Majora's Mask is a masterpiece, and it's almost better than Ocarina Of Time.
Graphics: 10/10
Sound: 10/10
Value: 8/10
Tilt: 9/10
Final Score: 9.6/10 (A)
The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time is highly regarded as the greatest game ever made, let alone on the Nintendo 64 by many fans (including me, although I feel SM64, SMG, or Chrono Trigger are up there for best games ever). This sequel tends to be considered not as good by extreme OOT fanboys. Well I have something to tell you; IT IS!! Using more complex gameplay, Majora's Mask is considered the Zelda II of the 3D Zelda's, but people are forgetting that Zelda II was awesome. Majora's Mask is awesome too.
I'll cut to the chase; Link is looking for some friend when a skull kid in a weird Majora's Mask and his fairies snipe Link and his horse, taking his Ocarina and selling his horse to some farm. Link Chases after him only to be turned into a wooden freak (Deku Scrub). You must travel as him shortly and then you'll get your power back from the Happy Mask Salesman (from OOT). You must save the village of Terminia (yeah not Hyrule) from the worlds ugliest moon ever from falling and crushing the town in 3 days.
So how can you beat a game in 3 days? As well as 72 MINUTES?! Simple, you can use your ocarina and play the Song of Time to save and go back to the first day. It may sound tedious at first, but it's fun to know how far you went, and if you succeed, you are rewarded heavily! You also need to collect masks that transform you into Zora's, Gorons, and Dekus. The Face and scream Link makes when putting these masks on is hilarious!
Some may complain of the games focus on sidequests, but this makes it all the more fun to play. My favorite sidequests are the ones at Romani Ranch, where you shoot aliens that sound like Toad, compete in a dog show, make birds become chickens, and even shoot down robbers trying to steal your milk bottles. The whole game seems confusing to explore at first, but once you know what to do, Majora's Mask offers gameplay untouched on the N64 and on any console ever. The items from OOT return, and these are still fun to use. Helping people out gets you masks, and these are a blast to use.
But by far the game's best aspect are the creative and refreshingly short temples. My favorite is the Snowhead Temple, with its ice ramps, challenging brain busting puzzles and a giant bull for a boss! These are easier and shorter than the ones you've seen in OOT. I found the dark and often humerous story having aged better than the cheesy story in OOT, and it's pretty cinematic. One puzzle requires you to jump on invisible blocks with feathers on them; very original! I absolutely love the Bunny Hood mask, and the Rupee saving feature is a neat and convenient addition. If there's one complaint I have, it's that it takes at least an HOUR to save, and your items disappear (except your weapons). Even so, the combat is kept to minimal frustration, and the puzzles are easy enough to figure out.
The games graphics are amazing. With the help of the Expansion Pak, the detailed scenery and fluid animation make for enjoyable scenery. Details include balloons that pop into pieces, bouncing off of water, and icicles breaking into tiny pieces! I'm not a fan of the WALLPAPER OF TREES, but in general, the graphics are stunning. Most of the music is recycled form OOT, but the new music is awesome. The audio is equally stunning.
Majora's Mask is a masterpiece, and it's almost better than Ocarina of Time. Had it not been for the save feature, this would've beaten OOT in my opinion. Still, this ranks as one of my all time favorite games to play, and the mask collecting and numerous sidequests adds tons of replay value. Do yourself a favor and smack yourself in the face if you don't have this game, because you're truly missing out on a classic.