The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D - Nintendo 3DS

Taking place shortly after the conclusion of Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask is a Zelda game unlike any other. Ransacked by the Skull Kid while riding Epona through a forest, Link is robbed of his possessions, turned into a plant, and transported to a doomed world. With only three days to prevent the moon from crashing down and destroying everything, Majora’s Mask’s Groundhog Day-like narrative is dark, memorable, and full of emotion. Like the re-release of Ocarina of Time on 3DS, Majora’s Mask has received the same amount of loving care in both the visual department as well as gameplay. With significant improvements over the N64 original, the updated graphics make the world of Termina look better than ever. Further, the use of stereoscopic 3D makes exploring Termina a constant pleasure especially when playing on a New 3DS XL system. Beyond the obvious visual upgrade, the use of the New 3DS second analog nub makes play control efficient and comfortable although not necessary to fully enjoy the game; the Circle Pad Pro is also supported. I played through most of the adventure using an original model 3DS and never had an issue. Unlike the HD edition of the Wind Waker on Wii U, this Majora’s Mask re-release features additional camera control options, such as the ability to reverse the Y axis, via the menu options. Using the touch screen also makes swapping and accessing items a snap. There are also several new additional features spread throughout the game that enhance this 3D remastering over the original. First is the Bomber’s Notebook. Obtained early in the adventure, this digital diary logs all of Link’s progress and even keeps track of side quests automatically. It comes in handy especially since Termina is filled with secrets and side stories to explore and can help prevent players from looking up FAQs online. The Sheikah Stone found in the clocktower is also extremely helpful by gently providing hints to the player when progress gets “stuck.” Like an in-game Vine, these short videos tell the player where to go and where they have been. Purists might think this is a form of cheating but since the player specifically needs to go out of their way to access this stone, it is solely optional and there when you need it. I personally used it a few times throughout the adventure since Majora’s Mask’s difficulty is higher than other 3D Zelda titles from a puzzle, dungeon, and exploring point of view. One of the major complaints about the N64 original was the save system. Before, the game would only hard save when Link would travel back in time to the First Day by playing the Song of Time on the Ocarina of Time, with temporary saves via owl statues deeply spread throughout the land. Once these temp saves were reloaded, the N64 cartridge would immediately delete them. This 3DS remake, with more memory available, corrects this issue by allowing the player to hard save at any statue. This, in combination with the ability to instantly travel to any unlocked statue, makes the game more playable especially for a handheld environment. The only negative aspect of this new save system is that it takes away a little something from the ominous doom that constantly plagues the player with the falling moon. Some heart pieces have also been relocated from the original release, new fishing features are available as optional side objectives, swimming control is also different but negatively makes jumping out of the water more difficult than it should be when playing as a Zora, and even controlling the Goron roll move has received an upgrade. With just a couple minor exceptions, all the changes made enhance the Majora’s Mask experience as oppose to hinder it. The ability to travel forward in time to any specific hour also makes gameplay more friendly. There is no question that Majora’s Mask is an outstanding game that stands as a one-of-a-kind but there are still some issues with the overall experience that makes the journey through Termina a little more tedious than it needs to be. First is the time mechanic. The entire game is based around time continually ticking away through the three day cycle. While this makes questing entertaining, as certain things only happen at specific times on specific days, it requires plenty of backtracking and repeated steps. For example, relieving the frozen Goron village of its icy prison unlocks new areas and secrets. But in order to change the season from winter to summer, the player will need to travel back to the dungeon and defeat the boss again. This becomes a pain when all you want to do is collect that one piece of heart at the bottom of river. The same goes for the final topsy-turvy dungeon. Here, Link learns an ocarina tune that allows him to make a stationary copy of himself to help with switch puzzles. This tune, however, is one of the longest in the game and must be replayed over and over to get through the same areas. It would be nice if these statues just remained instead of magically disappearing as soon as you walk through one door. The biggest complain about the time mechanic is that sometimes you just simply need more time. For example, I was about 95% of my way through a dungeon when I was forced to revert back to Day One because the moon was literally just seconds away from crashing. Since I had to reset the world, I was then forced to play through the entire dungeon again since all the puzzles reset as well. This is only amplified because the game encourages exploration but if you get caught up exploring, or try to gather every last hidden fairy in each dungeon, the player can easily run out of time and be forced to redo everything all over again. Time management has never been more of a factor in gameplay. There is an option to slow time to half its speed but I almost wish there was a way to freeze time temporarily just to get through a dungeon without having to replay it all over again. Since the freakishly faced moon can be seen from almost anywhere, it is a constant reminder to stay on track to help save this world. This feeling of dread, worry, and just overall doom makes Majora’s Mask the darkest Zelda adventure ever created but also one that shouldn’t be ignored. Although the time mechanic can get on your nerves sometimes, the enhanced features help alleviate some of this pain in this 3D re-release. Launching alongside Nintendo New 3DS XL handheld system, there has never been a better way to play this N64 classic. Even if you played the 64-bit original to death, there are plenty of reasons to travel through Termina one more time.

