The Three Trials: Difference between revisions

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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
[[File:3trials_4993.png|link=The Secret of Monkey Island (Video Game)|right]]
[[File:3trials_4993.png|link=The Secret of Monkey Island|right]]


A common trope in Adventure Games where the hero must achieve [[Rule of Three|three]] specific goals in order to advance the plot. Bob may want to fight the dragon and save Alice right now, but the giant lizard safety inspector has made it clear that he must first find a magic shield from the haunted forge, a spray can of dragon repellent from the future, and a helmet in spite of the mad king's ban on headwear. Whether true or not, the hero is almost always given the impression that the tasks may be completed in any order.
A common trope in Adventure Games where the hero must achieve [[Rule of Three|three]] specific goals in order to advance the plot. Bob may want to fight the dragon and save Alice right now, but the giant lizard safety inspector has made it clear that he must first find a magic shield from the haunted forge, a spray can of dragon repellent from the future, and a helmet in spite of the mad king's ban on headwear. Whether true or not, the hero is almost always given the impression that the tasks may be completed in any order.
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{{examples}}
{{examples}}


* Trope namer, the Three Trials in ''[[The Secret of Monkey Island (Video Game)|The Secret of Monkey Island]]'': Swordplay, thievery and treasure-huntery.
* Trope namer, the Three Trials in ''[[The Secret of Monkey Island]]'': Swordplay, thievery and treasure-huntery.
** Done twice in ''[[The Curse of Monkey Island (Video Game)|The Curse of Monkey Island]]''. Find a map, a ship, and a crew in the second act, then a ring, a diamond and hand lotion in the fourth act. Each object demands a lengthy expedition and perilous adventure - yes, even the hand lotion.
** Done twice in ''[[The Curse of Monkey Island]]''. Find a map, a ship, and a crew in the second act, then a ring, a diamond and hand lotion in the fourth act. Each object demands a lengthy expedition and perilous adventure - yes, even the hand lotion.
** And again in ''[[Escape From Monkey Island (Video Game)|Escape From Monkey Island]]'', where Guybrush has to prove his innocence by finding and retrieving the stolen loot, find the real perpetrator, and find a piece of evidence that ties him to the crime...and later on when Guybrush has to find the three pieces of the Ultimate Insult (a bronzed hat, a golden man, and a silver monkey head) on Jambalaya Island.
** And again in ''[[Escape from Monkey Island]]'', where Guybrush has to prove his innocence by finding and retrieving the stolen loot, find the real perpetrator, and find a piece of evidence that ties him to the crime...and later on when Guybrush has to find the three pieces of the Ultimate Insult (a bronzed hat, a golden man, and a silver monkey head) on Jambalaya Island.
*** Played with in the Melee Island segment at the start. Guybrush is told that he'll need a crew, one of which will have to be a navigator. The other two, Carla and Otis, are recruited at the same time by the same method, and the actual third trial turns out to be requisitioning a ship.
*** Played with in the Melee Island segment at the start. Guybrush is told that he'll need a crew, one of which will have to be a navigator. The other two, Carla and Otis, are recruited at the same time by the same method, and the actual third trial turns out to be requisitioning a ship.
** And yet again in the first chapter of ''[[Tales of Monkey Island (Video Game)|Tales of Monkey Island]]'', when Guybrush has to board a Ship, find a treasure and start a fight so a journalist gives Guybrush information on a person that can get him off the island he is in when he has a story to write about in his newspaper.
** And yet again in the first chapter of ''[[Tales of Monkey Island]]'', when Guybrush has to board a Ship, find a treasure and start a fight so a journalist gives Guybrush information on a person that can get him off the island he is in when he has a story to write about in his newspaper.
*** And yet, yet again in the second episode, where Guybrush has to find three golden holy items hidden around the Jerkbait Islands...and the third episode, where Guybrush has to win the votes of the four members of the pirate brotherhood... (No, our math isn't off. One of the members always votes the same as his pal.)
