In the spring of 2000, less than two years after Nintendo redefined the action-adventure genre The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Timethe company published The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Maskdirect continuation. This kind of story and gameplay continuity is unusual for an actor Zelda a franchise that tends toward more experimental or generational leaps like the ones in between The Wind Waker and Princess Twilightor Heavenly Sword and Breath of the Wild. But don't let this rare sequel status fool you: The Major's Mask is anything but a simple sequel.
Eventually, Ocarina of Time's story has little or no effect on events The Major's Maskwhich represents such a radical shift in tone that it almost feels like part of an entirely different series. Really, The Major's Mask is still dyed in wool Zelda The game, but its dark themes, disturbing imagery, and bold experimental ideas lend it a kind of otherworldly quality, as if it were created in a parallel universe where Wario is the face of Nintendo instead of Mario. This might help explain the cultural significance The Major's Maskwhich captured the imagination of gamers and non-gamers in a different way Zelda they just don't have games.
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Why The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is still so special after all these years
Zelda: Ocarina of Time is much like a classic fairy tale: a chosen orphan goes on a grand, magical quest to rescue the princess of the land. The Major's Mask removes these familiar tropes, most of which reappear later Zelda games and is replaced by ideas that are much more cosmic and unnerving.
for the record Ocarina of Time he wasn't shy about bringing in darker imagery and themes but The Major's Mask takes things up a notch.
Arrange the covers in the correct US release order.
Start
Arrange the covers in the correct US release order.
Easy (5) Medium (7) Hard (10)
There are two general elements The Major's Mask which best illustrate this turn to the “dark side”. First, we have what most would consider the inciting incident of the narrative, where Link transforms into a Deku Scrub after traveling to Termina. With humming, rustling sound effects and bizarre visuals, this scene culminates with Link losing his original body and becoming a wood-leaf creature that torments him greatly. it's not fun MarioA transformation in style, but a terrifying, confusing curse that robs a child of their physical form, and it's presented that way.
The second symbol The Major's MaskDarker and bolder in tone is the iconic Moon that hangs over Clock Town and moves closer and closer to the surface of Termina every day. This grinning monstrous mass is the epitome of cosmic horror, a perversion of something both mystical and familiar. It's certainly visually disturbing, but the innate insidiousness of this celestial body inspires real fear.
The Major's Mask it isn't Zelda's “Halloween special.” It's not a scary spin Zelda for the sake of it, but rather the shift into more evocative territory and the fact that the original 2000 release was marketed to a children's audience is perhaps at the heart of its lasting legacy. We tend to remember things that scare us as children, like our parents turning into pigs Spirited awayor any number of moments from the original Alice in Wonderland. But like a video game, The Major's Mask it offers something that scary books and movies simply cannot: the opportunity to overcome such otherworldly terrors.
Beyond Scares, Majora's Mask is still as wonderfully bizarre as the best Zelda games
One of the reasons why The Major's MaskThe more troubling elements that don't feel superficial are that they're backed by meaningful mechanics. Take, for example, a game based on masks. Using the three main masks, Link can transform into a Deku, Zora, or Goron version of himself at will. Each of these unique forms comes with its own set of abilities and is feasible in several different scenarios, meaning they are always available and offer gameplay variety. That's not to mention the other 21 masks that further recontextualize the once uncomfortable idea of body horror into something practical and fun.
Then there's Termina's three-day cycle, which affects gameplay in a way that far predates game time. In fact, you could trace the lineage from several The Major's Maskcore mechanics like the quest schedule and replay time limit for many of today's modern adventure titles and even some roguelikes and extraction games. While Zelda games before and after The Major's Mask are innovative in their own right, few can claim to be as fearless or ahead of their time as this 2000 release.
And through it all, The Major's Mask still feels right Zelda game. It still boasts the IP's unmistakable blend of whimsy and danger, throwing players into an unknown yet endlessly compelling world with surprises around every corner. Maybe a huge success Ocarina of Time it gave Nintendo developers the confidence they needed to create something much more experimental and risky, but in any case, the result is an adventure game that is truly unparalleled, even after all these years.
- Released
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October 26, 2000
- ESRB
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E10+ for everyone aged 10+ due to animated gore, fantasy violence, obscene themes
- Developers
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Nintendo EAD
- Publishers
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Nintendo
- Engine
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Proprietary engine