There has been a lot of talk about The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask lately, not the least reason for which is the recent release of a remastered 3D version for the Nintendo 3DS. Honestly, there doesn’t seem that much to the new release to be, save for the graphical upgrade. I honestly doubt I will ever buy this new release, because I already own 2 other versions of this game (the original N64 gold cartridge and a bundled version with the Legend of Zelda Collector’s Edition for the GameCube), and I don’t really see a need to buy it again if there isn’t anything fundamentally new about it. At least the Ocarina of Time 3D remake had the Master Quest with it. At any rate, I would rather talk about the game itself. Majora’s Mask has been discussed thoroughly across the Internet for years. Dozens of theories about timelines, symbols, and minor details have circulated the Internet to the extent that all have been read and talked about at length. So I’m not here to talk about how each part of Termina represents one of the Five Stages of Grief, or argue whether or not Navi is dead or Link is dead or anything like that. Rather, I would like to reminisce about my memory of the game when I first played, before the hype, before the analysis of deeper meanings, before the cynicism of adult life, just the eyes of a child. I picked up the original game shortly after its October 2000 release, which would make me freshly 13 years old. I still remember buying the previous game Ocarina of Time when I was 11 and it quickly became my favorite game of all time, a recognition it still holds for me to this day. Needless to say, I had high expectations and standards for the next installment. Even then, I would say that I was not disappointed. Even before the Internet boom and the rise of forums, Tumblr, and the like, Majora’s Mask was clearly and oddity amongst the other games in the franchise, and I could tell that right away. Right off the bat, Majora’s Mask set itself apart as a much darker-toned game. While some other Zelda games start off lighter and ease into the dark stuff, Majora’s Mask threw players right in, with a shadow-filled forest, isolation, and body transformation, and quickly followed it up with an impeding apocalypse, all within the first ten minutes. This game felt like it was intended to make you feel uneasy right from the get-go. That uneasiness continued to permeate throughout. That angry-faced moon constantly staring you down, reminding you of the doom it foretells, certainly adds to the tension. Granted, it looked pretty silly on the N64, but on the 3DS, it looks downright terrifying. The tone for this game just seemed sad. Helping people with problems or in peril is par for the course in adventure and quest games, but the citizens of Termina seemed downright depressed, and it only got worse for them as the cycle ran down. The music played into it, with a lot of bass and hollow melodies. Even the iconic Main Theme that played in Termina Field sounded almost out-of-place and present only because it was considered mandatory. This is of course not to say the game is bad. Far from it. This was and is just as outstanding as any other main Zelda entry before or since. It had all of the elements to a great Zelda game. Dungeons, swordplay, archery, horseback riding, bottles, fairies, sidequests, familiar enemies, and all that other good stuff make their welcomed and expected presences here. What this game was, was different, and in good ways. Majora’s Mask knew what to change up and add to make the game memorable and distinct, and the tone was merely a single part of a larger whole. Much of this game was different from other entries. The level design for the dungeons was expansive, yet compact. It had to be, because this game only had four proper dungeons, the fewest ever in the series. The masks were central to the game, both in theme and function. They added unique abilities, and the transformation masks mixed up combat. The three-day cycle created a sense of urgency and time limitation that was largely absent before. The increase in Pieces of Heart to compensate for decrease in dungeon bosses gave way to more and creative opportunities for sidequests, which themselves were quite extensive. The schedule mechanic for NPCs added a new dimension to character interaction, and gave a greater sense of involvement and attention to detail. I really felt like I was interacting with people, and that by solving these quests, I could lift them out of their own depression. That may be a personal note, but it was one that was very important to me back then, and still is in many ways. Majora’s Mask was and still is one of the odd ducks out in the Zelda franchise. But because it was so different in so many creative and innovative ways is what sets it apart as the best of these oddballs. It certainly is a must-play for not just Zelda fans, but games in general. While the new remake may not add to much to the original aside from better visuals, the fact that it is making the game accessible to people who have not heard or talked about it before is definitely a good thing.

