This was a good reminder of why I like Lavos so much as an antagonist. For something so unknowable without a single piece of dialogue, it offers more nuance to the narrative than some villains with lengthy monologues and tragic backstories of varying quality. Can't think of any other villain quite like Lavos, even Galactus from the Fantastic Four who has the same world devourer schtick isn't quite as compelling the way Lavos is.
It's worth noting that one of the battle themes against Lavos (first phase of the fight inside its shell) is titled 'World Revolution.' Which could be read a few different ways. Referring to how the world effectively revolves around Lavos, or the world having a revolution against Lavos through the party, or the party revolting against the world by fighting Lavos.
Also appreciated the look at how open to interpretation the game leaves its plot. I didn't think of the two outcomes to Lucca's little side quest that way. It's odd how such an interesting sequence that adds so much to the narrative is left entirely optional.
I think you underplay the fact that humans existed before Lavos. Ayla and her people are proof humanity's sentience doesn't derive from Lavos, they already have a civilization with language (that's somehow recognizable to people from the distant future) and differing beliefs. Lavos's influence is definitely a major factor in human development as seen in Zeal, but there's nothing painting Ayla as a distinct kind of human from Chrono or Marle aside from the era they live in.
Also the synopsis of Zeal feels a little incomplete without mentioning Janus/Magus and the omen Janus gives you about someone dying, those are important elements for the tone and mystery of Zeal. Not to mention Magus himself is a rather major figure in the overall plot, and it's impossible to dig into his character without discussing Zeal.
As a side note do you know about Chrono Trigger the musical by Man on the Internet? As the name implies it's a fan made musical adaptation of Chrono Trigger on youtube, though done as audio only. Naturally it had to give Lavos a voice, so in the final battles it sings about inevitably and refers to the party as cattle, eventually accusing the party of having 'ruined space and time' during the final phase. The musical seems to lean more towards the fighting against fate reading of the plot.
This was a good reminder of why I like Lavos so much as an antagonist. For something so unknowable without a single piece of dialogue, it offers more nuance to the narrative than some villains with lengthy monologues and tragic backstories of varying quality. Can't think of any other villain quite like Lavos, even Galactus from the Fantastic Four who has the same world devourer schtick isn't quite as compelling the way Lavos is.
It's worth noting that one of the battle themes against Lavos (first phase of the fight inside its shell) is titled 'World Revolution.' Which could be read a few different ways. Referring to how the world effectively revolves around Lavos, or the world having a revolution against Lavos through the party, or the party revolting against the world by fighting Lavos.
Also appreciated the look at how open to interpretation the game leaves its plot. I didn't think of the two outcomes to Lucca's little side quest that way. It's odd how such an interesting sequence that adds so much to the narrative is left entirely optional.
I think you underplay the fact that humans existed before Lavos. Ayla and her people are proof humanity's sentience doesn't derive from Lavos, they already have a civilization with language (that's somehow recognizable to people from the distant future) and differing beliefs. Lavos's influence is definitely a major factor in human development as seen in Zeal, but there's nothing painting Ayla as a distinct kind of human from Chrono or Marle aside from the era they live in.
Also the synopsis of Zeal feels a little incomplete without mentioning Janus/Magus and the omen Janus gives you about someone dying, those are important elements for the tone and mystery of Zeal. Not to mention Magus himself is a rather major figure in the overall plot, and it's impossible to dig into his character without discussing Zeal.
As a side note do you know about Chrono Trigger the musical by Man on the Internet? As the name implies it's a fan made musical adaptation of Chrono Trigger on youtube, though done as audio only. Naturally it had to give Lavos a voice, so in the final battles it sings about inevitably and refers to the party as cattle, eventually accusing the party of having 'ruined space and time' during the final phase. The musical seems to lean more towards the fighting against fate reading of the plot.