• The "Console Archives" Debut: Hamster has officially launched its new retro line with Cool Boarders and Ninja Gaiden 2.
  • Trophy List Controversy: Both titles feature what are being called the "worst Trophy lists" on the store, offering only four Trophies each with no Platinum.
  • Zero Effort Meta-Game: Trophies are unlocked simply by playing for ten minutes on three different days—a massive step back from Hamster’s Arcade Archives 2 standards.
  • Rights Complications: The Cool Boarders release is based on the UEP Systems Japanese build, distinct from the Sony-published Western version currently on PS Plus Premium.
  • What’s Next: The arcade-only Rave Racer is slated for a PS5 release later this month.

Hamster’s Console Archives: A Great Start Marred by Lazy Meta-Games

We’ve long championed Hamster for their dedication to preserving arcade history, and their new **Console Archives** collection should be a cause for celebration. Bringing classics like Cool Boarders and Ninja Gaiden 2 to the PS5 is exactly what retro fans want. However, as veteran hunters know, the "meta-game" matters. While a bad Trophy list doesn’t ruin a great game, it certainly sours the experience on PlayStation. Hamster seems to have forgotten the lessons they learned with their Arcade Archives 2 series—which includes enjoyable Platinums for hits like Ridge Racer—and has instead delivered a set of "gongs" that feel like an afterthought.

The "Ten-Minute" Trophy Problem

The lists for Cool Boarders and Ninja Gaiden 2 are, frankly, embarrassing. We’re looking at just four Trophies per title. The "challenge" involves playing the game for ten minutes across three separate days. If you're feeling impatient, you can even manipulate your system clock to sweep the whole list in minutes. Our take? This misses the mark completely. This level of low-effort design is usually reserved for "shovelware" titles designed solely for easy points. For a prestigious developer like Hamster, we expected more "thoughtful lists" that actually reward mastery of these classics.

The Tale of Two Cool Boarders

The lack of effort is even more glaring when you compare this version of Cool Boarders to the one already sitting in the PS Plus Premium emulation catalog.
  • Sony’s Version: Includes a full 40-Trophy list and a coveted Platinum.
  • Hamster’s Version: Includes 4 Trophies and no Platinum.
The discrepancy exists because of a rights split. While Sony owns the Western editions, the Japanese developer UEP Systems maintained the rights to the original Japanese build. Hamster is using the latter for their Console Archives release. While we're happy to have more versions of these games available, the disparity in the Trophy experience is "a bit disappointing."

Looking Ahead: Rave Racer and Future Fixes

Despite the Trophy stumble, the pipeline for retro enthusiasts remains strong. The arcade-only Rave Racer is confirmed to be drifting onto the PS5 later this month. We believe Hamster’s Console Archives has the potential to be a massive win for preservation. However, we really hope the dev team reconsiders their approach to Trophy implementation moving forward. We aren't asking for grueling requirements, but a Platinum and a few skill-based challenges would go a long way in making these re-releases feel like the premium packages they deserve to be.