I'm gonna be honest here: I played the original Majora's Mask back when it came out on the Nintendo 64 and it was one of my most memorable games I've ever played in my childhood alongside Ocarina of Time. This would eventually move on to me buying the games for the Wii Virtual Console and eventually the 3DS versions. I'll give my impression of the 3DS version of Majora's Mask below. --> Grezzo and Nintendo both outdid themselves in this remaster of the original Nintendo 64 game made 15 years ago at the day of release. While a lot of the original mechanics from the N64 game did port over to the 3DS game, they did change some parts of it to make it a bit more challenging and/or rewarding as well. An example includes the extra bottle you can acquire at the end of the game (I did 100% the game) compared to the N64 version, which had one less bottle at the final moment. I loved replaying through the entire game in the full remastered version once again, however I will be listing some problems the game has that may turn some newcomers off. --> The 3 day time limit. If you're coming from Ocarina of Time or some other game that doesn't utilize this 3 day limit, you may find yourself intimidated at first. However, once you learn how to slow down time, you find yourself having more time to accomplish some of the game's many side-quests. If you don't like the 3 day time limit, then it's understandable as I had it grow on me while playing the game many times during my childhood as well as in the Wii virtual console later on as well. --> Another problem with this game that some may find annoying is in the Song of Time mechanic itself. The reason why I say this is that while it's an essential part of Majora's Mask, it's also one of the most tedious because you do end up losing stock of your entire inventory and have to play the song many times over if you wish to 100% the game as well (or even playing through the main story). While I enjoyed finishing each part of the quest, I did find it tedious to constantly play the Song of Time over and over again. It got to the point where I could literally play the song really quickly without stopping now. I guess muscle memory is a thing with this game. :P --> The overall boss battles: I loved replaying the bosses in this game, but it's clear that the overall difficulty was much harder on the original N64 version. The examples come from Odolwa and Goht. They did improve on Gyorg and Twinmold, but the overall difficulty of the bosses were much easier because of having the eyes exposing the weaknesses instead of finding them out for yourself. Don't get me wrong: these bosses can still provide a challenge if you're new to the game, but this is coming from someone who has played Legend of Zelda games for most of his life. Now despite these flaws, I still LOVE the game to death because of all the collectibles along with the overall story. I would happily recommend this to anyone who wants to give this a try and isn't daunted by the 3 day time limit. While my review sounds very harsh, this comes out of love for the game itself and the franchise. I'm not saying it as a way to deter anyone from buying it, but rather as a way to point out that this game isn't perfect, but it's VERY enjoyable once you get into it. :)

Majora's Mask is not only my favorite Zelda game, but one of my favorite games of all time. It was also hard for people to get into when it was released. After the monumental success of the very straightforward in comparison Ocarina of Time, it's very surprising to me that they went in such an abstract direction with the followup, and I wouldn't want it any other way. It's not hard to see why so many people had a hard time wrapping their heads around it. The clock is always ticking, with the threat of an ever-approaching moon looming overhead, threatening to come crashing down in just 72 in-game hours (which move much faster in real-time, and can also be slowed down.) The game is in a different land than Zelda's usual Hyrule. There's no Ganon. You don't even play as human Link for the beginning of the game, instead starting off as him transformed as a Deku scrub, an entirely different species. Anyone who went into it expecting Ocarina of Time 2 was in for a big surprise. However, the game eventually developed a sort of cult-like status once people were able to accept and embrace it for its differences. After you unwrap the shock of how different the game is, you're rewarded with a deep, dark, and surreal adventure. It's almost like Zelda meets Alice in Wonderland. The game oozes atmosphere and there's an undertone of sadness and hopelessness, as one would expect given the state of this world with a creepy-faced moon drawing ever-closer. Because of that it ended up becoming one of my favorite worlds in any game once I was finally willing to give it a fair chance and accepting that it isn't OOT 2. This game and Earthbound, another one of Nintendo's cult classics that also ends up being surprisingly dark as you play it makes me wish that Nintendo would explore these sorts of themes more often, as they feel so unique next to most of what they've released. I suggest that anyone even remotely interested should give it a try. It could be one of your favorite games and you don't even know it yet!

