Tagged: Legend of Zelda

‘Majora’s Mask’ stands the test of time

By Alex York
If there’s one thing gamers can’t get enough of, it’s Nintendo’s “The Legend of Zelda” series. The nearly 30-year-old franchise has been host to over a dozen titles that all left their own impact on the gaming industry. And, with the release of the latest model of the 3DS system, Nintendo gave its fans an update to one of the series’ most beloved entries that is capable of standing with the original alongside gaming’s best.
First, a bit of exposition: Fifteen years ago, Nintendo 64 owners worldwide were blessed with the gift that is “The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask.“  A direct sequel to 1998’s “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time,” which was revolutionary in its own right, “Majora’s Mask” further built upon the combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving mechanics of titles past. However, the new title departed from the series’ cheerful roots and offered an unorthodox adventure unlike anything before its time.
“Majora’s Mask” takes place within a timeframe of three days, you see – the final three days before the moon falls from the sky and completely eradicates the strange world of Termina. Link, the hero from the previous titles, is tasked with bringing the apocalypse to an end by defeating the enigmatic Skull Kid, wielder of the eponymous “Majora’s Mask” which grants its user powers of world-destroying proportions.
The dark, apocalyptic setting is further accentuated by the inclusion of an actual time limit – and an impossible one, at that. Once players obtain the Ocarina of Time from the previous game, however, the new adventure gets much more interesting; like Bill Murray in “Groundhog Day,” Link can use his own magical artifact to return to the beginning of the three-day cycle until he has obtained all the necessary resources to defeat Skull Kid. If players fail to reset the cycle before it reaches its end, though, they get to watch the end of the world first-hand, leading to a pervading sense of urgency throughout the entire game.
Fast forward to Feb. 13. “The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask” is released alongside the New Nintendo 3DS, and series veterans are ecstatic to pick up the long-awaited update to the classic. Thankfully, the new iteration of “Majora’s Mask” fails to disappoint.
While it retains the fantastic plot and brilliant gameplay of the original, “Majora’s Mask 3D” is great in its own right. Not only are the game’s remastered graphics gorgeous, the developers went the extra mile to streamline the experience by tweaking dated mechanics. Camera controls are vastly smoother, actions are more responsive, and both navigation and time management systems can be utilized with greater ease than ever before. Other than the obvious improvements, the game remains mostly unchanged. However, because of these tune-ups, Termina feels as fresh as ever and the world’s assortment of dungeons and side jobs is all the more enjoyable to play through.
By simply dusting off a few cobwebs, Nintendo has managed to improve upon perfection. Where the original “Majora’s Mask” shines (which is pretty much everywhere), “Majora’s Mask 3D” manages to shine even brighter. With the core of a classic and the finesse of a modern masterpiece, “The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask” is an adventure gamers will be anxious to relive time and time again.