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[–]Skwonky 1121 points1122 points ago

Let's not forget the ensemble cast that truly made Majora's Mask the game that it is. I could talk about the happy mask salesman forever - he's such an enigma in this game and there are so many theories as to what he truly represents that it's astounding. He gives off almost an aura of omniscience and makes you wonder if Majora and the giants are truly the most powerful characters in the game.

The dead Goron hero (who you turn into) is such a tragic figure for the Zelda universe. He died helpless and through you becomes the hero the Gorons need once again.

The angry deku mob who search desperately for any scapegoat; so much that they're willing to execute an innocent monkey. The behavior of these dekus is so human it's hard not to become reflective.

Anybody watch to the end of the game where the deku butler is seen crying at the lifeless form of another deku? Remember how he remarked that you reminded him of his son in the beginning of the game? Majora killed his son and trapped his soul inside the mask you now wear.

ANJU AND KAFEI!? "We will greet the morning together." Theres precious few moments in video gaming history that had such a profound emotional effect on me as this one did when I was a child.

I should stop now as I can go on forever but Majora's Mask stands out as one of Nintendo's greatest works because it's so starkly different than what we're used to. Going on a mission to rescue the princess because Bowser kidnapped her to clean for him/be his son's mom/who else knows is commonplace and nobody really dies or deals with tragedy. Majora's Mask is FULL of adult themes Nintendo hadn't ever tackled before and still have yet to this day to replicate those themes.

TL;DR Majora's Mask took Nintendo out of it's comfort zone to tell a dark and tragic tale full of adult themes while being shrouded in mystery. It remains one of the greatest works of art in the gaming industry.

Feel free to fact check me. It's been YEARS since I last played through the game and probably got some things wrong.

[–]bobert0314 259 points260 points ago

to add to anju, going in her room at the end of the third day when you havent finished her questline is one of the most depressing moments ive had with gaming. she just sits on the bed, still clinging to the idea that her finace will finally come back to her, at the very last moments of existence. and knowing that he isnt going to show up just rips my heart out. and add to that the unused wedding dress sitting right next to her.

oh, and the mask with the dress is creepy, on a sidenote

[–]EldaTaluta 62 points63 points ago

The worst is when you screw up the mini-dungeon with Kafei. He tells you to save yourself, and just waits alone in the room where you trapped him to die.

Also, the ranch. The whole ranch is pretty bad. What with the alien things doing some unspecified thing to that little girl rendering her catatonic, stealing the ranch's livestock leaving the owners without their main source of income, and the poor guy with the chickens. Even if you manage to stop the aliens and save the ranch, it doesn't help. Cremia knows that she and everyone else on the ranch will die. And there's still that scene on the third day where Cremia gives Romani the milk, the ranch's little coming of age ceremony, so that she can die an adult.

Majora's Mask really is my favorite in the series.

[–]keiyakins 30 points31 points ago

And there's still that scene on the third day where Cremia gives Romani the milk, the ranch's little coming of age ceremony, so that she can die an adult.

Holy... I never saw that.

[–]Oblimix 110 points111 points ago

Let's not forgot about the guy in the toilet. The way he's satisfied with land titles is poetic...

Joke aside, it's an awesome game.

[–]KHTDR 43 points44 points ago

I don't think I ever did it with the land titles, it was always with Anju's love letter to her missing fiance that she probably spent hours writing, agonizing over every word, pouring every bit of her heart and soul into it... and I'd give it to a hand in a toilet, literally within seconds or receiving it.
Aaaaauuuoowww!!!

[–]Sephiroth912 50 points51 points ago

Interestingly enough, that odd design on the Couple's Mask is actually two people holding hands.

[–]TastyBrainMeats 21 points22 points ago

I never realized that until just now. Thanks!

[–]McGuigan 8 points9 points ago

..... sorry but... i don't see it =/

[–]monkeyfetus 20 points21 points ago

[–]qcynh 93 points94 points ago

[–]Xenics 46 points47 points ago

There is a multitude of reasons to laud Majora's Mask and I agree with every one, but THIS music, THIS song is the one that marked the game indelibly in my mind like nothing else. It's so haunting and full of despair, and the clock chiming in the background, normally a symbol of festivity and rebirth, feels more like a death knell.

[–]sray24 7 points8 points ago

I doubt we have submarines that can explore the depths of these words.

[–]jaxspider 24 points25 points ago

[–]zstand 3 points4 points ago

That bell... Still sends shivers down my spine.

[–]jaxnos 59 points60 points ago

[–]Tasgall 23 points24 points ago

Wow... I didn't even know you could do that.

The fact that he entirely blames himself just makes it worse :(

[–]AD-Edge 12 points13 points ago

Once again, years after finishing Majoras Mask for the first time, I see something new. This game has so much detail in it, its insane...

[–]RosSolis 25 points26 points ago

That, and how even if you reuinite them, you can't cure Kafei's curse. You're forced to accept that you can't solve everything, and certain things Majora did are out of your power completely. But even then, Anju still accepts him with the curse. Such an awesome sidequest.

