“Shouldn’t you be heading home as well?”
–
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is fundamentally a game about grief, regret, and most importantly, healing. At the heart of this core philosophy is the Song of Healing which, when played, emits an appropriate aura of warm, pink hearts. It is perhaps a happy coincidence that the notes that compose the song in Majora’s Mask are the exact notes used to play Saria’s Song, albeit backwards. The contrast between both songs is surreal: while Saria’s Song provides superficial happiness in the form of dance, the Song of Healing provides genuine happiness in the form of a spiritual, comforting embrace. Given how the Skull Kid is implied to be the same Skull Kid that the Hero of Time befriended in the past, though, I strongly doubt this was a connection formed through pure chance.
The Song of Healing initially begins a sorrowful, descending tune, and dwells on it for a moment, as if to acknowledge the despair and sadness of the listener. Halfway through the song, however, the piano reascends up the scale, and the song takes on a more bittersweet sound, uplifting the spirits of those listening, wrapping them in a sense of comfort that aims to give them closure. Whether it be a lifelong promise, a fulfilled purpose or a brief moment of pleasure in a period of disarray, the Song of Healing soothes the soul, both metaphorically and physically, with the latter being represented in the form of Masks.
–
Masks in Majora’s Mask are seen as the culmination of one’s purest form of happiness, only formed once their troubles have been answered. To obtain these masks, the Hero of Time must perform various tasks and acts of goodwill throughout Termina to give joy to the people there. It can be something as mundane as reforming the Great Fairy in Termina, or something emotionally profound, like saving a helpless father possessed by a Gibdo, allowing him to reunite with his daughter who not only protected him, but also comforted him as soon as he regained consciousness. These individuals all have their wishes and desires fulfilled by a magical child who quite literally appeared from nowhere, and acquired happiness through his selfless efforts.
However, this is Majora’s Mask - the masks aren’t only a form of happiness, they’re also a form of closure.
There’s the constant underlying factor of the Moon that will inevitably crash into Termina if the hero does not act. No matter how much the joyful music of Clock Town attempts to mask the fate of its residents, it eventually gives way to an erratic sense of discomfort and imminent dread. Slowly but surely, Termina comes to terms with its terminal fate. All the Hero of Time is able to do while he rushes through the various landscapes is offer the people of Termina a sense of closure. The Bunny Hood Mask, arguably the most important optional mask in the game, requires the hero march a coop of chicks into maturity so their caretaker gets to see them fully grown before moonfall. The Goron and Zora Masks are acquired by offering their inhibitors closure - Darmani by promising that the Gorons will be saved from the perilous snowfall, Mikau by promising that his bandmates are able to perform at the Carnival of Time. A particularly noteworthy mention would be Anju and Kafei’s Couples’ Mask, which requires player input throughout the entirety of Majora’s Mask’s 3-day cycle. The extensive length of this quest is a beautiful reminder that love requires patience to nurture, and that when both parties are so dedicated to each other that they’re willing to overcome all trials and tribulations to be with each other, their love can transcend all boundaries, even time.
–
Link originated from humble beginnings. He spent most of his early life believing he was one of the Kokori, despite the lack of a fairy companion. It was quaint and simple, yet it was sufficient. Then the events of Ocarina of Time shattered the facade of his reality, revealing that the entire foundation of his existence was a fabrication, built to mask the truth behind his destiny. It was Link who withheld the burden of growing up against his own will, in order to fulfill the prophecy that foretold the prevailing victory of the forces of light against a castle of pure evil. He carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, and despite his success, his deeds are chalked off as an obscure legend to most.
Despite being allowed to return to his childhood, the ordeal ensured Link’s life would never recover. To him, Kokori Forest no longer felt like a true home. And so, in search of the one remnant of his fragmented childhood that remained ever-present throughout his journey, Navi, he inadvertently found himself saving another different world. Once again, however, the curse of being the Hero of Time burdened him, and all the memories he formed with the people of Termina were constantly swept away in the white blanket of time as he rewinded the clock to eventually save their lives. In the end, his selfless acts touched the souls residing in Termina, bringing forth positive change in their lives. However, all that lingers in Termina is a fleeting memory of a hero who came and went, much like the spring breeze.
Throughout the entire journey, Link is the one to play the Song of Healing for all the wounded souls he came across. Despite this, he has never been the recipient of the song, with even the Happy Mask Salesman teaching him the song to pacify the Deku Spirit inhibiting his soul. The mantle of ‘Hero of Time’ is one that requires sacrifice - by the end of the game, despite all his efforts, Link never reaches his goal: he never finds Navi, and he is once again forced to become a mere passerby of a world he saved as he continues his hopeless quest.
Ultimately, Link is the saviour of two worlds, yet is a stranger of both. He can never truly call Hyrule or Termina his true home, as he has no calling and no longer serves a purpose for either world. He is forever displaced in time, cursed by his destiny, trapped in a mind that experienced insurmountable trauma others can barely comprehend. He departed the living realm without ever finding full acceptance, regretting his inability to pass on his learnings, and regretting living as an anonymous entity to the world. Such is the tragedy of the Hero of Time.
–
You saved Hyrule. You saved Termina. But did you save yourself?
Did you allow yourself the time to heal?
Final score: 10/10
Focus: The Song of Healing, and how it connects to the self-sacrificial tragedy of the Hero of Time and the burden of destiny.
Theme: Healing and self-sactifice.
ShinGen's "Greatest Game of All Time" Certification
Review 77.
