The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D Reviews
An error in historical judgement.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time defied everyone's expectations when it released on the N64 in late 1998. Not only did it successfuly bring a Zelda game into the realm of 3D, it also managed to weave together an intricate storyline of time travel, allowing you to switch back and forth between a thriving Hyrule in Link's present childhood, or the despair filled future where Ganon ruled over the land. It was a rather emotion filled journey that concluded with Link returning to his childhood timeline in order to fully live out his life. Surprisingly, Nintendo released a direct follow-up to this timeline with Majora's Mask. This was atypical for the series that was never built on direct sequels aside from the original two games for the NES.
I tried to play the original Majora's Mask a long time ago- but never made it through the swamp area at the beginning of the game due to a lack of inspiration and uncertainty with the time travel system. In reviewing this remake- I made it all the way to the end of the game and had a blast from start to finish. The point being- even though you may be uncertain about Majora's Mask 3D, if you keep pushing through you'll see what makes it such a highly-rated classic.
Majora's Mask holds up as one of the most interesting, unique, and haunting character-driven experiences in the industry.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is a must play game now, even more so than it was when it first launched. This experimental installment in the series is a boundary-expanding triumph. It challenges people's perception of Link's adventures and action RPGs in general. The time limit makes things feel more real, and the masks make the game more compelling. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D may deal with dark matters, but it will light up your life.
Some aspects of Majora's Mask haven't aged quite that well, and one boss fight has been changed dramatically for the worse, but on the whole, Nintendo has done a stellar job updating the quirkiest and most thematically rich Zelda game for newcomers and old fans alike.
And for stopping the moon with the harlequin grin.
The same game you've always loved - streamlined and updated with just a dash of that old sense of challenge.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is a different Zelda. So different and experimental for fans that they will learn to manage it longer than others. Newcomers can jump in at the right time: there's a core of the series and a lot of tweaks.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
The title represents a good opportunity for veterans to rediscover this classic, while purists who don't know it yet may want to enjoy the original experience first. More than a reissue, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D is an interpretation, an interesting revision that no player should miss. Even with a polygon mask and slight adjustments, looking underneath it reveals an unlikely adventure, a brooding glee that is unmistakably a reflection of another era of game design. Visiting Termina means leaving the epic plains of Ocarina of Time to descend into unique introspection. Welcome to the carnival.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
A wonderful entrant in the series that has gotten better with age.
With Majora's Mask, Nintendo's premier franchise was no longer childlike in innocence. Having addressed the core themes that sit around death, and the inevitability of it, the series transitioned into a place darker and more knowing. Subsequent releases have either paled in comparison to the revelations of Majora's Mask, or represented a nostalgia for the "good old times" of innocent adventuring. In other words, The Legend of Zelda series has become the incarnation of an adult, and for better or worse, Majora's Mask is the coming of age story that made us all grow up.
Majora's Mask was and still is a fresh departure from the Zelda norm. Majora's Mask 3D improves greatly on a few of the original's deficiencies, though some of the bold choices inherent to the game still have a negative effect on the experience. That said, the tenuous balance that is struck, coupled with an ever-unfolding mystery makes the game a must-play and the 3DS version the definitive one.
When arguing in the almost defunct 'Are videogames an art form?' debates, Majora's Mask is amongst a handful of other titles that can act as a defence 'for' games as it clearly states and displays the most compelling reasons as to what videogames are capable of when developers are free to experiment and toy with ideas. Based on an almost perfect blueprint, Majora's Mask dared to be different at a time when it probably didn't need to and delivered a game so peculiar that it still stands out fifteen years after its initial release. Its ability to stir up such an array of emotions, whilst not shying away from a solid game structure, is something rarely seen in games, and the way it allows the gamer to dictate and influence each individual's destiny is a marvel to behold. To say that The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D is the stand out best game in the Zelda series is, indeed, a daring - and inaccurate - verdict, given the calibre of the series. However, there can be no doubting that this is the most alluring and positively tortuous game within the series, and for that reason alone, it is worth everyone's time.
What does it say when the most dependable, exciting video game console on the stands is a handheld? 3DS, no matter what version is being rocked, continues to show everyone else how it's done. Majora's Mask 3D comes a scant two months into 2015, and it's already a forerunner for my favorite 3DS games this year.
The story stands out from all the other Zelda stories,the dungeons are old-fashioned high quality, and the masks give the game a new load of depth that we don't find anywhere else. If you're looking for another title for your handheld, let it be this one.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Being able to talk to, and discuss an old school game to the younger generation, and have that be something that’s new for them, is simply awesome. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (3D), may not be the typical, nor standard franchise story we see, but will always stand the test of time, and be memorable for being the most unique title, of it’s series.
Majora's Mask remains one of the most daring sequels ever. Who would follow up a blockbuster, medium-defining hit by wrapping the familiar in such strange and unearthly trappings these days? Majora's Mask 3D feels at home among today's indie games, but it also serves as a reminder that there used to be room for the offbeat at all levels of the games industry. And with the tweaks and improvements this version enjoys over the original release, it remains quite playable despite its age.