The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D
A remaster of the 2000 Nintendo 64 classic.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D, an action-adventure game released in 2015, was developed by Grezzo and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. It remasters the original Majora's Mask from the Nintendo 64, which came out in 2000. The game launched globally in February 2015, timed with the North American and European release of the New Nintendo 3DS, and earned positive reviews for its quicker pace, upgraded visuals, and improved convenience features.
In terms of gameplay, Link must prevent the moon from destroying Termina within a three-day span, using masks for special powers and the Ocarina of Time to loop back to the start of the cycle. Like the earlier Ocarina of Time 3D remaster, this version boosts graphics with stereoscopic 3D, refreshed textures, a steadier 30-frames-per-second frame rate, a touchscreen interface, and gyroscopic aiming. On a New Nintendo 3DS or with a Circle Pad Pro, a second analog stick grants full 360-degree camera control.
Several adjustments set this remaster apart from its predecessor. The Song of Double Time now lets players jump to any hour of the day, not just six-hour increments. The Bombers' Notebook tracks every character involved in quests, offering far more detail than the original's vague hints. Controls for Deku, Goron, and Zora forms were reworked: Deku Link needs a running start to cross water, Goron Link attacks and uncurls faster, and Zora Link swims slower and uses magic but is easier to steer. The save system was overhauled—players can now permanently save at Owl Statues or Save Statues, replacing the original's temporary suspend points and cycle-restart saves. The Sheikah Stone hint system from Ocarina of Time 3D returns, providing video tips for stuck players. A new fishing minigame was also added.
The story follows Link from Ocarina of Time, set months after that game ends. He rides Epona into the woods searching for his lost friend Navi. After a masked Skull Kid steals his Ocarina, Link ends up in the parallel world of Termina, where the moon will crash in three days. With help from the fairy Tatl, he must awaken the Four Giants to stop the moon, defeat Skull Kid and the mask controlling him, and use masks and the Ocarina to manipulate time and repeat the three-day cycle.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Grezzo
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Director
- Mikiharu Ooiwa
- Producer
- Eiji Aonuma, Koichi Ishii
- Programmer
- Shingo Watanabe
- Artist
- Tatsuya Awata
- Composer
- Koji Kondo
- Series
- The Legend of Zelda
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The game follows Link from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, set several months after that game's conclusion. Link, searching for his lost friend Navi, chases a masked Skull Kid who steals his Ocarina, leading him into the parallel world of Termina. There, he discovers the moon will crash into the surface in three days, destroying the world. With the fairy Tatl, Link must wake the Four Giants to stop the moon's descent and defeat Skull Kid and the mask possessing him. He uses masks for new abilities and the Ocarina of Time to repeat the three-day cycle.
Development began immediately after the release of Ocarina of Time 3D in June 2011, suggested by Shigeru Miyamoto. Producer Eiji Aonuma played the original while keeping a list of adjustments, known as the 'what in the world' list, which was passed to Grezzo. Aonuma was also working on A Link Between Worlds simultaneously and incorporated ideas from that game into the remaster. Support for New Nintendo 3DS models was added in the latter half of development.
Reader's Guide
Majora's Mask 3D received generally positive reviews, with critics praising its fast-paced gameplay, enhanced graphics, and quality of life changes. The remaster features enhanced stereoscopic 3D graphics, revamped textures, a 30-frames-per-second frame rate, a touchscreen interface, and gyroscopic aiming. On New Nintendo 3DS systems or with the Circle Pad Pro, a second analog stick provides full 360-degree camera control. Significant changes include the Song of Double Time allowing skipping to any hour, a more comprehensive Bombers' Notebook, reworked controls for Deku, Goron, and Zora Link forms, a revamped save system using Owl Statues, the return of Sheikah Stone hint videos, and a new fishing minigame. A fan campaign called Operation Moonfall, referencing Operation Rainfall, prompted Nintendo and Grezzo to remaster the game. The game sold 515,000 copies in the United States in its release month, and 3.44 million worldwide by December 2022.
Did You Know?
- A fan campaign called Operation Moonfall was launched to prompt a remaster of Majora's Mask.
- The Song of Double Time was changed to allow skipping to any hour of the day, not just six-hour intervals.
- The game sold 3.44 million copies worldwide as of December 2022.
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