[–]blaghart 7 points8 points ago

if you complete his quest and then defeat majora (entirely possible if you went back in time after beating the fourth dungeon) in the credits she's getting married and you see it thru kafei's eyes...and she's shorter than him :D

[–]bwells626 144 points145 points ago

There are so many fun theories about MM, my two favorite:

5 stages of grief (it's short and sweet): http://www.examiner.com/article/majora-s-mask-5-of-the-zones-represent-the-5-stages-of-grief

And how Termina was being smited by the gods http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/nes-snes-n64-zelda/50295-stone-tower-of-babel-why-termina-was-doomed.html

[–]Happy_Mask_Salesman 62 points63 points ago

The 5 stages of grief is my personal favorite. The icing on the cake of that theory for me is, if there is some overlying tone with the areas, what role does the happy mask salesman take in it? He sits in the very heart of "denial" right where everything has started and will end. He shows Link how to overcome his own grief, and in the end when he has taken all the steps he can, Link is able to step up and be what deep down he always wanted to be. Where before he was just a kid who for all anyone knew, just dreamed up his being a hero of time, at the end of the game he is able to put on that mask and step up and be a God.

[–]Snivescalibur 15 points16 points ago

Perhaps he symbolizes the pinnicle of denial, HAPPY mask salesman, hes bliss in the face of disaster, yknow, like in a movie when the mentally unstable character is like "itll be alright, itll be alright, I wont die, not gonna die, haha...hahaha..HAHAHAHA...."

[–]L33tminion 23 points24 points ago

At the very least, masks are a traditional metaphor for psychological defenses.

[–]Lord_Kromdor 17 points18 points ago

thanks for the links, my mind is being blown right now.

[–]amurrca1776 14 points15 points ago

That Tower of Babel article is one of the best video game articles I've ever read. I never realized how much detail was stuffed into MM until I read that. Such an awesome game

[–]glenbolake 11 points12 points ago

You think that was good? Here's the full version of Hylian Dan's analysis: The Message of Majora's Mask.

Not to mention this other amazing article by the same author, Immortal Childhood.

[–]downvotes_are_great 7 points8 points ago

My theory if someone else didn't come up with it. It is just what I felt and have since I played the game. The mask salesman is Shigeru Miyamoto.

[–]big_wig 60 points61 points ago

Reuniting the lovers, I found, was also the hardest and most time consuming objective within the game. Getting the Couples Mask was definitely my greatest achievement.

[–]NoHearts 35 points36 points ago

I remember the agony I felt when I failed at the final point of reuniting when you're in the (cave, hidden temple?, can't remember exactly) and you failed and had to redo the whole storyline from scratch.

[–]akaalkatraz 31 points32 points ago

That was the first moment I almost threw my controller through my television.

[–]adalonus 155 points156 points ago

I used to think Ocarina of Time was much better until a friend convinced me otherwise using this exact same argument. Completely changed how I looked at the game and broke my nostalgia glasses.

[–]Cupcakes_n_Hacksaws 187 points188 points ago

I loved Ocarina of time, but it felt more of an adventure epic, Majora's Mask felt like it had psychological themes with hidden meanings.

[–]HoboWithAGlock 30 points31 points ago

It's like Kotor 1 vs Kotor 2.

[–]AgentPip 50 points51 points ago

Except majoras mask was finished :p

[–]Melancholia 24 points25 points ago

Oh man, you are playing with fire by saying that. I agree though, KotOR 2 was a game of undertones, while KotOR 1 was overt.

[–]Illidan1943 3 points4 points ago

Playing with fire? I think he's on lava

[–]TraderRager 7 points8 points ago

Well, who has the high ground?

[–]Illidan1943 12 points13 points ago

Obi-Wan

[–]datsmokes 43 points44 points ago

I've tried for years to convince my friends that Majora's Mask was better than Ocarina of Time. It had all the elements of a great game with some truly incredible themes.

[–]nonobu 72 points73 points ago

Man, my friends not only think OoT is better, they completely diss Majora's Mask. All throughout high school I was made fun of for liking that "shit game," and "worst sequel ever."

[–]yalhsa 71 points72 points ago

When I first played it I hated the living hell out of that game. I found the time element so difficult to work with. I could never get anywhere and fought hard for every bit of progress I made, but as I learned how to play the field I really got absorbed in the game. It created a much more intricate and convincing world filled with so many minute and interesting details. Everything was like clock work and playing through the game just unraveled more and more complexity as you peeled away the layers. It was in some ways the peak of the Zelda series because it became not a game with individual puzzles in it but was an entire almost absurdly complex puzzle in it's own right.

[–]lolitsdamian 37 points38 points ago

I could never play Majoras Mask because I didn't have the fucking booster pack thing in my N64. BUT I OWNED THE GAME.. IT WAS SUCH A COCK TEASE. I eventually watched my older brother play it and I didn't understand it at such a young age, so I never got into it. I still own the game but not a 64. I want to play through it now, being 20.

[–]Cuphat 44 points45 points ago

If you have a Wii, it's available on Virtual Console and plays quite well with a Gamecube controller.

[–]sangriadvx 17 points18 points ago

You just made my day.

[–]electrikyle 32 points33 points ago

I can unmake your day - it was free three months ago.

[–]sleepy_heartburn 3 points4 points ago

Looks like you can still get it free through club nintendo if you register your games, if this is what you were referring to: https://club.nintendo.com/rewards-details/a/23508.do

[–]Garrett-R 8 points9 points ago

I'm 21 and have never played it, but really want to now. Do you really need the booster pack to play it? I have an N64 and I'm sure my brother still has the game...

[–]neogenic 15 points16 points ago

Yes, you need the expansion pack in order to be able to play it. I've lost mine in 5th grade in a fucking school bus.

[–]datsmokes 23 points24 points ago

I know that feel bro. Even to this day they insist that OoT was better. I personally believe they just didn't understand the depth of MM

[–]Thomathy 31 points32 points ago

I feel like the same thing happened with windwaker. People couldn't get passed the cell shaded, cartoon look, but there was a great game and a compelling story under all that. OoT was everything people expected a zelda game to be; MM was a complete mindfuck when it first came out, at least for me.

