Note: Pendant in Lost Worlds does provide some limited access to other eras but does not open up checks
A “check” is performed when the player goes through a dungeon, fights a boss, speaks to an NPC, or performs any other action that will grant them an item, a character, or other progress. Checks are typically done until the player enters “Go Mode” at which point the focus of the run will switch to pursuing the end of the game.
These are actions you can complete to gather key items. A few are available from the start of the game. As you collect key items, they will fulfill requirements that open up more checks and other areas.
Era: 1000 AD
Visit the Snail Stop (the cafe in Porre) and speak to the man behind the counter. He will offer to sell you a key item for 9900G.
Era: 1000 AD
Go to the Choras Inn and speak to the carpenter, who is guzzling away. He'll tell you to borrow his tools from his wife. Find her in her home and she will give you a key item. As it requires no specific characters, items, boss battles, or even money, this is the one truly free check in Jets of Time.
Era: 600 AD
Enter Zenan Bridge from the north and speak with the Knight Captain. Then, go to Guardia Castle and speak with the Cook. Go through all of the dialogue (you must clear and close the box that says “Pipe down! What do you know?” before exiting the kitchen), return upstairs, and go towards the castle's exit. The Cook will stop you on his way out and give you a key item and a Power Tab. You will then be taken to Zenan Bridge to complete several battles.
Era: 600 AD
Enter Denadoro Mountains. In the cave at the peak you will face two boss battles. Complete them for a key item.
Era: 1000 AD
Enter Heckran Cave north of Melchior's Hut and defeat the boss at the end. Jump into the pool of water to be taken to the island where Lucca's house is. Enter and speak to Taban to get the key item. The Epoch will be in the village across the bridge. NOTE: It is possible to get stuck in the whirlpool. If this happens, save, reset, and reload, and it should spit you out.
Era: 600/1000 AD
The desert will be unlocked at the start of the game. Enter and defeat Retinite (it will always appear in the upper right section of the lower level) and then bring Robo to Fiona's house. Speak to her to trigger Robo replanting the forest. Get in the Epoch and go to 1000 AD. Enter Fiona's shrine and talk to Robo at the north end for a key item.
ERA: 600 AD
Go to Frog's burrow with the Hero Medal in your inventory. The leftmost treasure chest should be sparkling. Open it to receive a key item.
ERA: 1000/600 AD
Once you have Toma's Pop, take it to his grave on the West Cape of Choras in 1000 AD. Pour it on the grave and Toma's spirit will reveal the location of Giant's Claw in 600 AD. Travel there in the Epoch and complete the dungeon to receive a key item.
ERA: 600/1000 AD
With the Prism Shard in your inventory, visit Guardia Castle in 600 AD and speak to the King. He will promise to secure the shell as a national treasure. (NOTE: If you have begun the Zenan Bridge quest by talking to the Knight Captain at the bridge and the King isn't on his throne, go upstairs to the left and he will be in bed recovering. Speak to him there and he will secure the Rainbow Shell) Now travel to 1000 AD. With Marle in your party, go to the courtroom to start the King's Trial sequence. You will receive a key item in the basement before fighting a boss in the courtroom.
ERA: 65,000,000 BC
Go to Prehistory and land the Epoch next to the Reptite Lair. Complete the dungeon to receive a key item.
ERA: 2300 AD
Go to the Future and enter Arris Dome. Defeat the boss on the left side of the basement, then catch the rat to learn the password to the right side (you must do this every playthrough regardless of if you remember the password). Go through the right side, looting the sealed door if you wish, and turn on the computer in the back room (you will see the names of the “bike racing champions” which are the winners of recent Jets events!). Then run back upstairs and get a key item from Doan.
ERA: 2300 AD
In the Future, travel to Sun Palace. Enter and fight Son of Sun. When it flees after you defeat it, follow it to collect a key item (Press A in front of the Moon Stone sprite it drops).
ERA: 2300 AD
Travel to Geno Dome in the Future. Make your way through the conveyor belt and collect the two dolls from the first floor. Bring the dolls to the end of the second floor and battle Mother Brain. After she is defeated, collect a key item.
