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REVIEW: The Legend of Zelda - Majora's Mask 3D (3DS)

5/2/2015

11 Comments

 
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Here's a real funny thing that you'll probably hate us for: we've always considered Majora's Mask to be our least favourite Zelda game. 

At the time it was originally released, back in the year 199X, it felt like a sort of lesser remix of the peerless Ocarina of Time. 

Many of its elements - re-living the same three days over and over, the weird melancholy that permeated the world of Termina (a dark shadow of the series' traditional Hyrule setting), Link being transformed into different creatures - felt like they broke much of what we loved. Now, looking back, we were probably stupid to feel that way. But then, we've got stupid running through our veins.

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WHY WERE WE SO STUPID?
In most respects, Majora's Mask is the most complex game in the entire Zelda series - both narratively, and in terms of its gameplay. 

It did everything that Zelda had always done - the dungeons, the exploration, the character interactions - but dropped Link into a doomed world, one that was destined to be destroyed in just 72 hours, via the never-quite-resolved search for a lost friend. 

Link, as is the way of these things, is the only one who can stop the moon falling out of the sky (a consequence of the titular mask being stolen by some absurd, skull-faced, imp). And he can't. At least, not the first few times it happens.

Only by collecting further magical masks can Link possess the powers and abilities (spin attacks, belching bubbles, skipping over water, gliding etc.) necessary to retrace his steps, and get where he needs to go to do what he needs to do to render the power of the titular mask inert. And that.

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WHAT IS UNLIKELY?
It's unlikely we really need to recap the gameplay: if you've played any of the Zelda games, this does everything the series has always done. 

It's the three-day cycle - amounting to about an hour of gameplay - and atmosphere of impending doom, which really makes this different. 

Link discovers the ability to slow down or jump forwards in time - but being able to do this feels like balancing on a knife-edge. It really does seem like you have the fate of a world in your hands, and you could break it at any moment. In addition, Link also gains the ability - through song - to manipulate the weather, or teleport, or... well, you get the idea: as with previous Zelda games, Majora's Mask is one of ability-gathering, built around a peerless and beautiful structure, and interactions with probably the weirdest characters in the history of the series.

WON CORNETTO
So. We were wrong. With hindsight it's difficult to remember why we weren't taken with Majora's Mask first time around, but the 3DS version has finally won us over, just 20 years late.

The changes to Majora's Mask 3D are subtle - the graphics have been given a bit of a polish, there are hint-type concessions to the shorter game sessions required by handhelds, and it generally feels a little less difficult and intimidating than before. But for our money, this was necessary. It improves the game, while holding onto the genius of its structure.

There's really not much point in saying much more (plus, we've been typing for literally minutes, and our fingers  are swollen). As a game, this was probably brilliant first time around. Now its brilliance is more accessible to idiots like us. 

If you want an example of singularly breathtaking game design, coupled to a story and an atmosphere that will stay with you in-between play sessions, this is a no-brainer.


SUMMARY: It's a classic, often overlooked in the Zelda pantheon, but overlook it no more. You must play this.
OVERALL: 91.4399%
FROM THE ARCHIVE:
REVIEW: Resident Evil HD (PS4/Xbox One)
REVIEW: Captain Toad Treasure Tracker (Wii U)

11 Comments
FEoD link
5/2/2015 05:58:06 am

I... also did not like this game when it came out originally. It just seemed tedious and obtuse after the glories of Ocarina of Time. Even the first re-release version on Gamecube WITH A WALKTHROUGH was to involved to enjoy it.

Mind you... Minish Cap, Wind Waker, Twilight Princess... It occurs to me I didn't like any of them enough to play through. Maybe the hours spent on A Link of The Past and OoT were gaming heights that can never be achieved again...

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P**S**F
5/2/2015 07:49:56 am

By stupid do you mean gin? I wasn't drinking it so much when MM came out and I loved it. Maybe you should have played it when drinking Jack Daniels and dry ginger with a squeeze of lime?

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Mr Smith
5/2/2015 08:18:09 am

I agree with the old Mr Biffo. I hated Majora's Mask.

I was determined to play the original cart back in the day, rather than emulate it, so bought the cart and expansion pack. Loaded it up for a quicksie while my tea was in the oven. Finished the first section, reach the town, right, time to save! I spent 45 minutes running around trying to find a save place, with no luck. Had to switch the game off and eat burned food.

Turns out you can only save by going through the entire 3 day cycle, or some nonsense. Infuriated. Sold the cart and decided to only play via emulation, where I can save immediately once out of the opening tutorial section. Never even bothered though.

Also, that damned 20 minute cinema intro which you cannot skip and are forced to watch every time you start a new game (which for me was every time, since it never let me save).

Wait a minute... If everyone has this experience where they dislike it, and then discover and like it the second time, does this mean I need to try it once more to be part of the club?

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TheBigWahoonie
5/2/2015 08:36:42 am

I hope that's true because I'll be using that argument on the missus for more anal.

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Ooh-er Matron!
5/2/2015 08:51:13 am

You mean you suggested "pegging" and she didn't like the idea? Suggest that pegging is the kind of thing that grows on one - I'm sure she''ll come round to it.

In Belfast
4/3/2015 12:04:08 pm

Were there a lot of N64 games that suffered from long unavoidable into cinematics? I seem to remember Donkey Kong was similarly incumbered.

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optimark prime
5/2/2015 12:49:32 pm

I fairly recently bought Majora's Mask on N64, but I've never actually got round to playing it.

As I'm a sucker for gaming tat, I've pre-ordered the special edition on 3DS! :)

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Dacanesta
5/2/2015 04:22:00 pm

You weren't as stupid as me.....I like games, always have, and I've never played a Zelda game. And I always thought Mario games were overrated. And Starfox come to think of it! I'm an idiot.

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Mr Rash
6/2/2015 05:22:53 pm

I loved Majora's Mask,, but its not a friendly game. Those weird massive naked Gods were brilliant, the whole thing is a bit guillermo del torro crossed with a miyazaki film, utterly unique in both general game terms abd in zelda terms. I have that fucking moon tattooed on my human body

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Hatchjaw
15/2/2015 02:43:35 am

Now, perhaps I ought to be using my powers of memory for more important things, like remembering to get that unsightly mole removed, bit didn't MM feature in original Digi's (origididge's?) 2000 game of the year list? 'Course, doesn't mean it couldn't be one's least fave in a given series, but, y'know, colour me incredulous.

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Mr Biffo
15/2/2015 10:41:32 am

Gawd... I've no idea. It's entirely possible, though trying to remember specifics from 15 years ago... not easy. It might be that somebody else reviewed it for us. Or that I just bowed to the weight of public opinion. What can I say? I was young. It was the noughties...

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