[–]amurrca1776 29 points30 points ago

Man, I LOVE Windwaker. That iteration of Ganondorf is my absolute favourite in the entire series. They made him a tragic, human figure and not a cookie-cutter "for the evulz" villain like he is usually (here's looking at you Twilight Princess).

[–]Skithiryx 6 points7 points ago

Personally, my disappointment with Wind Waker was entirely due to the length and quality of the second act. The Triumph Forks search quest was just a pain, and I would have liked to see more dungeons.

[–]zous 41 points42 points ago

OoT is awesome because it brought Zelda into the 3D generation, and did a spectacular job at it. But it really was just that: the 3D LttP.

MM took that a step further; it built on OoT's engine and technology to create a truly unique and compelling Zelda game. For that, it will forever be a better game than OoT, but only because it had the shoulders of OoT to stand on.

[–]harborheights 10 points11 points ago

"If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants"

[–]Stupoopy 13 points14 points ago

But only after freeing all of them from Majora's clutches.

[–]TeHSaNdMaNS 75 points76 points ago

As a child OoT was a much better game. As an Adult MM is easily one of the best games ever, top 5 for me because it has these magnificent story telling aspect. OoT is still good but is a puddle compared to the ocean that is MM. In my opinion of course.

[–]DrizzX 116 points117 points ago

Holy shit. I shall start playing tomorrow. I remember renting it as a kid and rage quitting because I couldn't figure it out. Sadly I haven't touched it since.

[–]qizarate 57 points58 points ago

It's not that hard once you're older and you've gotten used to the save mechanics. The saving feature is frustrating at first, because you feel like you're losing a lot of progress (you lose nothing you can't get in abundance) , but it doesn't take very long to understand how clever it is from a gameplay standpoint.

Majora's Mask is really fun and very clever, but it's not any harder than Ocarina of Time.

[–]coaltown 23 points24 points ago

I just bought it and played it about 2 years ago. I got most of the masks and everything so I went to fight Majora and kept losing. My n64 controller was sticky and I could barely move unless I pushed down really hard on the joystick so by the time I got to Majora my thumb was bleeding and hurting like hell. I never beat it.

[–]tainteddonut 14 points15 points ago

Sticky? Where...

On second thought, nevermind.

[–]coaltown 21 points22 points ago

The joystick. I was told my brother spilled syrup on it and the dog peed on the other controller.

[–]Blueriel 10 points11 points ago

syrup

riiight....

[–]b3tzy 18 points19 points ago

Maybe he was giving himself a first person shooter.

[–]radong01 54 points55 points ago

Use a walkthrough. There's so many optional side-quests and mini games, a lot of which aren't required to beat the game, that it's almost impossible to find them all on your own.

[–]CrazySpatula 95 points96 points ago

Or use the bombers notebook!

And hours of trial and error

[–]raptastics 28 points29 points ago

[–]stigmaboy 74 points75 points ago

And hours days of trial and error

FTFY

[–]greedyiguana 66 points67 points ago

YEARS

[–]AD-Edge 12 points13 points ago

Noo, dont use a walkthough! Half the fun is exploring and discovering this stuff for yourself. Even if you dont find everything straight away, it leaves things to explore and discover in the future, if you ever want to replay or continue playing etc. And yeh, bombers notebook is in the game for this very reason, to help you organize all the side quests and your progress with each one...

[–]qizarate 17 points18 points ago

almost impossible

I think you mean "relatively challenging but completely manageable." Only a few of the masks will really stump you, and you don't need all the heart pieces anyway. Besides that, you've got a quest log to help you figure out the timing of events and important sidequests.

[–]shryne 74 points75 points ago

There's not a sadder moment in gaming than in the end credits, where the Deku Butler is seen crying in front of the tree that used to be his son. Everyone receives a happy ending but him.

[–]AD-Edge 34 points35 points ago

Im working on an animation about this, its definitely one part of Majoras Mask (or any game in general) which left a big impact on me personally.

[–]thrilldigger 8 points9 points ago

I'd love to see it when it's done.

[–]AD-Edge 2 points3 points ago

I shall make sure to post here on reddit! Probably both in /r/gaming and /r/zelda

[–]itsjh 22 points23 points ago

Link doesn't. He realises that he will never find Navi again.

[–]jevmorgan 46 points47 points ago

Link may not find what he was initially looking for (Navi), but he gains so much more in maturity and growth as a person. The real reason he was looking for Navi in the first place is that he was scared to be alone, scared to grow up and become his own person. Navi was the personification of his youth, as the fairies are companions to the immortal children (the Kokiri). When Navi left Link in OoT, it was because she believed that he had grown up and was ready to face the world without her guidance, but Link didn't feel that way in his heart.

By the end of MM, Link has done a lot of growing up, so he no longer needs Navi. Tatl does say to Link that they had "gotten what they were [both] looking for" in the end of the game, which I believe was true.

[–]savataged 6 points7 points ago

Unless you believe that Link becomes a stalfos.. then it is just sad again.

[–]jevmorgan 9 points10 points ago

Well, he does, but it's pretty obvious that he does that much later in life, after learning how to speak in text boxes and stuff.

[–]cowscankill 3 points4 points ago

Also, Lunk receives Romani's Mask after protecting the milk wagon because Romani thinks he has matured into an adult. Man, there are a lot of themes in this game...

