Time Machine

Posted by Matheus Pitillo on Nov 12, 2011 in Articles, Articles | 3 comments

The mythology of Chronos in the World of Games
Also published in EGM Brasil #72

Time is an essential factor in our lives. Many try to escape the hours, trying to ignore the fact that every moment we are getting older. The common conception of time is indicated by intervals or durations. According to the theory of relativity, time has been considered as a fourth dimension of space-time continuum of the Universe.

In this edition of EGM Brasil we will talk a little about the games you must control the time to achieve their goals on it. But after all, in mythological terms, where did come all this talk about the time?

Titan or God?
Chronos and Cronos are not the same “person”. in Greek mythology, Chronos was the personification of time. Often confused with the Titan Cronos, especially during the Alexandrian and Renaissance Period. According to the Orphic theogony, Chronos appeared in the beginning of time formed by himself. It was a being who had three heads: one man, a bull and a lion. A remote God and without body, of time, leading to rotation of the heavens and the eternal passing of hours. He was represented as a man who ate his own son, who demonstrated in other words, since it is impossible to escape the time, we would all sooner or later “eaten” by it. Another explanation for this representation was the confusion with the Titan Cronos, who also ate their children for other reasons. In the case of Cronos, the youngest of six major Titans, son of Uranus, reigned among the Gods during the period known as the Golden Age. But a prophecy said that he would be beaten by one of his sons. Thus, fearing that the prophecy came to fruition, he began to devour their own children so born.

Original Publication in EGM Brasil Magazine

The Control of Time
There are many games that make reference to the control of time. The space is influenced by the years that followed, while the character still goes through all these times, having control – or not – on them. I’ve separated some of those games that fit a little upon that concept. Check out:

1) Prince of Persia
In the trilogy of the game, using the powers that offers the Dagger of Time, you have the ability to control time allowing the prince kick a few seconds – to undo some movement inaccurate – freeze time, leaving the enemies and the action in slow motion, see part of your future and also make their movements faster than their enemies.

2) Chrono Trigger
One of the most popular RPG games, Chrono Trigger fits a lot in this aspect of time travel. Crono and his friends must visit six different eras in order to repair everything that was messed up at other times, and so bring order back to the continuity of life of each one. They travel through the ages using Epoch – a time machine – or the portals that arise during the game. At this time the characters have to perform various events and challenges.

3) TimeShift
In TimeShift, one of the latest releases, you must travel through an alternate timeline, using their powers of manipulation chronological to save all. The game aims to reach a new category in shooter games: a game in four dimensions, being the fourth the track of the time. As in Prince of Persia, players have the ability to put the time in slow motion, freeze enemies, or back in time to be able to conclude that something has gone wrong.

4) Onimusha 3
Maybe this game does not fit completely in control of the time issue. However, it is hard not to put it in this list, because like it or not Samanosuke travels 500 years forward, swapping places with the French military Jacques – polygonal version of the actor Jean Reno – who ends up in the past. And it’s this incredible journey through time and space that is the plot of the game. Some of the puzzles in the game are based on this difference in time, with certain events of the past influencing the future.

5) The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Link couldn’t get out of this. Unlike the other protagonists, the hero does not use time machine or any dagger to control it. Already possessing the three main artifacts and performing the song “Song of Time” with the Ocarina that Link receive from Zelda, the door to the Sacred Realm is open. And there the hero finds the Master Sword, a sword able to banish all evil from Hyrule. The moment Link try to wield the sword, his spirit is imprisoned for seven years. Thus, holding or placing the sword again into the Holy Kingdom, you go or return seven years. Just traveling through time and knowing the Hyrule after seven years or seven years before.

6) Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
With the help of Professor Elvis Gadd, Mario and Luigi use a gadget that makes the two journey into the past. There they are faced with the baby version of themselves and have new adventures together. Thus, Partners in Time is set in the past and present of the Mushroom Kingdom, and the passage between these two periods are always constant, thanks to the black holes we find from time to time in the game.

7) The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
This time Link has only 72 hours to save the world. The gameplay unfolds over these three days when the moon is approaching ends. You must use your Ocarina to keep track of time and can “revive” the three days again while gaining skills enough to defeat the villain Skull Kid and the powerful Majora’s Mask.