*** And yet, yet again in the second episode, where Guybrush has to find three golden holy items hidden around the Jerkbait Islands...and the third episode, where Guybrush has to win the votes of the four members of the pirate brotherhood... (No, our math isn't off. One of the members always votes the same as his pal.)
*** The fourth episode changes up this trope a bit by charging Guybrush with four crimes to get himself acquitted from, followed by someone remarking [[Lampshade Hanging|"I thought there would be three"]], and then with having to find six voodoo ingredients.
*** The fourth episode changes up this trope a bit by charging Guybrush with four crimes to get himself acquitted from, followed by someone remarking [[Lampshade Hanging|"I thought there would be three"]], and then with having to find six voodoo ingredients.
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* Present in level 6 of ''[[Devil May Cry]]'' 3. You are presented with three challenges, representing strength, skill and intelligence (if i recall correctly). Passing one of them gives you nothing, passing two opens the way to the end of the level and passing all three nets you the Artemis gun.
* Present in level 6 of ''[[Devil May Cry]]'' 3. You are presented with three challenges, representing strength, skill and intelligence (if i recall correctly). Passing one of them gives you nothing, passing two opens the way to the end of the level and passing all three nets you the Artemis gun.
* Used in every [[Telltale Games]] adventure ever, at least [[Once an Episode]]. Flat-out [[Lampshaded]] in the [[Sam and Max]] episode "Moai Better Blues".
* Used in every [[Telltale Games]] adventure ever, at least [[Once an Episode]]. Flat-out [[Lampshaded]] in the [[Sam and Max]] episode "Moai Better Blues".
* Parodied in Episode 2 of ''[[Strong Bads Cool Game for Attractive People (Video Game)|Strong Bads Cool Game for Attractive People]]''. Homsar tells Strong Bad that he'll only join him after he completes the "three ancient tasks of great boredom", but very quickly admits that he was only joking. It's played straight in a few other episodes, though:
* Parodied in Episode 2 of ''[[Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People|Strong Bads Cool Game for Attractive People]]''. Homsar tells Strong Bad that he'll only join him after he completes the "three ancient tasks of great boredom", but very quickly admits that he was only joking. It's played straight in a few other episodes, though:
** In "Homestar Ruiner" Strong Bad, in order to get Homestar out of his house, must clear him of the public nudity charge against him, get him back together with Marzipan, and make him the winner of the Race to the End of the Race. Note that each of these is undoing the damage that an earlier set of Three Trials inflicted on Homestar.
** In "Homestar Ruiner" Strong Bad, in order to get Homestar out of his house, must clear him of the public nudity charge against him, get him back together with Marzipan, and make him the winner of the Race to the End of the Race. Note that each of these is undoing the damage that an earlier set of Three Trials inflicted on Homestar.
** In "Baddest of the Bands" Strong Bad must get three bands to sign up for his "Battle Royale of the Bands": he has to get Coach Z and Bubs to re-form their rap duo (which itself requires doing three things to convince Bubs that Coach Z is still "hardcore"), get Homestar a job singing with Pom Pom, and convince Marzipan to enter her band Cool Tapes in the contest instead of playing a benefit for an endangered albino bat. Then once the contest starts, Strong Bad must sabotage all three of the other bands.
** In "Baddest of the Bands" Strong Bad must get three bands to sign up for his "Battle Royale of the Bands": he has to get Coach Z and Bubs to re-form their rap duo (which itself requires doing three things to convince Bubs that Coach Z is still "hardcore"), get Homestar a job singing with Pom Pom, and convince Marzipan to enter her band Cool Tapes in the contest instead of playing a benefit for an endangered albino bat. Then once the contest starts, Strong Bad must sabotage all three of the other bands.
* ''[[Back to The Future (Video Game)|Back to The Future]]'': About half the episodes feature this. For example, the three demeanors in Ep. 3: "Citizen Brown".
