18.2.2015

I have had a long long love affair with The Legend of Zelda, as a teen I picked up Link's Awakening for my Gameboy and that was it I was hooked, I loved that game, the exploring, the characters and the music, I spent hours exploring from the beach all the way up to the giant egg on the mountain top, nothing came close to this perfect game.But over the years I discovered more perfect games, I am a handheld gamer now upgraded from my Gameboy to a shiny blue 3DS via the original DS, I have explored once more with Link through The Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks, The Ocarina of Time and last year a Link between Worlds.I was excited to see this appear on my radar last year and of course pre-ordered it at my earliest with it arriving as a romantic Valentine's gift!So instead of a lovely meal on Valentine's night I instead, much to my other half's bemusement ripped the wrapper off and headed in to explore a new world.Well technically it isn't new, Majora's Mask was a originally a N64 game back in the day but Nintendo have rebooted it for the 3DS as they have done with other games, is this lazy? a lack of fresh ideas? Well no I don't think it is, they are bringing their classic games to a new audience along with letting the original gamers who played it many years ago either get warm and fuzzy replaying it or possibly cursing it because it ain't the same.Me, well I love it, it has already royally peeved me off with this whole three day thing, how can I get anything done in three days? But hey that doesn't matter it looks beautiful, it plays really well and it has already sucked me in to quite a few hours of gameplay already chasing the Skull Kid who has taken a mask that doesn't belong to him, so far I only have two masks of my own (I know get on with it woman) but it has ample side quests and huge areas to explore should you get totally bewildered with what the heck do I do next which as a Zelda gamer is something that happens at least once every play.This games feels darker and as usual you have a fairy companion who will nudge you in the right direction, if you look up you will see the totally sinister looking moon that when three days are up will come crashing down upon your world. This whole three days thing requires much planning as items you have taken ages to find such as rupees will be lost once those days are up so make use of the bank in town to save your precious funds.I forgot to mention the actual overall look, the last game A Link to the Past had returned to the more classic look after the Ocarina of Time and it's full blown what can 3D do look, Majora's Mask is more like the Ocarina of Time but to be honest I wasn't too keen on the way that game looked, loved playing it but preferred to the old style, Majora's Mask is more like a mix of the two!Once more Nintendo have provided me with a fantastic reason to part with my hard earned cash, Zelda never gets old and I know it is cheesy but I really hope to still be playing Zelda years from now.Awarded 5 out of 5

13.3.2015

If you've never played the Zelda series before, I wouldn't recommend starting with this title. Start with Ocarina of Time (also on 3DS) - which is a perfect introduction to the series and more straightforward in terms of story, tone, pacing and gameplay; still regarded as one of the greatest games ever made.It's sequel, Majora's Mask, is one for the fans. People who've played through Zelda titles before and are looking for something more unique and challenging. That's because Majora's Mask is the MOST unique Zelda title ever made, with a creepy tone from the go, a radical structure and intricate sidequests. It might seem off-putting at first,but stick at it and you will be rewarded with a deep and meaningful gaming experience.The story see's the Skull Kid having stolen Majora's Mask, which corrupts him and allows him to bring the Moon crashing into the earth in 3 days time. Therefore you have a 3 day time limit to save the world, but with your Ocarina of Time, you can go back in time to replay those 3 days until you're ready to stop the Moon and defeat Skull Kid. It's just like the movie Groundhog Day. The 3-day time cycle alters the typical Zelda gameplay fundamentally. You only keep the key items and masks when you travel back in time - the rest of the world and it's characters reset completely. Therefore you need to be smart about managing your time and deciding what you're going to accomplish in any particular 3 day cycle. The masks that you collect grant special powers and even allow you to transform into different races, giving you race-specific abilities. The game only has 4 main dungeons (filled with typically ingenious puzzles) which is small number for a Zelda title, but there is loads to do besides the dungeons. The game is filled with interesting characters with their own back stories, going about their lives to a particular schedule - which is handily noted in your notebook. You can intervene in their lives to help them out, and in the process collect more masks or heart pieces or items. One criticism would be that this process often involves a lot of fetch questing. Yet you keep at it as you become attached to these characters and become curious to see how their stories play out. With the 3-day cycle, these outcomes are are always fleeting, never permanent, and with this comes a feeling of profound sadness: having successfully helped someone out, you reset the time cycle and it's as if your actions never happened; there's a constant air of hopelessness and inevitability. It's unlike any other game I've played.If you've played the N64 title and wondering whether to give this a go, I would say yes - the game came out so long ago (15 years) that it was a joy to replay again. This is the definitive version, with a better save system, better notebook for completing side quests, and the graphics have been spruced up considerably (more than for ocarina of time).

