best Zelda game ever made. period. and even better than OOT and LTTP
First off, lets start with the basics: I am a huge fan of the mechanic of the game. The innovative idea of constant time travel back to the past in order to go to the future was ingenious. Termina looks small, with only 5 main locales (including Clock Town) but in reality it is massive. I particularly was a huge fan of the use of transformations in addition to new weapons. One of my favorite aspects is the need to be able to use every weapon, including the ice arrows, although the Deku nuts are useless, even as a Deku. The transformations really made the game, because the necessity of switching really varied this experience up, especially because of the different abilities of each "race" and how they relate to Link's human actions. The Goron was fun because of his roll, which helps speed Link up, but the best is the Zora, with his electric weapon and swimming and underwater ability. I did not like Deku link, but I think the flying and bubble weapons are cool as hell, especially because flying is one of those things Link could never do. The Fierce Deity was cool, but made the last boss way too easy.
On to the side quests, which is anyone who doesn't like this game's least favorite aspect. For me, I really liked the idea that "side quests" were not truly side quests. They made getting the things like the pieces of heart and the bottles much more fun than blowing up a hole or rock somewhere. I also love the way they incorporate the main items of the game, the masks into the main quest of the game. Many of the side quests and masks, which may only be used once, are completely necessary in Majora's Mask, which adds a unique dimension. I find the quests to get them really engaging, and how necessary the six bottles, better equipment, etc. are. Because of the story line, and the masks relationship with actual (game) people, not simply NPCs, to a higher degree than OOT, this completes the game, whereas Ocarina had awesome side quests, but they were more optional, like the happy mask game. I will say that I am happy that there are enough optional side quests and heart pieces and which you do not have to get to beat the game or enjoy it. However, I did not like at all having to do the Deku game, and the spinning platform game numerous times to get the heart piece.
Nevertheless, we cannot forget the levels and dungeons themselves, which are the most important parts of the game. I thought Nintendo produced some of the best dungeons and engaging level layouts I have ever seen in any video game in Majora's Mask. The best part of this game is how the pre-dungeon's tie into the dungeons, which are challenging, long, and amazingly fun. The length and intricacy of each truly makes this game, with more challenging layouts, tougher puzzles, and some tough bosses. I particularly like how the swamp is poisonous, Woodfall is tough, the cave behind the potion shop has enemies, etc for the other levels. Great Bay is easily a the game's hardest and best experience, although the trading game necessary to get the Mirror Shield is memorable, as is especially Ikana Castle. Still, I found having to get all the fairies rather tedious, and I still use a guide for them. The bosses were a shortfall of this game. I truly didn't like Goht. I thought the Stone Tower boss was a great idea, but it should have been more than a rehash of the Lanmola from LTTP with a giant Link and a one-time use mask. The minibosses were cool, but not as good as the OOT minibosses. In OOT, ALL the bosses except Dodongo were amazingly innovative and fun. Still in MM, bosses like the first dungeon boss, the Great Bay boss, the bosses of Ikana Castle, are amongst Zelda's top. Particularly standout are the sub-dungeons on the moon, where you replay the best parts of previous dungeons. Stone Tower tops this game's temples, with its original design. The sheer design of this level will make your head spin, and its best aspect is incorporating all types of Link into the game. I did feel Majora was really lame to fight, and thought that the end sequence before the credits was kinda lame, but the credits were touching. Nonetheless, the last part from Majora to the end still didn't match OOT.
Much of the original music in this game is simply STUNNING. Clock Town (all 3 days), the boss music, Pirates Fortress, Deku Palace, Ikana Castle, and Stone Tower have some of the best Zelda music I've ever heard in my years playing the series, having played LTTP, OOT, MM, and a little of TP(which blew in my opinion). The overworld theme is a plus and fits the dark feel of the game, even tho I do like the cheery one in OOT and the major key version in LTTP, compared to the on in MM in the minor key. On the Ocarina songs, this is where they feel kind of short. I like the Song of Healing, especially when its used in the clock tower and other similar scenarios, the Elegy of Emptiness, but frankly, I still feel most of the ocarina songs which are not recycled were songs which didn't make the OOT cut. Much of the side quest music was really good as well as the music some masks made. I do miss how in OOT, some songs had a background theme which played when you got it right of the Ocarina. Still, I love how the songs have functions you have to use to complete the game, just as in OOT but in a different manor. I like how sometimes I'll use regular time or Song of Double Time, but I usually play with the Inverted Song of Time activated, to make this game actually playable lol. The Song of Soaring, the deku song, the Goron Lullaby, and the Bossanova or whatever songs were rather weak.
All in all, this is a great game. Its immersive, has great replay value, tho maybe in part because I've beaten OOT at least 20 times, this only 4. I miss Princess Zelda, who I think could have been incorporated into the game. I think the Skull Kid should have been a boss, instead of a mask's pawn. I like this game better than OOT because its more complicated, involved, and more dimensional. It takes all the best parts and aspects of OOT, and makes them much more interesting.
Simply put, this is a different kind of Zelda game, but unlucky to be in OOT's shadow, because I frankly feel its way more original and different. Its like Mario 2, done right.