[–]Fragonard 11 points12 points ago

Cannot agree more. The scene you mentioned with the Deku Butler and his son remains the only thing in any game that's made me come close to crying. This game does things with its characters and its plot that no game I know of has even tried to reproduce. But still so many people see it as Ocarina of Time's scrawny little brother, just because it doesn't have as many dungeons and its final boss isn't as big... Sigh

[–]arsvith 18 points19 points ago

I actually really like the scrawny little brother analogy. I now picture OoT as the big jock high school athlete who peaked early, and MM as the one who grew up to be president or some such.

[–]snoharm 22 points23 points ago

You know, I picked the game up a few times and only ever played the very start (nothing is less fun than the traditional JRPG hide-and-seek). Is the game really that fun? Would it stand up if I tried it today?

[–]Skwonky 45 points46 points ago

Although I haven't played it in awhile I think it would definitely stand up to the test of time. Nostalgia aside; the atmosphere in the game is brilliantly done and the dungeon design feels like a step up from OoT (which itself stands up well).

Just really pay attention to the nuances of the game and the lessons it's trying to tell you and it can be one amazing experience.

[–]jsake 12 points13 points ago

absolutely worth it, once you are no longer stuck as a deku scrub it really picks up fast. and collecting all the sidequest masks is a really fun and somewhat challenging endeavor.

[–]jefferus 16 points17 points ago

Yes it would

[–]alexlaine 16 points17 points ago

It'll stand up. I currently dropped Skyrim to go back and revisit it because I was the same way as you. It's phenomenal. I secretly use a walkthrough because it can be extremely confusing, but the game itself is intense and dark.

[–]GoochMcScrotes 9 points10 points ago

I used a walkthrough, too. But only if I really really got stuck.

[–]Debbie_the_Fabulous 6 points7 points ago

I believe so. I had never even played it until a few months ago, but damn did it blow my mind. It is everything that Skwonky makes it out to be.

[–]stigmaboy 2 points3 points ago

You sir or ma'am, have just summed up why I spent my childhood with this game. Thank you.

[–]Psohl14 3 points4 points ago

Majora's Mask is the only really personal game in the Zelda series (in my opinion). Now, I love the hell out of the whole series, but MM just stands head and shoulder above all the others because it's the only truly mature game in one of Nintendo's most adult-series. OoT, WW, TP, SS, etc... all had some mature themes, but in the end they shied away from any truly dark turns.

MM is so spectacular because the development arc of Link and the people around him has really nothing to do with the conflict in the game. In OoT Link's arc is all about maturing into the Hero who can defeat Ganondorf. MM's Link takes a much more personal journey, and the fact that he saves Termina in the meanwhile isn't really vital to that. Link's development is as a result of the people he meets and the role he plays in their lives. In most of the Zelda games you save the world, but we, as gamers, have done that so many times that it's not really meaningful. In MM you help a handful of people save themselves, and then by the end of the game when you do end up saving the world, the real satisfaction comes from knowing that you helped those people and yourself be in the right place for the New Day that follows.

At least, those are my feelings on the game. It's hands down my favorite game of all time, and it's the only game in the series I've felt compelled to 100% multiple times, because the game just isn't as full unless you do.

[–]TheFuriousLeftNut 75 points76 points ago

Awesome villain. I'd love to see Majora come back somehow!

If Nintendo sticks to their "official" Zelda timeline, Majora is technically still alive in two of the three splits. Would be easy.

[–]Stange 33 points34 points ago

To be honest I'd rather they just leave it be. It's such a great game, really truly great, and if they tried to do a sequel or something I just feel like it would do the game a disservice.

This game needs to stand as is.

[–]honky_mcgee 24 points25 points ago

I wouldn't be against the Skull Kid wearing Majora's Mask as a character in Super Smash Brothers...or have Majora as a boss...

[–]Remnance627 4 points5 points ago

You're a genius.

[–]StevenMC19 7 points8 points ago

What about a graphic makeover?

[–]octopolis 5 points6 points ago

Totally agree. One of the biggest mysteries of MM is whether or not it's "real" (ie was it just a dream, in Link's subconscious? A through the rabbit hole kind of thing? Or an actual place?) A sequel/rehash could potentially ruin perhaps the most brilliant mysteries of the entire series.

[–]outoftoner 236 points237 points ago

Nitpicking here but the Fierce Deity mask isn't necessary to defeat Majora. It helps run it down like a freight train though.

[–]hipstergropaga 83 points84 points ago

Thank you! I was checking to see if anyone said this. Link doesn't have to "become a god" to beat Majora; he could do it all by himself if he wants, it's just going to be fucking hard. But it's do-able. I do enjoy Majora as a villain, but that argument is unfounded.

... and besides, with the release of SS, you could drag and drop a lot of these arguments to Ghirahim (sadist) and Demise (exists only to destroy).

[–]CyborgDragon 33 points34 points ago

Great Fairy Sword makes it easy. Now, no Fierce Diety and no Great Fairy Sword, he actually becomes challenging.

[–]LegendarySkyKing 38 points39 points ago

Get infinite magic, put on zoras mask, use electric shield. Easiest method ever.

[–]GengarWithATriforce 16 points17 points ago

Actually, in the mask form, if it hits Zora Link with the Red Fire beam, it restarts the battle since Zora's can't take fire damage.

[–]Tuna-kid 25 points26 points ago

You ever beat it only as a deku scrub? It's the hardest way to do it, but it's possible. Not sure if you can beat all three forms though, or if you have to play as link for one of them or something...