* ''[[Back to the Future: The Game|Back to The Future]]'': About half the episodes feature this. For example, the three demeanors in Ep. 3: "Citizen Brown".
* ''[[Day of the Tentacle]]'', the entire game between the prologue and the endgame. Interestingly done in that each task is set in its own time period and pursued by a different character.
* ''[[Day of the Tentacle]]'', the entire game between the prologue and the endgame. Interestingly done in that each task is set in its own time period and pursued by a different character.
* [[Homestar Runner|Peasant's Quest]]: You have to stink like a peasant, dress like a peasant, and be on fire like a peasant before the knight will let you go fight Trogdor. And then there are the three guardians who ask you questions outside Trogdor's lair and give you the equipment you need.
* [[Homestar Runner|Peasant's Quest]]: You have to stink like a peasant, dress like a peasant, and be on fire like a peasant before the knight will let you go fight Trogdor. And then there are the three guardians who ask you questions outside Trogdor's lair and give you the equipment you need.
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* ''[[Dora the Explorer]]'' lives this trope.
* ''[[Dora the Explorer]]'' lives this trope.
* In the first episode of ''Hector: Badge of Carnage'', Hector meets the three demands of the terrorist: fixing the clock tower, destroying the porn shop, and funding the town beautification project.
* In the first episode of ''Hector: Badge of Carnage'', Hector meets the three demands of the terrorist: fixing the clock tower, destroying the porn shop, and funding the town beautification project.
* The climax of ''[[Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade (Film)|Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade]]''. The BREATH of God! The WORD of God! The PATH of God!
* The climax of ''[[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade]]''. The BREATH of God! The WORD of God! The PATH of God!
* Tends to show up in ''[[Baldurs Gate]]'' a lot.
* Tends to show up in ''[[Baldur's Gate]]'' a lot.
* ''[[King's Quest I]]'' follows this pattern pretty straight, with the three treasures as a magic chest, a magic shield, and a magic mirror. (The difference being in KQI, the treasures are required to win the game, not just to solve the first quest).
* ''[[King's Quest I]]'' follows this pattern pretty straight, with the three treasures as a magic chest, a magic shield, and a magic mirror. (The difference being in KQI, the treasures are required to win the game, not just to solve the first quest).
* [[Monty Python and The Holy Grail|"Stop. Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he see."]]
* [[Monty Python and The Holy Grail|"Stop. Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he see."]]
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** At Redcliffe specifically, you have to 1) save the village's ass, 2) save the lord's son's ass, then 3) save the lord's ass.
** At Redcliffe specifically, you have to 1) save the village's ass, 2) save the lord's son's ass, then 3) save the lord's ass.
* [[Crimson Skies]]: High Road to Revenge has the Three Trials of Soloho - Marksmanship, Courage and Skill.
* [[Crimson Skies]]: High Road to Revenge has the Three Trials of Soloho - Marksmanship, Courage and Skill.
* In [[Mortal Kombat (Film)|Mortal Kombat: Annihilation]] Nightwolf tells Liu Kang he must pass three tests before he can defeat Shao Kahn. The first test is courage, which apparently involves having a hatchet thrown at your head to induce a "dream-state." [[What Happened to The Mouse?|We never learn what the other two tests were.]]
* In [[Mortal Kombat (film)|Mortal Kombat: Annihilation]] Nightwolf tells Liu Kang he must pass three tests before he can defeat Shao Kahn. The first test is courage, which apparently involves having a hatchet thrown at your head to induce a "dream-state." [[What Happened to the Mouse?|We never learn what the other two tests were.]]
* The main quest of ''[[The Elder Scrolls]] III: Morrowind'' can be solved after acquiring three things - the two artifacts the sword Keening and the hammer Sunder and a means of wielding them for more than a second without dying.
