10 Gaming Villains With The Best Motivations

1995's Chrono Trigger is perhaps one of the most revered games in JRPG history. Full to the brim with genre-defining components, Squaresoft's break from the Final Fantasy series managed to create something fresh while adhering to the staples of the genre.

Introducing a villain worthy of its tale was surely no simple task, and while Magus appeared to be another generic, brooding baddie, his tragic backstory makes him perhaps the most compelling character of the bunch. Chrono Trigger's tale relies heavily on time travel, and it's in a pocket of the past that Magus' true nature is revealed.

Magus was once the young prince in the land of Zeal and brother to Princess Schala. When the extraterrestrial creature known as Lavos destroys Zeal, sending Magus forward through time, he awaits his revenge. Magus summons Lavos in a bid to end the creature's reign of terror, but in doing so Chrono and the gang believe Magus to be responsible for Lavos' destruction.

Magus' goal was always to exact revenge for the death of his sister, and while his methods were questionable (just ask Glenn), his motivations were sympathetic.