[–]The_Gibbens 18 points19 points ago

Wasn't the Fierce Deity mask canon though? I thought for sure that it was confirmed that Link had to use it in the overarching storyline of the series.

[–]PrinceofIce 32 points33 points ago

I thought this was the case as well. I believe link was able to kill majora by himself because the deity mask was difficult to get for most kids, and they wanted kids to be able to beat the game. I thought in the series history(canon) that the mask was required as it was majora's only bane.

[–]falling2fast 3 points4 points ago

There was a manga/comic that came out a loooonnnggg time ago that told the story of Majora and how the mask came to be. I think it also included how the Fierce Deity Mask was actually the soul of the hero who carved Majora's mask out of the ancient demon.

Found it: http://www.zelda-infinite.com/files/manga/majora/view.php?chap=10&page=1

[–]JimmyNic 16 points17 points ago

When you talk about game canon you tend to take the 100% completed version as the official storyline. A lot of games have multiple endings depending on what percentage of the game you've done, so you have to pick one ending to work with. So in canon Link does defeat Majora by turning into a God.

[–]mb86 6 points7 points ago

Not necessary in gameplay, sure, but in terms of the canon story he did.

[–]wutever 157 points158 points ago

[–]Cupcakes_n_Hacksaws 78 points79 points ago

That... That is a damn fine animation...

[–]WritingImplement 37 points38 points ago

It's a shame it has to be fake, because that seems like a money-printer for Nintendo. With a touch of polishing for a very slightly more modern experience (and the requisite graphic overhaul that comes with that kind of remake)... I can dream.

[–][deleted] 25 points26 points ago

Agreed...

[–]Subito_forte 27 points28 points ago

Why does it have to be fake?!?!?!

[–][deleted] 14 points15 points ago

Wow, I got serious chills from that.

[–]justgetmeonhere 9 points10 points ago

I wish to the Goddesses that this was real.

[–]bootymaster 41 points42 points ago

To anyone who's concerned about the constant time travel and losing everything -- time travel is prominent in this game but it is almost never a hassle. With the song that slows down time you can beat a dungeon comfortably. If it looks like you're going to run out of time, the dungeons are designed in effect to have a central spoke so that you can come back to the area where you were very quickly. I believe you don't lose keys/etc.

You don't lose your money because there is a bank that stamps how much money you have on your hand or something like that (which is funny because you're stealing from him repeatedly in effect whenever you go back in time). Arrows/bombs/whatever I believe disappear, but you could buy these when you come back, or find them easily (who actually buys bombs/arrows in Zelda games?). I don't remember if there is a warping song but the game also has a central spoke and you can get around super quickly with Goron if you need to get back somewhere.

The side quests in this game are huge and numerous and could comprise a full game by themselves.

Overall the game is absolutely amazing, and definitely worth playing - one of the best ever made. With that said, does anyone know which emulated version won't crash? I hear the one that comes on the Gamecube Zelda CD crashes. I guess I do have the N64 version somewhere.

[–]ArrowSalad 9 points10 points ago

Nope, all the keys and locks reset when you go back in time. The only thing you keep are important items like the bow, map, compass, etc.

Yes, there is a warping song, but there is a single universal warp song instead of several like in OoT.

I have the Collector's Edition version for the GC and have never had an issue with crashing. You can also get it on Virtual Console for the Wii. Anyways, one of my favorite games ever!

[–]batosuai 6 points7 points ago

I had the Promo Zelda disk for years, and played MM for days on end, and it never crashed for me. I had one or two weird graphical glitches, but nothing game stopping or breaking.

[–]HawkeyeFan321 2 points3 points ago

That's why I haven't tried to play it again after all those years though. The fact that you're under a clock gets to me. I hate being rushed in video games.

[–]Phosepahtaerorus 34 points35 points ago

[–]justcauseofit 22 points23 points ago

This description reminds me of Iago, from Shakespeare's Othello. Possibly the greatest villain ever written by the bard and arguably an absolute sociopath. Chaos for chaos' sake.

[–]bobisgoofy 14 points15 points ago

While I do agree that Iago is a bomb character and I would love to play him one day, you have to remember that Iago is motivated by revenge. That is a big part of Iago and very different from Majora who has no motivation.

[–]justcauseofit 17 points18 points ago

I would disagree. Iago is not necessarily motivated by revenge. He does say that in one of his speeches; however, he also makes statements that directly contradict that motive. I once wrote a long paper on the fact that it's extremely difficult to pin down Iago's motivations, because he dances around them, present one then ducking in and giving another. I also made the argument about sociopathy, but that's obviously debatable (though I wasn't alone in making that argument apparently).

Is he racist? Is he jealous? Is he exacting revenge for the promotion that Othello got? Or is he, in fact, screwing the audience by telling us those are his motives?

All because he is, in fact, acting without remorse or purpose simply because he can? Okay, that question is partly speculation. But there's lots of debate over Iago's motives. And general agreement that he's not clear about his motive, and in fact intentionally obfuscates it. And that Shakespeare was maybe doing something to make people question why he did it and that, perhaps, there is in fact no other reason than that he wants to watch the world burn.

[–]bobisgoofy 3 points4 points ago

Hmm... never thought of it that way. Othello is now on my, reread list.

[–]FuckinJabberwocky 186 points187 points ago

Maybe my favorite game ever

[–]McRawffles 49 points50 points ago

Not my favorite game ever, but definitely my favorite LoZ. I wish they had re-made this for 3DS instead of Ocarina of Time.

[–]Minim4c 83 points84 points ago

Definitely my favorite game ever.