ERA: 12,000 BC
Enter Terra Cave and make your way through the Beast Nest to Mt. Woe. Climb the mountain and fight Giga Gaia at the summit. You will receive a key item once the boss has been defeated. As of release 3.1.1 Mt. Woe is accessible via the gate to 12,000 BC once the End of Time is unlocked (however, the Kingdom of Zeal will remain locked until either Magus's Castle or Tyrano Lair is completed).
ERA: 65,000,000 BC, 1000/2300 AD
Take the Moon Stone to the Sun Keep in 65,000,000 BC and leave it in the sunny spot. Travel to the Future and pick up the charged Sun Stone. REMAIN IN THE SUN KEEP until the fanfare has finished playing, as exiting before it's done may mean the Sun Stone doesn't go into your inventory. Now, you must have completed the Prism Shard questline. Bring the charged Sun Stone to Melchior in the basement of Guardia Castle for a Key Item.
All recruitment points are based on where characters are recruited in the vanilla game, but note that Frog is recruited first in the Cathedral and later in the Burrow and Magus's recruitment spot on the North Cape in 12,000 BC will be empty. Most game modes follow the same logic, but Lost Worlds (in which you begin with Prehistory, Dark Ages, and Future open instead of Middle Ages and Present) differences are noted in the lists of requirements below each check.
Jets of Time gives you two characters to start. The other five characters may be recruited as follows:
Era: 600 AD
Enter the Cathedral and pick up Queen Leene's hairpin from the floor (you can pick it up even if it is not shining, but if you aren't able to find it, speak to the nun in front of the organ to make it light up). Defeat the four Naga-ettes and a character will join you.
Era: 600 AD
Complete the Cathedral by defeating Yakra in the back room. You will then be returned to Guardia Castle. Go up the stairs on the right side behind the thrones and enter the bedroom where a character will appear.
Era: 65,000,000 BC
Once you have access to 65,000,000 BC, enter the Dactyl Nest. Make your way to the summit and you will encounter another character. You will be forced to enter at least one encounter, which can cause a lot of damage at low levels, so it's recommended to enter Dactyl Nest with a party of three to greatly reduce the chance of a Game Over.
Era: 2300 AD
Once you have access to 2300 AD, enter Proto Dome. Make your way to the back (you will be forced to fight the first set of robots) and touch the character there to recruit them. IMPORTANT: Due to issues with how the cutscene is programmed, Proto Dome is known to be buggy. It is highly recommended to save outside, go in, get the character, and leave. Do not open the menu, do not switch your party even when the screen pops up automatically, and do not use the enertron.
Era: 600 AD
A character can be found in Frog's Burrow in the Cursed Woods. You can see who it is anytime once the game has begun. To recruit the character, bring them the reforged Masamune.
Era: 1000 AD
Once you have found the Pendant, bring it to Guardia Castle and speak to Pierre (near the door to the left of the stairs). He will ask that you come for a trial for stealing the Pendant. Tell him “yes” to start the jailbreak sequence (in vanilla you are allowed to wait to be rescued; in Jets of Time you must break out of your cell). After defeating Dragon Tank, you'll have access to 2300 AD.
In addition, freeing Fritz from the guillotine during this sequence will allow you to visit his shop and get 10 free Mid Ethers, but only if Crono is in the party.
Era: 2300 AD
Complete the Factory to unlock access to the End of Time via the Gate in the back of Proto Dome. This is not considered as fast as gaining End of Time access via the Gate Key, but can be a boon when the Gate Key is particularly buried. Because it unlocks End of Time, access to 12,000 BC/Mt. Woe is also granted. It is unlikely - but not impossible - for the Factory to be a required part of a seed.
Era: End of Time
Many standard game modes require the player to visit Spekkio at the End of Time to unlock magic, as in the vanilla game. If magic is not unlocked, Crono, Marle, Lucca, and Frog will only learn 3 techniques and after that must visit Spekkio to be able to earn more TP and learn moves. If one of these characters doesn't already know their first 3 techs, a visit to Spekkio will automatically make them learn the techs. To unlock magic, simply visit Spekkio in his room at the End of Time with the desired characters. If you want another character to learn magic later, you will have to return with them in your party.