* The main quest of ''[[The Elder Scrolls]] III: Morrowind'' can be solved after acquiring three things - the two artifacts the sword Keening and the hammer Sunder and a means of wielding them for more than a second without dying.
** The straightforward path to the third requirement is getting [[A God Am I|Vivec]] to give you the gauntlet Wraithguard; the backdoor method is [[Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?|killing Vivec]], stealing the item, and asking [[Last of His Kind|Yagrum Bagarn]] to fashion the Left Wraithguard (sometimes called the "Backhand"); generally, as the seven minute [[Speed Run]] of ''Morrowind'' proves, the game isn't picky about how you can hold the weapons for any realistic length of time as long as you live through it.
** The straightforward path to the third requirement is getting [[A God Am I|Vivec]] to give you the gauntlet Wraithguard; the backdoor method is [[Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?|killing Vivec]], stealing the item, and asking [[Last of His Kind|Yagrum Bagarn]] to fashion the Left Wraithguard (sometimes called the "Backhand"); generally, as the seven minute [[Speed Run]] of ''Morrowind'' proves, the game isn't picky about how you can hold the weapons for any realistic length of time as long as you live through it.
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* ''[[Turgor]]'' has one of the brothers announce you will be given three trials to determine your worthiness, given one after another. However, the second trial is failed before you even start it.
* ''[[Turgor]]'' has one of the brothers announce you will be given three trials to determine your worthiness, given one after another. However, the second trial is failed before you even start it.
* In ''[[Quest for Glory III]]'', the rite of manhood for Uhura's tribe involves three contests: spear-throwing, a balance beam "fight", and a footrace (though there are "mini-contests" within the footrace as well).
* In ''[[Quest for Glory III]]'', the rite of manhood for Uhura's tribe involves three contests: spear-throwing, a balance beam "fight", and a footrace (though there are "mini-contests" within the footrace as well).
* A staple of numerous [[The Legend of Zelda|Zelda]] games [[The Legend of Zelda a Link To The Past|Link to the Past]] onwards. To elaborate:
* A staple of numerous [[The Legend of Zelda|Zelda]] games [[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|Link to the Past]] onwards. To elaborate:
** [[The Legend of Zelda a Link To The Past|Link to the Past]] had the Player collect the [[MacGuffin|three pendants of virtue]] of wisdom, power, and courage.
** [[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|Link to the Past]] had the Player collect the [[MacGuffin|three pendants of virtue]] of wisdom, power, and courage.
** [[The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]] has Link gather the three spiritual stones of forest, fire, and water.
** [[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]] has Link gather the three spiritual stones of forest, fire, and water.
** [[The Legend of Zelda the Wind Waker (Video Game)|Wind Waker]] has the player collect the pearls
** [[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker|Wind Waker]] has the player collect the pearls
** [[The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess|Twilight Princess]] requires you to collect the three fused shadows.
** [[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|Twilight Princess]] requires you to collect the three fused shadows.
** [[The Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks|Spirit Tracks]] has three trials which must be passed to gain entrance to {{spoiler|the Desert Temple}}.
** [[The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks|Spirit Tracks]] has three trials which must be passed to gain entrance to {{spoiler|the Desert Temple}}.
* [[Skyward Sword]] has the three first Silent Realms, the three dragons' songs, the first three dungeons set in three provinces...
* [[Skyward Sword]] has the three first Silent Realms, the three dragons' songs, the first three dungeons set in three provinces...
* ''[[Diablo II]]'' Act 2 and 3 require you to track down three magical artifacts to combine into a weapon that'd open the way to the endboss. Technically there were four items in the third act, but the last one was obtained right next to where you needed to use them.
* ''[[Diablo II]]'' Act 2 and 3 require you to track down three magical artifacts to combine into a weapon that'd open the way to the endboss. Technically there were four items in the third act, but the last one was obtained right next to where you needed to use them.
Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/The_Three_Trials"