[–]Theyus 143 points144 points ago

WE LIKE THE SAME THINGS

[–]GordonOfFreeman 267 points268 points ago

You shouldn't have done that.

;)

[–]debee1jp 168 points169 points ago

I fucking hate you.

It's 2:30 am local. I just moved into a new house.

I really hate you.

[–]ninjordan 83 points84 points ago

One time I was playing Ocarina of Time before bed. I went to pay the Happy Mask Man and get the next mask, but I spent all my rupees on bombs or something silly like that. The face the Happy Mask Man makes when you don't have enough rupees... I had nightmares for a few days. I was afraid to sleep in my room alone.

[–]AlexBrallex 17 points18 points ago

Agreed, in Majora's mask, I had to cover my eyes from the scene when he gets angry at you Also the zombified dad in Ikana Canyon, in the basement inside the little music house. I turned off my N64 when he came out from the closet. :(

[–]genzahg 7 points8 points ago

First I read that as, "I turned off my N64 then came in my closet."

Then I re-read it and read, "I turned off my N64 and came out of the closet."

Something must be wrong with me this morning.

[–]Pokemon_Trainer 199 points200 points ago

You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?

[–]Aero121 5 points6 points ago

gnilaeH fo gnoS

[–]Cupcakes_n_Hacksaws 21 points22 points ago

I loved the videos, until I read the blog :/

Ruined the experience for me after the 4th post or so

[–]Hector_Kur 67 points68 points ago

Alright, I'll be the guy then. Explain the reference?

Edit: Alright guys, been answered 4 times now. You can stop.

[–]Shoeboxer 19 points20 points ago

Man that was fucking awesome. Reminded me of House of Leaves.

[–]_Shin_ 3 points4 points ago

oh.. my god... is this real?! holy fuck... I don't even...

edit - nevermind I'm a noob. creepy as fuck story though. holy shit.

[–]SGT_756 31 points32 points ago

Creepy pasta (internet horror stories) for Majora's mask. I usually don't get too creeped out by stories but this one did it for me. Plus there a few videos that go along with it.

http://inuscreepystuff.blogspot.com/2010/09/majora.html

EDIT: Its a long read but definitely worth it, also I'm guessing you've played Majora's Mask and have some memories of it still in your head.

[–]Hector_Kur 18 points19 points ago

Oh.

Creepy pasta stories never do anything for me because I know they're fake. My frustration with people for believing them overpowers any potential fear I might feel.

[–]cesiumtea 28 points29 points ago

It's not that people believe them, it's just that they can't stop thinking about them. In order for a story to be truly creepy, you have to randomly recall it years later because it stuck with you so much. For people like you (presumably) and I, it also has to have some nonzero probability of actually occurring for it to stick... and most creepypasta doesn't have that, since it's all stories about demons and shit. But occasionally, very occasionally, there's one that works.

[–]Hector_Kur 15 points16 points ago

I think the only creepy pasta that's ever truly horrified me was one where it was a jpeg screenshot of a wall of text story.

...Except it wasn't a jpeg. It was a gif in disguise and halfway through the story the text warps and a horrifying face pops out at you.

Not that I think jump scares are all that great, but it certainly caught me off guard. Also, Marble Hornets, while not technically creepy pasta, has done some amazing stuff.

[–]SeaofDarkness 12 points13 points ago

It's almost 4, and reading a text explanation of that gave me the scares.

Nice.

crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick-crick

[–]Tendehka 8 points9 points ago

No.

No.

Fuck you with that. No.

[–]poptart2nd 6 points7 points ago

I have no wrench and I must scream

I still get freaked out thinking about that. damn good story.

[–]SolarTsunami 9 points10 points ago

Eh, to me its like reading a book or watching a movie. You know its not real, but you suspend disbelief because its fun.

[–][deleted] 14 points15 points ago

I love how they just took most of the characters from OoT and recast them, yet it was still an amazing game. If anything, it made it better, seeing all the familiar faces, it was kind of like a dream.

[–]mikeylikey420 5 points6 points ago

it is a dream. link got lost in the forest of OoT and is slowing dying and becoming a stalfos. the entire game is link coming to grasp of him being dead. also the stalfos that teaches u how to fight in twlight princess is probably link from OoT(the stalfos).

[–]redtophat 228 points229 points ago

But does he know why kids love cinnamon crunch?

[–]albequirky 24 points25 points ago

Nice try, General Mills.

[–]nolcat 47 points48 points ago

God damn it this site is hilarious.

[–]JokerandThief42 4 points5 points ago

Are you the dad from the meme where he just sits there laughing at memes?

[–]sidewinderucf 110 points111 points ago

I would submit Kefka from Final Fantasy VI as a rival to Majora in terms of video game villainy. There are the obvious parallels between the two: Kefka commits gross acts of genocide and other crimes against humanity, not for any material gain, but simply to destroy, or as he puts it, "To create a monument to nothingness!" He keeps Terra as his own personal mind slave in the events at the beginning of the game, and uses her to kill tons of his own troops before sending her out onto the world. And then, even when he's brought about the apocalypse and destroyed the world, he continues to rain down death and destruction, again for no better reason than to destroy.

But the main reason I'd pick Kefka over Majora is this; Majora is the metaphorical Satan of Hyrule, and can be defeated by becoming another deity. Kefka, on the other hand, starts off as a mortal, becomes a god via magic, then ascends to the point of being BEYOND deities, BEYOND good and evil, becoming the very embodiment of magic itself, so that the only way to destroy him is to actually destroy all magic. And again, for NO other reason than to bring ruin and destruction.

