There’s been a lot of buzz in the media lately about Majora’s Mask, mostly due to desire for an HD or 3DS remake of the game. There’s good reason for this. Though it’s not necessarily the best Zelda game around, its tried-and true gameplay, enriching atmosphere, and surprisingly deep storyline make it a truly unique and fresh experience from start to finish.
To many, Majora’s Mask will always live in the shadow of its older brother, Ocarina of Time, in terms of innovation and excitement. But Majora’s Mask tightens things up; gameplay seems a little smoother, and little touches have been added graphically, like Link’s updated tunic and the stylish flips and dives he performs on occasion, like during the opening sequence of the game. The frame rate does chug at times (though this problem is fixed in more recent editions of the game, like the Wii Virtual Console edition), and it requires an expansion pack if you’re playing on N64.
The game takes us through 4 areas of the world, each with its own “theme”: ocean, desert, swamp, and mountain. Each area has its own dungeon. That Ocarina of Time had more than twice as many dungeons might turn some people off, but trust me when I say that each dungeon is cleverly designed, and that there’s a lot more to the game than the four dungeons. The real joy of the game is in its plethora of character-based sidequests. As you journey through the mythical land of Termina to help other people, you’ll realize what the game is really about (and that’s a secret I won’t spoil). Let’s just say that Majora’s Mask will stick with you for a long time, because of what it can teach you about life, and other people.
I enjoyed Majora’s Mask because it was fun, interesting, deep, and immersive. I loved exploring the land of Termina and conquering evil. And in the end, it’s a game that I’ll be thinking about for a while. It’s probably not for everybody, but if you are a fan of Zelda games, adventure games, N64 games, or just games in general, it is a worthy purchase.
Score: 9.5/10
Written by SupperKazooie