Got the SotC platinum today. Out of the 30 I've achieved, it was undoubtedly one of the most hair-pullingly maddening, and represented the absoute worst that trophies can get. A great trophy list offers a lot of variety in tasks while maintaining a sizeable challenge to get that reward factor. I'd say a perfect example is Mirror's Edge, which is tough but fair, requires only a couple of playthroughs so that tedium doesn't set in, and presents some diversity in time trials and chapter speedruns that eschew any unnecessary monotony.
But Sotc...God almighty. That abomination requires you to complete the game not twice, not three times, BUT FIVE FUCKIN' TIMES! And that's not even including the 2 time attack modes you have to endure, which are essentially extra playthroughs anyway considering that the only portion of gameplay missing is the trek to each colossus. So that's already some extreme grinding, but you couple that with the collectathon trophies for fruit and lizards that don't even have markers - disallowing the common courtesy to tell you if you've actually killed all the lizards or not - and you've got yourself a seriously detestable trophy list that taints an otherwise great game.
Hard time attack wasn't as excruciating as I had anticipated fortunately; all were a cinch apart from #15 and #3. I mean, it was a mode ultimately hindered by Wander's newfound refusal to stand still from the slightest shuffle of a colossus, but after searching for all 48 pieces of fruit in that secret shrine, I felt like I could endure anything.
Essentially though, I can't see myself ever wanting to play the game again. Out of the collection though, ICO came out still smelling like roses; love that game to bits.
