My most memorable gaming moment would be when I beat Magus in Chrono Trigger for the first time. The build-up to this bad-ass of a character was intense. The whole first part of the game had you thinking he was the final boss. He had everything: a cult worshiping him in 600 AD, ominous music, bumbling henchmen and a castle surrounded in shadows and mists.

For those who’ve played the game, who can forget when you first come to his room? Everything’s black, there’s this scary weird chanting in the background, you’re running into the darkness. Suddenly, blue flames burst to life on either side of your party. Oh yeah, this is it.

You find him facing an altar, in bad-ass pose mode, arms outstretched. A few exchanges of short, characteristic dialogue. Cue in music.

“The black wind begins to blow…”

And it begins.

I died like 5 times before I beat him. But getting beat by Magus, especially when you’re around 13-14 years old and really into CT’s story, could not get any more exhilarating and jarring at the same time. Of course, after I got Crono’s Luminaire, it was all over. Still, one of my best memories growing up, especially since I loved the archetype of the anti-hero.

Second best gaming moment would be when I found him again after the fall of Zeal, only to find out you can have him as a party member! I never thought twice about what I wanted. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever done a playthrough of CT without choosing Magus to fight alongside me, even to this day.