Operation Backlog Completion 2025
Oct 302017
 

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is often referred to as the “dark” Legend of Zelda game, so what better time to look at it than during our celebration of all spooky and creepy games?

(Plus, I finished it yesterday.)

I never played Majora’s Mask when it originally came out, so I was thrilled by the announcement of Majora’s Mask 3D. Several friends warned me it could get repetitive, but I suggested it to a friend as a game we should play together in July.

…*looks at date* Okay, so it took a little longer to finish than I expected.

Unfortunately, the reason Majora’s Mask took me so long to complete isn’t just because I somehow put 59 hours into it, but because I often didn’t have the will to play it, at least not for more than one 3-day cycle in-game.

This is not to say I didn’t like Majora’s Mask! I enjoyed several parts of it… mainly when I was doing normal Zelda activities. I liked solving puzzles in the dungeons, I liked playing mini-games, and I liked using the masks, especially the transformation masks.

I also enjoyed the premise and story, although I’d argue that it isn’t nearly as dark of a game as people say. Plenty of dark things happen in the game, but there are dark events in pretty much every Legend of Zelda game. To me, Link’s Awakening is ultimately darker in the end despite its lighter presentation.

Click for Link's Awakening spoiler
In Link’s Awakening, either everyone you interacted with during the entire game was fake, or you killed them all. And the bosses fight you because they don’t want to be erased. That’s pretty disturbing…

But that doesn’t matter. Dark or not, I enjoyed the atmosphere and story of Majora’s Mask.

What I didn’t enjoy was the time mechanic.

I know, the time travel is central to Majora’s Mask. And I like the concept. Make progress, learn new information, get new items, and then reset time to avert the apocalypse while using what you did the previous time to get further.

Yet it leads to so much repetition…

From my understanding, the 3DS version made some of this a lot easier to manage, which I’m grateful for. Even with those changes, I found it annoying to repeat certain things over and over and over, and I was never pleased to run out of time while nearing the end of a dungeon.

I was conflicted going into The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, and I’m still conflicted now that I’ve finished it. On one hand, I enjoyed several things about it. On the other hand, I found it to be one of the most annoying Zelda games I’ve played. Overall, I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had a similar story but played more like a traditional game in the series.

But that’s just me, and I know this game is beloved by many people. What do you think of Majora’s Mask?

And do you consider it a dark game?

Nov 072014
 

Yesterday’s Nintendo Direct wasn’t too thrilling, but it had a couple of standout moments, including the fulfillment of one video game wish I’ve had for a while. I was so excited, my intended Nintendo Direct news article focused on that particular announcement.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, originally a Nintendo 64 game, is being remade for the 3DS. Yes! I’ve wanted to play this one for a long time. A darker Zelda game with a creepy tone… it sounds perfect.

I have a confession to make, Zelda fans. Wind Waker was my first introduction to the series. I didn’t play the much-acclaimed Ocarina of Time until Ocarina of Time 3D came out. And then, when I heard people discussing the possibility of Nintendo giving Majora’s Mask similar treatment…

Well, I held off on buying it on the Virtual Console in case a 3D remake was announced… and now it has!

I can’t wait. The trailer looks creepy, it sounds like just the sort of game I’ll love, and even if some people wish Nintendo was working on new games instead of this remake, Majora’s Mask 3D is one title I know is going into my games library. Just need to wait until pre-orders open up…

But you know what makes me almost more excited than getting to play Majora’s Mask at last? Ocarina of Time 3D came out in 2011, and that’s when people started talking about this possibility. Three years passed with no news. When this year’s E3 ended with no Majora’s Mask 3D, I started to give up. I still tossed out the possibility when anticipating the Nintendo Direct, but I didn’t really believe it.

And it happened.

You know what ELSE happened in 2011? Gyakuten Kenji 2 (Ace Attorney Investigations 2) was released in Japan, with no plans to bring it to the West. I still campaign for its localization, but after this long, it’s hard not to give up hope…

But hey, if it could happen for Zelda, maybe it can happen for Ace Attorney.

The Nintendo Direct was also missing one other thing I wanted to hear–Fatal Frame V localization. I really thought they might announce it. It’s a perfect fit for the Wii U, and survival horror fans are dying to play this game! Still, its chances are better than AAI2’s…

Anyway, Majora’s Mask 3D, Spring 2015! It’s on my list. Is it on yours?