That and the clown makeup. Evil clowns always get +5 to villainy.

[–]dasqoot 22 points23 points ago

I came here to ctrl-f Kefka. How could anyone top that asshole? I bought my own SNES just to try to kill that guy in middle-school.

One thing you didn't say: Kefka wins FF6, according to his own f'd-up rules. He won, you killed him but he's totally stoked. He goes down happy, clothed in hot-chicks, firing off eye-lasers and just being God. And even when you kill him, the world is already destroyed. There is no future for anyone left except to starve or join a cult.

[–]Nglennh 12 points13 points ago

Very true. Kefka is one of the ONLY villains to actually complete his plan to destroy the world. By the second half of the game he's just blowing shit up cause it's fun for him.

And he doesn't kill, torture and destroy simply for destruction's sake. He actually finds it FUNNY. His laugh was burned into my brain as a child. He laughs when he burns Figero Castle. He laughs when he murders Emperor Gestahl and General Leo. He Laughs when he poisons an entire village.

He's Square's version of the Joker. Cruel, sadistic, psychotic. He has no rules. Just chaos and anarchy. And to him, Chaos, death, and destruction is absolutely hilarious.

[–]DrSmoke 6 points7 points ago

Kefka also poisons an entire towns water supply. Killing nearly everyone.

[–]thebigger 30 points31 points ago

Well reasoned but I'm going to go with Mr. Big from NARC.

Hear me out here.

Both Kefka and Majora were predictable. Competent, yes, horrifying, yes, but predictable. They had a Napoleon complex and were just uncreative representations of what total power can do to the depraved.

Mr. Big on the other hand is a very wealthy drug dealer. He doesn't need the money, but he heads up an international terrorist organization because it's something he believes in. He stands for something. Sure it might be total world wide drug addiction, but at least it's something for somethings sake.

Like both Majora and Kefka he doesn't need it, he already has everything he could possibly want, but unlike them he has to claw to get it. He didn't have an army at his disposal, magic, or god like powers... through sheer brilliance and the the addictive properties of intravenous drug use he and his army reached a point of such power that the fate of the whole free world rested with only one, sometimes two, hard-nosed NARC officers who DARED to be different and confront the war on drugs head on.

What could Kefka, or Majora for that matter have done against the addictive properties of crack cocaine? They wouldn't even have the ambition to get a job to support their habits and in no time at all they'd be sucking cock in the streets just to get their next fix. You know it's true... they both had all the power in the world, but would they have the power to say NO to drugs? Kefka was a pudgy little fucker and I don't think Majora ever said NO to anything in his life.

What would Link or any of the Final Fantasy characters done against hobos throwing +5 syringes full of smack and god knows what communicable diseases? Died of AIDS, that's what.

But not those two brilliant NARC officers. Blessed with the power and will to say NO to drugs and being immune to addiction or HIV isn't all it took. They relentlessly and tirelessly committed an urban genocide that not only ended the war on drugs, but also class warfare and the war on terror. That's three wars in one video game. You ever play NARC 2? Didn't think so... that's because those guys got shit done and got it done right the first time.

[–]aeonmyst 31 points32 points ago

Majora has eyeboobs. EYE. BOOBS. Creepiest villain ever.

[–]Wayne_Bruce 27 points28 points ago

"I was just making eye contact, I swear!"

[–]HollowJohn 9 points10 points ago

Majora definetly deserves consideration for this role. For a game where Nintendo wanted to present something "mysterious", we are given this nightmare entity. A puppetmaster hiding inside the puppet. A being as mysterious as it is powerful.

[–]silveraw 18 points19 points ago

I played it once, and loaned my special edition holographic cartridge to a friend.

Who played halfway through it and gave it away along with all of the rest of his 64 stuff.

[–]Greenlava 49 points50 points ago

Way more evil than majora.

[–]sputnikv 47 points48 points ago

i would propose giygas as a formidable villain worthy of comparison

[–]jackattack502 33 points34 points ago

Second, but his competency comes into question, being and all-mighty idiot.

[–]a_Tick 10 points11 points ago

It does have very good people working for it.

[–]Baron_von_Brockway 57 points58 points ago

The best villain is from the best game. It makes sense.

[–]pillage 21 points22 points ago

We all know the greatest villain is Tom Nook.

[–]average_leopluradon 109 points110 points ago

While I love Majora's Mask, and enjoy what this person is saying, I feel that Majora was severely lacking in presence in the game. As a villain, I had very little connection to him and primarily felt the Moon was bad guy since that's what you saw looming above, constantly providing that pressure that you have limited time in the world.

If more time was devoted to exploring what Majora was, how it came to be, (unless I completely missed it or don't remember; it's been a while) and that sort of thing, then he would easily be one of my top favorites.

[–]Arrav91 201 points202 points ago

I think that was the point really, fear of the unknown is always scarier than what is known. If we knew a lot about Majora, i don't think he would have had the same impact. All we know is that Majora's mask was used by an ancient tribe for hexxing and torture, then the tribe vanished. Thats a tad creepy. Majora isn't supposed to be an upfront villain, but rather an evil that lurks in the background and you see all the harm and suffering he has caused.

In the end, it really does come down to opinion, i just wanted to state what i think.

[–]BoxSquid 42 points43 points ago

It always had a good build to his encounters too. Every time you met up with Majora it was literally when the clock was about to run out. I remember few things I dreaded more as a kid than ascending the clock tower on the third night.

