The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D
- February 13, 2015
Zelda by name, but beneath the mask lurks something much darker.
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 is a remastered and enhanced version o…
Nintendo 3ds
Reviews
- The game features excellent graphics and a unique, dark story that stands out in the Zelda series.
- The remaster includes useful new features and improvements that enhance gameplay, making it more accessible for new players.
- Majora's Mask offers a rich, atmospheric experience with memorable characters and engaging side quests.
- The game can be quite challenging, requiring online tips and tricks to fully enjoy and complete it.
- Some players may find the time mechanics and backtracking tedious, which can detract from the overall experience.
- Not all versions are region-free, leading to compatibility issues for players outside the intended regions.
- story12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The story of the game is a unique follow-up to "Ocarina of Time," set in the dark and immersive world of Termina, which features a compelling narrative filled with emotional depth and a sense of dread. Players appreciate the extensive side quests and the ability to manipulate time, although some find the backtracking tedious and the overall experience somewhat short for a Zelda title. The game is praised for its excellent dungeon design and the enhancements made for the 3DS, which streamline gameplay while maintaining the series' signature puzzles and challenges.
“The game’s dark tone and heavy emphasis on emotion makes it truly stand out among Zelda titles, and it is a story that won’t soon be forgotten.”
“Termina is a living world, like nothing else in the medium. An immense sense of dread is reflected with the game’s dark aesthetic and looming moon, and the temple design is amongst the series’ best.”
“I do love all the side quests you get to do, and even though you have only three days to get everything solved, you can repeat the days over and over, and once you complete something and save, you won't have to redo it, unless you want to.”
“[some aspects left unchanged still feel tedious, backtracking required for main story advancement is no fun]”
“[on the short side for a zelda game, limited camera control on original 3ds, side quests can become repetitive]”
“the game’s dark tone and heavy emphasis on emotion makes it truly stand out among Zelda titles and it is a story that won’t soon be forgotten.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The graphics of Majora's Mask for 3DS have received praise for their beautiful and immersive design, enhancing the game's dark and melancholic atmosphere. Players appreciate the graphical improvements that make the experience more accessible while maintaining the game's artistic integrity, though some note that older models and animations slightly detract from the overall visual quality. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's mood and gameplay experience.
“With music, visuals, and characters that create an incredible mood, Majora's Mask turns watching the end of the world approach into a pleasurable experience.”
“Majora's Mask for 3DS makes a fantastic game better by giving it a graphical upheaval as well as making it accessible to new players.”
“[Termina is a living world, like nothing else in the medium. A brilliantly reworked and streamlined experience for new players. An immense sense of dread reflected with the game’s dark aesthetic and looming moon. Temple design is amongst the series’ best. An incredible amount to collect and many side quests to tackle.]”
“Relatively small compared to some other Zelda games.”
“Old models and animations hold back an otherwise solid graphical update.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the gameplay is highly praised for its innovative mechanics, fluid controls, and engaging quest design, which enhance the experience and keep it feeling fresh. While some minor flaws like jumbled level design and excessive single-use items are noted, the core gameplay elements, including the unique time cycle, continue to impress and stand out in the gaming landscape.
“If I could, I would give it a 20! Great gameplay!”
“Jumbled level design, time mechanics, and too many single-use masks.”
“Minor flaws seem insignificant as the superb concoction of timeless game design truly shines: the unique gameplay ideas, the dark and haunting theme, and a cleverly crafted game world — aspects that made the original so great — enable this updated version to provide a near flawless experience.”
“Fifteen years later, the time cycle idea is still fresh, and it’s astonishing that more games haven’t attempted to make use of this unique gameplay style.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The music in Majora's Mask is widely praised for its deep, emotional, and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the game's unique themes of time and impending doom. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature that complements the game's stunning visuals and intricate side quests, contributing to an overall immersive experience. The combination of music and gameplay elements creates a profound and memorable journey for players.
“With music, visuals, and characters that create an incredible mood, Majora's Mask turns watching the end of the world approach into a pleasurable experience.”
“Deep, dark, melancholy, profound, a true work of art; beautiful graphics with stunning use of 3D; most changes, such as the Bomber's Notebook and the new save and time system, are for the better; the side quests are impeccably designed; amazing soundtrack.”
“Awesome soundtrack, great dungeon and boss design; the time-travel element is still fresh and unique, dark, emotional, weird, and stressful.”
“The music in this game is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“While the visuals are stunning, the soundtrack feels out of place and doesn't enhance the overall experience.”
“The sound effects are jarring and detract from the immersive atmosphere the game tries to create.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its impressive visual upgrades and a captivating, creepy ambiance that sets it apart from previous titles in the series. Players appreciate the memorable characters that enhance the experience, contributing to a uniquely engaging and atmospheric world. Overall, the game is noted for its fascinating and immersive environment, making it one of the most interesting entries in the Zelda series.
“Admirably different from Ocarina despite using the same engine, incredibly atmospheric, with fascinating, memorable characters to follow who don't simply despawn. The triumphant 64-bit return of the romping main theme makes the Zelda series more interesting than ever.”
“Impressive visual upgrades create a creepy atmosphere, complemented by interesting characters.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect tedious, particularly due to the necessity of backtracking for main story progression, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“Some aspects, left unchanged, still feel tedious. Backtracking required for main story advancement is no fun.”
“The grinding in this game is excessive and makes progress feel painfully slow.”
“I find myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its dark and stressful themes, enhanced by a unique time-travel element that adds depth to the narrative. Players appreciate the awesome soundtrack and the engaging design of dungeons and bosses, which contribute to the overall emotional experience.
“The time-travel element is still fresh and unique, creating a dark and emotional atmosphere that is both weird and stressful.”
“The game features an awesome soundtrack that enhances the emotional depth of the experience.”
“The great dungeon and boss design contribute to the overall emotional impact of the game.”
Critic Reviews
Time After Time
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is one of the most divisive games in Zelda canon. Can the revisions brought to the 3DS version turn a Zelda fan who never finished it into a cult follower? Our review.
80%The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask Review
Majora's Mask is a rich, complicated game and quite distinct from its predecessor despite appearances. As with Ocarina, the existence of the 3DS remaster only serves to highlight the game design shortcomings of the N64 original, but even if that updated version remains the 'easiest' way to get into the game — especially for newcomers — that doesn't render the original version 'unplayable' or undesirable. The fact is Majora's Mask is still magnificent, delivering the usual Zelda blend of action and adventure through a skewed, surreal lens that feels thrilling to this day and remains unique in the series. With music, visuals and characters that create an incredible mood, Majora's Mask turns watching the end of the world approach into a pleasurable experience.
90%Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask 3D review
Majora's Mask for 3DS makes a fantastic game better by giving it a graphical upheaval as well as making it accessible to new players. Whether you've played it or not it's worth picking Majora's Mask up!
90%
