History Main / TheThreeTrials

** Done twice in ''CurseOfMonkeyIsland''. 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.

A common trope in Adventure Games where the hero must achieve [[RuleOfThree 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.

Compare PlotCoupon and ThresholdGuardians.

* Trope namer, the Three Trials in ''The Secret of MonkeyIsland'': Swordplay, thievery and treasure-huntery.
** Done twice in ''Curse of MonkeyIsland''. 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 MonkeyIsland'', 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 yet again in the first chapter of ''Tales of MonkeyIsland'', 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.

** [[TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks]] has three trials which must be passed to gain entrance to [[spoiler: the Desert Temple]].

* 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.

** [[TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]] requires you to collect the three fused shadows.

** [[TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast Link to the Past]] had the Player collect the [[MacGuffing three pendants of virtue]] of wisdom, power, and courage.

* Subverted and mocked in Episode 2 of [=~Strong Bad's 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.

* GrimFandango year 2 is built around one of these. Manny must acquire unionised worker bee equipment for Glottis (and sober up his sidekick in the process), forge a maritime uninion membership for himself (and steal from a major mafia boss in the process), and finally prevent a ship's cook from showing up for work (and dig through giant kitty litter in the process).
* DoraTheExplorer lives this trope.

* ''KingsQuest 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 solve the first quest).

** 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. In "Baddest of the Bands", in order to get the band contest up and running, Strong Bad must get three bands to sign up: he has to get Coach Z and Bubs to re-form their rap duo, 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.

* The climax of ''HarryPotter and the SorcerersStone''
** How so? There's Fluffy, devil's snare, flying keys, wizard's chess, potions (book only), and the mirror of Erised. That's at least five trials to pass before getting the philosopher's stone.

* Subverted and mocked in Episode 2 of [=~Strong Bad's 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.

* Subverted and mocked in Episode 2 of [[HomestarRunner Strong Bad's 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.

* MassEffect has three planets that must be visisted in order to unravel Saren's schemes: Therum, Noveria and Feros. A fourth location pops up after completing two of them, however.

* Much of the middle of ''DragonAge'' revolves around gaining support for the Grey Wardens by bringing old treaties to various leaders. There are three treaties -- one for the elves, one for the dwarves, and one for the mages -- and you can visit the three groups in any order. There is a fourth one though that's unrelated to the treaties, the Castle Redcliffe that Alistair belives will be able to assist. Naturally, none of these four people are able to help you right off the bat, and you have to save their asses before they'll help you.