Maybe it's because I did all of the additional side quests this time. Maybe it's because I'm graduating this semester and this was the first game I played once I entered college. Or maybe I just really clicked with Chrono Trigger's DNA on this playthrough and came upon this realization.
It's not just one aspect of this game that's outstanding.

It's the flow of the nigh flawless, active turn based mechanics (dual tech and triple tech attacks are soooo cool man).

It's the gorgeous and amazingly aged pixel art that can craft a vibrant, whimsical yet often oppressive world in the player's mind despite the limitations of the style.

It's the music that makes you feel amped for battle, nostalgic for the past, hopeful for the future, tearful for what's lost or even just bust a move while trudging through a dilapidated factory.

It's the tightly written time travel narrative that hosts some of my favorite backstories and character interactions in fiction (I'm looking at you Frog, Robo and Lucca).

Chrono Trigger is pure magic from start to finish and feels like lightning in the bottle in nearly every facet of its production.

And in the heart of its magic it leaves a simple yet enduringly powerful message:

How can we hope to craft a better future without embracing and learning from the mistakes of the past?