28.2.2015

I grew up playing The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time. It still holds up today, and it arguably one the best Zelda games created, if not the best game created, period. Blah, blah (insert other *deserved* commemorations here) as I want to talk about Majora's Mask. The reason I began with OOT is because as a kid I managed to finish it several times.Majora's mask... not so much.Right from the beginning the nostalgia is there. The unsettling music, a dark and enticingly world, and an antagonist that is very threatening. It really is a huge change from OOT, and while my family and I never appreciated it at the time, I sure do now.MM is about the journey, rather than the destination.There's a moon hanging above you at all times threatening to come crashing down in three days. The Skull Kid (a possessed imp behind all your troubles) has turned you into a shrub and he just don't care. The people around you are facing inevitable death and well, that's that. Eventually you'll be able to save some of these people, but not from death... only from tortured souls.Another problem is that as you travel back in time to the start of the 3 day cycle (so that you don't get annihilated with everyone else) all their problems rewind too. So basically no matter how hard you try, you can't really change anything. All of this is to say that while in OOT the world is doomed until you can save it, the world in MM is almost constantly doomed, so that the end goal seems to get lost in the cycle. It's really all about the meeting and greeting with the people of Termina, rather than rushing through.This brings me to my next point: the Bombers Notebook. Excellent upgrade to the game. I say upgrade because in the original game it was far more empty and didn't really help. Here it gives tangible clues to point you in the right direction, without ruining the reward of discovering things yourself. I'd say this is my favourite thing about the game, as while you complete side quests it really does gives you a sense of progression.As always in every Zelda game there are lots of bottles and heart pieces to collect, and treasure chest upon treasure chest of rupees to open.I'm yet to finish the game but I've put in a solid 20-25 hours, and am currently outside the Great Bay Temple (the third of four). If you're a fan of these games you'll know that four temples is not a lot for a normal Zelda game, however really is packed and brimming with content. MM is a world you love and care about, even if it is one tainted with hopelessness and despair.I'd say MM is OOT's dark twin then. Hugely enjoyable, but maybe not to everyone's tastes. It is a grand, twisted adventure, one that we're perhaps too rarely treated to. While other games will capture a wider audiences heart, this will capture a smaller audiences soul.

30.5.2016

In 1998 Nintendo were faced with an impossible task.They had just released the legendary Ocarina of Time to universal critical acclaim, a game so stunning in its design and execution that it has received the accolade of being the greatest video game ever made. It is an accolade which it justly deserved and still does to this day.It was within this context that Eiji Anouma was tasked with the unenviable challenge of producing a worthy sequel and not only to do this but to finish the entire game for release within a mere two years. To put this in context, Ocarina of Time took seven years to produce.Knowing he could never rival Ocarina of Time,

2.3.2015

...I was only 6/7 when I began to play Ocarina of Time in the mid 2000's, it was my dad's game from his Nintendo 64. I always remember having great fun on that game, with my sister and friends mucking around and often getting scared of the missions only being 6! Nevertheless, I love this game, the character and just pure openess and fun factor of the game.I bought my 3DS last summer for a holiday last year but I literally didn't use it at all. Until now.... Majors's Mask Is epic! Having loved OOT so much, and haven seen the brilliant reviews of this game, not only of the original from 2000 on the N64, but also this 3D remake. The reviews don't lie, 10s out of 10s etc,

20.11.2015

After years of waiting and speculation my favourite game has finally been released. This is the most unique Zelda game made to date. Incorporating exploration, hack and slash and puzzle solving this game has everything that makes a good Zelda game, but what sets this apart from the others is the eerie Gothic tone and the depth of the characters involved. Nearly every character you come across has a story to tell and problems to solve. You really begin to connect with the characters and even gather an emotional connection as your progress through their story lines. This is unique amongst Zelda games and creates a unique atmosphere.The collection of masks can become addictive as you progress through the game each one requiring you to solve an interesting puzzle.

