To get the most out of Majora's Mask, it seems one either needs a guide or to commit to living in the game and knowing its inhabitants more intimately than I could possibly be capable. I approached this game the same as any other Zelda at the start: work on completing the main objective, grab some superfluous upgrades along the way. The problem, I learned, is that there is very little along the way.
I saved Termina with only 8 hearts (6 heart pieces), 9 masks (only two inessential ones, the fairy and the pig), no stray fairy upgrades and a practically empty Bombers' Notebook... to compare, in Ocarina, I finished with 13 hearts (9 heart pieces) and 48 Skulltula tokens. While the more granular stats weren't radically dissimilar, tying less of Link's core progression into the main story was psychologically detrimental. I constantly felt underprepared in Majora's Mask. Sometimes, it made me appreciate the combat and mini boss fights more (though I learned the shield is a little overpowered), others, when a boss fight required magic and I just jumped in with fairies and no potions (Twinmold), it was excruciating.
Since the time of day (and which day) affects your ability to unlock progression, there was an aura of dread surrounding every new challenge... not because the plot is especially dire for the franchise (it is) but because I never knew if I would have the tool necessary to complete a challenge or be compelled to aimlessly backtrack after missing a clue or not intuiting a solution.
Majora's Mask is the most opaque 3D Zelda. The only Zelda where I felt progressing was more of a challenge is Oracle of Ages. While I fundamentally did not enjoy engaging with the Capcom puzzles, I loved the problem solving in Majora's Mask... when I had the right tools. The game is routinely creative and very clever. I imagine I would appreciate the game much more if I were willing to engage with it on it's terms: obtaining upgrades, having the bunny hood, interacting with characters and learning their schedules, but that would require work beyond acknowledging they are clues whose importance doesn't match my schedule (work I didn't want to put in).
The game's inhabitants demand their own focus and concentration, forcing your attention from the primary goal. The central time travel mechanic is suited very well for this, thematically. It always felt ludicrous to fish in Ocarina of Time... there's a world-ending threat, but I need to spend 6 hours catching for the Hylian Loach. In Majora's Mask, you can take your time and it not feel like an indulgent detour but legitimate preparation. However, the opposite side of that is everyone you help is reset, unless you are willing (if it's even possible to be able) to resolve every conflict in three days before venturing to the moon, ultimately rending the experience meaningless at best and selfish indulgence or exploitation at worst.
The game's greatest strength is its willingness to be weird. Like Link's Awakening before it, Majora's Mask is untethered from the expectations of Hyrule while piggybacking on the stature of its immediate predecessor. Both games are subversive and genuinely interesting, compelling enough to want to see the journey through its conclusion. There are jokes that land and legitimate surprises. Probably the best story structure in the series until Breath of the Wild.
Tatl is absolutely the best fairy companion in the series, correcting from the overbearing presence of Navi, and choosing a preferable path to what would follow with Phantom Hourglass's Celia who's an obnoxious vocal surrogate for a protagonist who isn't mute. There's light teasing, enough to make you think when stuck, but it's seldom too intrusive. It goes a long way in improving the user experience.
I think I prefer the 3D remaster. I played it long enough ago to forget a lot of the details (but I think I had an easier time with the game's progression, which could be attributed to having more leisure time at that point in my life). I absolutely don't get the gripes about lily pad hopping or Zora swimming, especially on balance with the benefits of gyro aiming... that said, they're all relatively insignificant details, and, in my case, one only misses what isn't there. The second screen is a blessing though, considering how frequent and annoying incessantly jumping in and our of menus is.
- Played in the NSO app for 22 hours, main story only. Near fine: ★★★★☆
I saved Termina with only 8 hearts (6 heart pieces), 9 masks (only two inessential ones, the fairy and the pig), no stray fairy upgrades and a practically empty Bombers' Notebook... to compare, in Ocarina, I finished with 13 hearts (9 heart pieces) and 48 Skulltula tokens. While the more granular stats weren't radically dissimilar, tying less of Link's core progression into the main story was psychologically detrimental. I constantly felt underprepared in Majora's Mask. Sometimes, it made me appreciate the combat and mini boss fights more (though I learned the shield is a little overpowered), others, when a boss fight required magic and I just jumped in with fairies and no potions (Twinmold), it was excruciating.
Since the time of day (and which day) affects your ability to unlock progression, there was an aura of dread surrounding every new challenge... not because the plot is especially dire for the franchise (it is) but because I never knew if I would have the tool necessary to complete a challenge or be compelled to aimlessly backtrack after missing a clue or not intuiting a solution.
Majora's Mask is the most opaque 3D Zelda. The only Zelda where I felt progressing was more of a challenge is Oracle of Ages. While I fundamentally did not enjoy engaging with the Capcom puzzles, I loved the problem solving in Majora's Mask... when I had the right tools. The game is routinely creative and very clever. I imagine I would appreciate the game much more if I were willing to engage with it on it's terms: obtaining upgrades, having the bunny hood, interacting with characters and learning their schedules, but that would require work beyond acknowledging they are clues whose importance doesn't match my schedule (work I didn't want to put in).
The game's inhabitants demand their own focus and concentration, forcing your attention from the primary goal. The central time travel mechanic is suited very well for this, thematically. It always felt ludicrous to fish in Ocarina of Time... there's a world-ending threat, but I need to spend 6 hours catching for the Hylian Loach. In Majora's Mask, you can take your time and it not feel like an indulgent detour but legitimate preparation. However, the opposite side of that is everyone you help is reset, unless you are willing (if it's even possible to be able) to resolve every conflict in three days before venturing to the moon, ultimately rending the experience meaningless at best and selfish indulgence or exploitation at worst.
The game's greatest strength is its willingness to be weird. Like Link's Awakening before it, Majora's Mask is untethered from the expectations of Hyrule while piggybacking on the stature of its immediate predecessor. Both games are subversive and genuinely interesting, compelling enough to want to see the journey through its conclusion. There are jokes that land and legitimate surprises. Probably the best story structure in the series until Breath of the Wild.
Tatl is absolutely the best fairy companion in the series, correcting from the overbearing presence of Navi, and choosing a preferable path to what would follow with Phantom Hourglass's Celia who's an obnoxious vocal surrogate for a protagonist who isn't mute. There's light teasing, enough to make you think when stuck, but it's seldom too intrusive. It goes a long way in improving the user experience.
I think I prefer the 3D remaster. I played it long enough ago to forget a lot of the details (but I think I had an easier time with the game's progression, which could be attributed to having more leisure time at that point in my life). I absolutely don't get the gripes about lily pad hopping or Zora swimming, especially on balance with the benefits of gyro aiming... that said, they're all relatively insignificant details, and, in my case, one only misses what isn't there. The second screen is a blessing though, considering how frequent and annoying incessantly jumping in and our of menus is.
- Played in the NSO app for 22 hours, main story only. Near fine: ★★★★☆