Friday, February 13, 2009
Underrated Game - Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Can anyone explain to me why The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time receives so much love from gamers when discussing the best Zelda games of all-time, yet Majora's Mask gets barely a mention? What does OoT have that Majora's Mask doesn't? To me, they both offer lengthy, awe-inspiring gameplay, intelligent and exciting storylines, and everybody's favorite pointy-eared hero equipped with his trusty Master Sword. Sure, Ganandorf and Zelda fail to make an appearance, but is that really so bad? They could use the break.
The story behind Majora's Mask centers around a mysterious figure known as the Skull Kid who stumbles upon a mask which grants the wearer incredible powers, but also puts them under a spell which forces them to do the mask's evil bidding. While wearing the mask, Skull Kid causes all kinds of mischief including stealing Link's Ocarina of Time, turning Link into a living flower known as a Deku Scrub, and sending the moon on a collision course with earth.
Skull Kid: Kind of a jerk.As you can imagine, none of this sits right with our hero and it is up to him to get back the Ocarina, regain his human form, defeat Skull Kid, and rescue four legendary giants in hopes they can stop the moon from wiping out all life on the planet.
I've got a bad feeling about this.As you make your way through the game you have to be aware of the clock that is counting down on the bottom of the screen, as you only have 3 days (in game-time, which is actually a lot less than that in actual time) to complete your missions. If you run out of time before completing everything you need to you get a front row seat to the Armageddon.
Time's up.This minor problem can be counteracted by playing The Song of Time on the ocarina, which turns back the clock to the first hour of the first day, awarding you another 3 days to complete your quest. While this may seem like an unnecessary annoyance, I promise you that it only serves to add an exciting new component to the game-play which is easy to get used to.
Another thing that makes Majora's Mask stand out from the other Legend of Zelda games is the way it strays from the normal Zelda storyline and seems to be more of a spin-off of Ocarina of Time than an actual sequel.
Here's a simple rundown of every other Legend of Zelda game:
1. Bad Guy threatens to take over the world.
2. An ancient legend chooses a Lone Orphan from humble beginnings to save the world.
3. Lone orphan finds the Master Sword.
4. Bad Guy and Lone Orphan face off in a climactic battle.
Oh, we have to battle Ganondorf? Yeah, that's original.
Now, don't get me wrong. I love The Legend of Zelda and I realize those 4 storyline cliches are the ingredients to a successful game, but in my opinion Majora's Mask offers a better, more satisfying gaming experience because it dares to be different and doesn't care whether you like it or not. Keep running out of time? Tough cookies. Can't find all the masks? Majora's Mask doesn't want to hear about.
"Tell it to someone who cares."After you traverse through the four dungeons and rescue the four ancient giants, you are able to summon them forth with your ocarina. As luck would have it, they make it to the scene just in time to pluck the moon from the sky just as it reaches the earth, foiling Skull Kid's evil plan and saving the earth from a nasty demise.
"I'm sure glad I called those guys."
With the moon situation taken care of Link is now free to face off with the Skull Kid for the game's final showdown.
It is possible to beat this game without collecting all the masks, but I wouldn't recommend trying it. If you take on the Skull Kid without the aid of all the masks you are doing yourself a major disservice. Why do I say that, you ask? Well, I say this because after you collect every mask in the game you are given the opportunity to trade them all in for one called the Fierce Deity Mask. The Fierce Deity Mask is quite simply the sweetest item ever invented for a video game. This mask transforms Link in a lean, mean, death-dealin' machine. In fact, this mask makes Link so powerful that you could literally beat Skull Kid by closing your eyes and simply pressing the A button repeatedly.
"I'm sure glad I called those guys."It is possible to beat this game without collecting all the masks, but I wouldn't recommend trying it. If you take on the Skull Kid without the aid of all the masks you are doing yourself a major disservice. Why do I say that, you ask? Well, I say this because after you collect every mask in the game you are given the opportunity to trade them all in for one called the Fierce Deity Mask. The Fierce Deity Mask is quite simply the sweetest item ever invented for a video game. This mask transforms Link in a lean, mean, death-dealin' machine. In fact, this mask makes Link so powerful that you could literally beat Skull Kid by closing your eyes and simply pressing the A button repeatedly.
Fierce Diety Link will stomp your face.All in all, I would have to say Majora's Mask ranks up there as my favorite Legend of Zelda game, with The Twilight Princess for the Wii in a very close second. In fact, I wish they would remake Majora's Mask and release it for the Wii. It would be so cool to control Fierce Deity Link or Goron Link with the Wii-mote. I think I'm going to write a letter to Nintendo and beg them to get started on that.
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I remember playing the original Zelda.. that was a long time ago and the graphics were...
ReplyDeleteWell they were pretty bad by today's standards.
You write a good review; and the character shots are great.
I just played through this game for the first time, completed it 100%. I can't believe I had been missing out on this game all this time! Definitely the most unique Zelda game ever, a very fresh and engaging story. The music was great too, it was nice to hear something other than variations on the standard Zelda theme. Overall it's just a great addition to the series and I'd love to see another game that takes place in Termina or a series of games that take place as a spinoff of Majora's Mask.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Zelda OOT gets all the glory because it was basically the first 3D Zelda game and anyone who started playing it fell in love all most instantly. I personally enjoy Majora’s Mask more for all the reasons that you stated as well as for the fact that it seemed to provide longer gameplay then its predecessor. Nice review.
ReplyDeleteWhy is Oot better?
ReplyDeleteVery simple, time travel.
I remember the moment I picked up that MasterSword when I was a kid and grew into Adult Link, I had goosebumps head to toe.
and actually solving puzzles across the span of seven years traveling backward and forth through time day and night young and old, with diffrent suits, different boots different swords different shields its any gamers dream come true. And the music just takes you out of this world.
Oot simply didn't miss a single element the only game ever to recieve a perfect 10.
Excellent Story
Excellent Music
Excellent Gameplay
Excellent Graphics (still easily enjoyable today!)
besides it had all the zelda stuff that irrationally makes u love the game (master sword, Ganon, Zelda(&Sheik).
Majora's Mask is a GREAT game but its not excellent. It had too little dungeons too but I still loved it for so many reasons mainly what you mentioned earlier and I loved the sidequests and how you upgrade your sword and the gold dust, all that was great.
The things I loved so much more about MM was:
Side Quests
Masks
Anyways both are great
the reason why orcarina of time gets alot more mention is because it was the first 3d zelda game
ReplyDeletesimple
As another anon said, the only reason Oot get's so much nerdlove is because it is the first 3D zelda. Majora's mask was(IMO)much better than OoT because of the story. The 4 cliches are ANNOYING! I liked how they mixed up the story.
ReplyDeletelook carefully at the moon its wearing a mask!
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