24.12.2015

An absolutely fantastic game. I never had the means to play a Zelda game (except Twilight Princess) before I got my 3ds, but now that i do I can finally say that Majora's Mask is definitely one of the best games I've ever played. All of the game mechanics and upgraded visuals make this game a real treat to play, never do you feel as though you're playing something as old as it is. Since the game requires all hands on deck so to speak, I never found myself using the stylus for the touch screen options; instead opting to quickly switch to a spare thumb. This is not an issue for me but i can see it being slightly irritable for those who will only touch the screen with the stylus,

26.9.2016

This is an incredibly faithful remake of the nintendo64 game that I grew up playing. The only reason it receives four stars is because the touchscreen controls feel a little clunky and there are slight moments of lag on the older version of the 3ds, however the improved graphics and delightfully creepy storyline make this game absolutely worth it. Majora's mask stands out from other Zelda titles in the gothic feel of the setting, it is a direct sequel to Ocarina of Time, wherein the themes of depression, isolation and loss are explored. A really fun and unique aspect is collecting and using the various masks. Some masks are just like standard rpg equipment and only grant certain status effects,

26.3.2015

I've been a fan of this game since the original came out over a 15 years ago. Actually its always been favourite Zelda game. It contrasts so much to the others with its darkness, time travel elements and the feeling of impending doom and each day the moon falls closer. The music also adds so much atmosphere to the game, with each passing day, it changes in tempo, almost to point of warning you, hurry up or the world is going to end. The games graphics are fantastic, a gorgeous upgrade to the original. The sprite animation is so fluid, you can every movement of Links body as he runs through Termina field, the animators really put the effort in on this. They have altered all of the boss battles,

14.2.2015

It's been 15 years or so when I first played Majora's Mask on N64. How could Nintendo follow up on maybe the greatest game of all time, Ocarina of time? They did it with Majora's Mask. The 'strange' Zelda game. The tone of the game is much darker than any other Zelda game. After all, the world of Termina is coming to an end and you relive a 3 day cycle over and over. Ever seen the movie Groundhog Day? During those 3 days you'll discover lots of things and do many sidequest to obtain hearts, masks, rupees, etc..Some say that Nintendo is lazy in doing remakes.. but I couldn't be more happy with this remake. It gives us, 'older gamers', a chance to relive this great adventure again.

16.11.2016

I've loved every single Zelda game I've played. From a Link to the Past on the SNES, to the very latest offerings on the Wii-U. From the GameBoy, the GBA, to the DS and of course, the 3DS, I have honestly loved them all. But, if there was one game I came close to not loving, it would be Majora's Mask on the N64. I guess, at the time, I was just disappointed it wasn't more of an Ocarina of Time 2...but playing this again on the 3DS, I realise how wrong I was. Maybe it was because at the time I was just a kid, or maybe Nintendo have indeed enhanced it superbly. Who knows. Evidence of master craftsmanship is everywhere in this game. By the time you’re flipping a temple upside down then right side up,

22.2.2015

This game is an absolute masterpiece! I first played it back on the N64 and can say that this is the definitive version. All the changes make the game look beautiful and much more accessible for the new generation. However I would not recommend it as a first zelda game for the potential consumer as it is designed for players that have beat ocarina of time. Although I say this you will have a blast with it anway if you go into the game expecting something different and innovative. The 3 day cycle is a clever concept and the way you can interact with all the characters stories is genius. My next point is important so I will write it in capitals. PLAY THE SONG OF TIME BACKWARDS TO SLOW THE TIME CYCLE DOWN.

23.5.2015

Probably because of it's eccentricities, Majora's Mask remains my all-time favourite Zelda game. Despite this I never got the chance to achieve 100% on the N64 version.This 3D update gave me that chance, and it captured the look and feel of the original so well that I genuinely feel like I achieved the above unfinished business.There are some changes, those that don't make the game WAY more bearable (more save statues, earlier access to the Song of Soaring, no auto-quit when saving) are negligible enough to barely notice (updated designs on one or two masks, locations of things moved around, boss mechanics changed up a little).If you loved the original N64 as much as I did then this game will

5.3.2015

Majora's mask was a great game and the 3ds version brings a smoothness and better quality finish to a game with solid gameplay and story. In 3 days the moon will crash into Termina and destroy the land. Using this 3 day cycle and the use of different masks and equipment you must stop this from happening. Most people have a problem with the 3 day cycle saying it forces you to replay things over again rather than viewing it how nintendo wanted it to be perceived as which is an additional pressure on the decisions you make. You have to judge when to re set your cycle and what you can achieve in the quickest time possible.

16.2.2015

In three days, the moon will fall and the land of Termina will meet with a terrible fate. Can you save it in time? Relive the world’s final 72 hours, solve elaborate puzzles, conquer dungeons, battle giant bosses, and befriend the doomed people of Termina in one of Nintendo’s most suspenseful apocalyptic adventures ever.The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D proves that interesting game design and strong world-building never get old. Even 15 years later, it still delivers charming characters, tense resource management, and a world rife with personality. Despite some cumbersome menus and a single drag of a dungeon, Majora’s Mask is a great adventure that (repeatedly) stands the test of time.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D (3DS) - Reviews

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