. At least my victims probably died laughing. Anyway, I’ll send in the other Dualsense and hopefully Sony will get it fixed or replace quite quickly, although I’m hearing it can take them weeks.

I’ve been playing quite a lot of Destruction AllStars, the brand new PS5 exclusive that is being given away free right now if you have a Playstation Network subscription. Honestly, I’m baffled by how this was once going to be a £70 release because it’s thinner than crappy paint from the corner shop. There’s barely any content in the game, and certainly not enough to justify £70. I’m not sure how much it will be once it goes on sale properly, but I think it would be better as a free-to-play game, or perhaps £10 at the most. It is fun, but that fun doesn’t last long. I think I’ve played maybe 3 or 4 hours and the novelty has worn off already. With that said, I do think there’s a good foundation there and Destruction AllStars could be a great little game in the future if the developers keep working on it and players give it a chance. Plus, the simplicity of the destruction derby gameplay means it’s an easy game to jump into every week or two for a match or three which I can see myself doing. Full review to come down the line.

I am planning on reviewing The Medium, too. My Hitman obsession got in the way so I’ve barely played any of it, but the concept of playing in two realms of existence at the same time is pretty cool. I’m looking forward to seeing what Bloober Team do with the idea, although I’m not convinced about about the locked camera views. It’s a gorgeous game, mind you, with amazing lighting in places.

As for reviews I have published, I covered Hitman 3! In case you hadn’t guessed already, I kind of bloody love it, though I refrained from giving it 5 stars and settled on 4 instead, because while I do personally love it there are some flaws and, as sequels go, it’s rather safe. It’s more Hitman and I’m happy with that, but for other people it may feel like a very expensive expansion pack and they wouldn’t be wrong.

As for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game Complete Edition, I wasn’t as in enamored with it as I might have hoped given my love of the books and the movie. It isn’t bad, but as brawlers go I do think it’s stiff and awkward at times. Thankfully, it still looks great and that soundtrack is wicked good. Take a listen.

Now that you’ve been sufficiently improved via the medium of damn good music, it’s time for me to sign off! Reviews of Destruction AllStars, The Medium and the PS5 Media Remote are all forthcoming, assuming I don’t finally decide to follow my lifelong ambition of building a nest and refusing to leave it.