From the moment you start the game, the familiar nostalgia of an older, simpler time washes over you as the intro to Majora's Mask pans out. The first most notable change is the retexturing of characters and environments. The makers have truly done justice to this timeless classic's remake while managing to preserve the original look and feel of the N64 edition. The second big improvement is the animation bits during actions and cut scenes. There is less general "stop and stare" points between Link donning a new mask to grabbing a new item and a host of other events. Another major improvement is how the rendering was handled for the 3DS. With far more processing power the environments, enemies, and item respawns all happen with amazing fluidity which we've come to expect from the same company that doesn't harp on load screens. The combat and gameplay feel authentic to the N64 experience, but the only downside comes from the overall design of the 3DS. In some positions, the device can lead to hand fatigue after prolonged play. To mitigate this, I keep the screen tilted back fully where it is able to lock and keep more stable, effectively reducing the sway on the hinges and the discomfort from supporting both screens during longer sessions. Overall, I would highly recommend this for any 3DS owner's repertoire (of any age) whether this is their first time experiencing the other side of the Ocarina of Time universe or just another dive down the rabbit hole for them. You won't regret it.

Majora's Mask 3D is a great remaster of an old classic from 2000, with some noticeable changes. Graphically, the game has received a major upgrade from the N64 original with new textures, extra details, a higher resolution and a much better framerate. Also, in contrast to the original, the game is portable and can be played anywhere, which is a massive convenience to many players who are on the go all the time. Aside from the obvious changes, there have also been many changes to the core gameplay that attempts to make the game more accessible. Most of these gameplay changes, such as a better save system, succeed in that goal and ultimately streamline and enhance the experience. However, as a person that played the original, some of the changes felt unnecessary to me, and left me a little disappointed as it made this remaster feel like it wasn't as true to the original as it could have been. The most noticeable example of this is the boss battles, which have all been dramatically changed, and in my opinion, "dumbed down," as each of them now has an obvious weak spot in the form of a giant eyeball. I feel that some of these changes, especially the aforementioned one, are unnecessary hand-holding that resulted from a lack of faith in the player. This feeling, however, may just be stemming from nostalgia from the N64 version.Therefore, if you have played the original, I advise doing a little research before getting this to see if the changes bother you, as you can always go back to the original. However, if you have never played this game before, you should get it as change from the original won't bother you, and it is more accessible than ever before. Ultimately, Majora's Mask 3D is still a great remaster of an awesome yet not so typical Legend of Zelda game, and I would give it a serious recommendation, especially to those that have not yet played it.

I may be biased, because this is my favorite game, but I will definitely tell you my two small beefs with the 3D remaster of Majora's Mask. First, however, the best things: -3D Anju and Kafei heartbreak -3D Nostalgia -Somehow improved controls (I say somehow, because I wasn't even using the new 3DS, so I don't have the extra stick for the camera--regardless, most everything feels smoother and more intuitive) -Playing the song of double time allows you to CHOOSE WHICH HOUR you want to fast forward to. No more being bound to going all the way to the next night or next dawn. So beautiful. I could go on, but suffice it to say, the game feels on the whole more polished, and they put a lot of love into the remake. It's definitely worth the buy. But the two main beefs I have are small--swimming as a zora is way less awesome. The dropping to the bottom/surfacing is sorta janky, and in order to swim such that you can dolphin dive out and into the water, you have to expend magic. It's just a bummer that regular zora swimming was reduced to a slower, less maneuverable state. Otherwise, the goron form took some getting used to, because rolling up into a ball is not undone with the release of A. You have to press A again which doesn't sound at all hard (and isn't) but when you want to get out of ball form super quickly (like, immediately after a ramp jump) it was easier to just be able to release A mid jump, so that the first thing you'd do upon landing would be unball. This was a beautiful remake and my beefs are infinitesimally small compared to how nice everything else is. Nintendo kept the dark, creepy vibe, made the moon look way better (in my opinion) and delivered the game well.

Every good game should remind you of just how much you enjoy playing it. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D does exactly that throughout the entire story. Majora's Mask has the appeal to attract and captivate a diverse audience. Many Legend of Zelda fans agree that it is a game that is a must-play for any die-hard fan of the series, while it has a new twist on Zelda that appeals to Western audience, forgoing a long sequence of dungeon-crawling for memorable side quests that create a bond between the player and the land's inhabitants facing inevitable destruction. The overhaul of graphics done for the 3D version is refreshing, and the game feels full of life. For those who played the original version on the N64 or perhaps its port for the Nintendo Gamecube, they should not expect a direct transfer of the game to the 3DS system, as a few things have changed to make the game a little more accessible for newer, younger audiences (who will most likely love the changes made). But nonetheless, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D is a game I definitely recommend to anyone interested in playing it.