–
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is fundamentally a game about grief, regret, and most importantly, healing. At the heart of this core philosophy is the Song of Healing which, when played, emits an appropriate aura of warm, pink hearts. It is perhaps a happy coincidence that the notes that compose the song in Majora’s Mask are the exact notes used to play Saria’s Song, albeit backwards. The contrast between both songs is surreal: while Saria’s Song provides superficial happiness in the form of dance, the Song of Healing provides genuine happiness in the form of a spiritual, comforting embrace. Given how the Skull Kid is implied to be the same Skull Kid that the Hero of Time befriended in the past, though, I strongly doubt this was a connection formed through pure chance.
The Song of Healing initially begins a sorrowful, descending tune, and dwells on it for a moment, as if to acknowledge the despair and sadness of the listener. Halfway through the song, however, the piano reascends up the scale, and the song takes on a more bittersweet sound, uplifting the spirits of those listening, wrapping them in a sense of comfort that aims to give them closure. Whether it be a lifelong promise, a fulfilled purpose or a brief moment of pleasure in a period of disarray, the Song of Healing soothes the soul, both metaphorically and physically, with the latter being represented in the form of Masks.
–
Masks in Majora’s Mask are seen as the culmination of one’s purest form of happiness, only formed once their troubles have been answered. To obtain these masks, the Hero of Time must perform various tasks and acts of goodwill throughout Termina to give joy to the people there. It can be something as mundane as reforming the Great Fairy in Termina, or something emotionally profound, like saving a helpless father possessed by a Gibdo, allowing him to reunite with his daughter who not only protected him, but also comforted him as soon as he regained consciousness. These individuals all have their wishes and desires fulfilled by a magical child who quite literally appeared from nowhere, and acquired happiness through his selfless efforts.
However, this is Majora’s Mask - the masks aren’t only a form of happiness, they’re also a form of closure.
There’s the constant underlying factor of the Moon that will inevitably crash into Termina if the hero does not act. No matter how much the joyful music of Clock Town attempts to mask the fate of its residents, it eventually gives way to an erratic sense of discomfort and imminent dread. Slowly but surely, Termina comes to terms with its terminal fate. All the Hero of Time is able to do while he rushes through the various landscapes is offer the people of Termina a sense of closure. The Bunny Hood Mask, arguably the most important optional mask in the game, requires the hero march a coop of chicks into maturity so their caretaker gets to see them fully grown before moonfall. The Goron and Zora Masks are acquired by offering their inhibitors closure - Darmani by promising that the Gorons will be saved from the perilous snowfall, Mikau by promising that his bandmates are able to perform at the Carnival of Time. A particularly noteworthy mention would be Anju and Kafei’s Couples’ Mask, which requires player input throughout the entirety of Majora’s Mask’s 3-day cycle. The extensive length of this quest is a beautiful reminder that love requires patience to nurture, and that when both parties are so dedicated to each other that they’re willing to overcome all trials and tribulations to be with each other, their love can transcend all boundaries, even time.
–
Link originated from humble beginnings. He spent most of his early life believing he was one of the Kokori, despite the lack of a fairy companion. It was quaint and simple, yet it was sufficient. Then the events of Ocarina of Time shattered the facade of his reality, revealing that the entire foundation of his existence was a fabrication, built to mask the truth behind his destiny. It was Link who withheld the burden of growing up against his own will, in order to fulfill the prophecy that foretold the prevailing victory of the forces of light against a castle of pure evil. He carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, and despite his success, his deeds are chalked off as an obscure legend to most.
Despite being allowed to return to his childhood, the ordeal ensured Link’s life would never recover. To him, Kokori Forest no longer felt like a true home. And so, in search of the one remnant of his fragmented childhood that remained ever-present throughout his journey, Navi, he inadvertently found himself saving another different world. Once again, however, the curse of being the Hero of Time burdened him, and all the memories he formed with the people of Termina were constantly swept away in the white blanket of time as he rewinded the clock to eventually save their lives. In the end, his selfless acts touched the souls residing in Termina, bringing forth positive change in their lives. However, all that lingers in Termina is a fleeting memory of a hero who came and went, much like the spring breeze.
Throughout the entire journey, Link is the one to play the Song of Healing for all the wounded souls he came across. Despite this, he has never been the recipient of the song, with even the Happy Mask Salesman teaching him the song to pacify the Deku Spirit inhibiting his soul. The mantle of ‘Hero of Time’ is one that requires sacrifice - by the end of the game, despite all his efforts, Link never reaches his goal: he never finds Navi, and he is once again forced to become a mere passerby of a world he saved as he continues his hopeless quest.
Ultimately, Link is the saviour of two worlds, yet is a stranger of both. He can never truly call Hyrule or Termina his true home, as he has no calling and no longer serves a purpose for either world. He is forever displaced in time, cursed by his destiny, trapped in a mind that experienced insurmountable trauma others can barely comprehend. He departed the living realm without ever finding full acceptance, regretting his inability to pass on his learnings, and regretting living as an anonymous entity to the world. Such is the tragedy of the Hero of Time.
–
You saved Hyrule. You saved Termina. But did you save yourself?
Did you allow yourself the time to heal?
Final score: 10/10
Focus: The Song of Healing, and how it connects to the self-sacrificial tragedy of the Hero of Time and the burden of destiny.
Theme: Healing and self-sactifice.
ShinGen's "Greatest Game of All Time" Certification
Review 77.