[–]TheSumOfAllSteers 13 points14 points ago

You know, I never fully understood how Lovecraftian Majora's Mask was until your comment. It's odd really, and it adds a bit more depth to what I already thought was a well-rounded game.

Stephen King wrote a novel entitled The Danse Macabre. He noted that the scariest thing - what messes with the reader's head the most - was the buildup that Lovecraft used, which eventually led to the "great reveal". I'm not a writer by trade, but I think King had that completely wrong. The excellence in Lovecraft's work was that it left so much to the reader's imagination. Perhaps too much. The readers' fear of the unknown and active imaginations are what made the literature amazing.

Our biggest enemies are our own minds, which have the ability to formulate that which we, as individuals find most terrifying. In the case of Majora's Mask, that became even more effective as we were kids when we played it. We were far more irrational in our fears and imaginations than we are now, as adults. The game was able to tune in with us in a way that kept us emotionally invested. In some cases, it had people enticed. People wondered what was going on. They were terrified and curious, so they kept playing. In other cases (such as mine), the game was too much to handle. They quit and never finished due to an irrational fear of the questions, which seem eerily existential in retrospect. It all added to the Mystique.

It is a beautiful mind game, and possible the most artistically significant Zelda game ever produced.

No. It's possibly one of the most artistically significant video games ever produced.

[–]ThisOpenFist 40 points41 points ago

I disagree. Majora's influence was everywhere in Termina, and everywhere you go you have to deal with the problems he created. He didn't need to show his face any longer because the damage was already done. He's much more intelligent than Ganondorf or Vaati, who I feel talk too fucking much without presenting any existential threat, especially to anything outside of their immediate reach.

So Ganon conquered Hyrule. Now what'll he do? Sit on his throne with his thumb up his ass while Link roams free and plots to kill him.

So Majora is going to destroy the known world and himself. Who's going to notice after we're dead? Who can possibly reverse that destruction? It takes a serious space-time glitch and a homeless bastard child to set things right.

[–]AD-Edge 13 points14 points ago

"Majora's influence was everywhere in Termina" This point exactly. ALL of Termina is in some way suffering because of Majora, including the very lands itself. He doesnt need to stride around intimidating people or make himself known anymore, the majority of his work is already done way before Link enters the world. All he has left to do is sit back and watch everything come to an end.

[–]Stalejokesbakedfresh 37 points38 points ago

Actually, even the moon is a victim in this game. The moon doesn't want to crash, it's being pulled.

If you go to the observatory, you see it crying.

Majora's destroying more than just the world.

[–]PostPostModernism 10 points11 points ago

Holy shit. I knew they were 'moon tears', I never thought of them as the moon's actual tears.

[–]dmurph10 9 points10 points ago

screw it, I'm playing majora's mask again. Time to re-download project 64

[–]Phantom_shit 8 points9 points ago

Have you heard of Kefka?

[–]Qlanth 7 points8 points ago

I hope they re-release this at some point on the 3DS. I loved this game as a kid and would love to go back to it.

[–]serioush 10 points11 points ago

Hero from another dimension with a time machine.... I now want to play an adventure game with The Doctor in that setting.

[–]Bananajoy 5 points6 points ago

Not only was the villain interesting, but the world of Majora's Mask itself felt very deep and alive, it was like adventuring through a dark fairy tale.

[–]Coltrane_baby 5 points6 points ago

Since we're all discussing the unbelievable level of detail that Nintendo put into MM, I feel that it's important to raise what I feel is the greatest example of this. When you fight the forest temple boss, Odolwa (my favorite Zelda fight of all time), he performs a sort of haka/crazy war dance around you while chanting in a freaky-ass voice. Playing through this as a kid, I thought it was an awesome battle, and the haka he performed really added to the exotic nature of the boss battle.

What I didn't learn until recently though was that Odolwa wasn't chanting some made up mumbo-jumbo: he was actually taunting you in the Mayan language. He's saying "K'iinam took ool K'iinam took ool!" (Head will ache and burn. Head will ache and burn) "Tookik taali! Tookik taal!" (Come burn! Come burn!) "A'alik beora! A'alik beora!" (Dance now! Dance now!). Video

This level of detail is so above and beyond the call of duty required of game developers that it blows my mind. In creating this game, Nintendo actually had people learn phrases relevant to the battle in Mayan, a very specific and small language, but one that completely fits the setting of the battle. The more I think about it, the more my respect for Nintendo and adoration of MM grows.

[–]Sir_Jeremiah 16 points17 points ago

BEN_DROWNED

[–]fuzaco 24 points25 points ago

We're posting NeoGAF threads now, ehh?

[–]Bonestormer 36 points37 points ago

No, they're posting images of NeoGAF threads. That makes it ok I'm told. This is posting NeoGAF threads. http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=420434

[–]Ferga93 10 points11 points ago

Let's not start a war between my 2 most browsed websites now.

[–]begentlewithme 3 points4 points ago

I fucking love Majora's mask. This guy does an excellent job of explaining just one of the reasons why I love this game so much. It's such a shame that they were limited by the N64. I bet if they were to remake this game with current day technology and expanded upon the story a bit, such as the origin of Majora, more self-reflection on Link's part, maybe even his connection to the Diety's mask, and perhaps a bigger and more explorable world map, this game would rock even harder.

[–]Dunabu 3 points4 points ago

I don't know how they managed to pull this out of their hat. I almost want to say it was a fluke. Everything about it is very un-Nintendo like.

A very rare kind of emotional atmosphere exists in this game. Dark, haunting, lonely, nihilistic, melancholy, etc etc.

Every so often, a piece of art (fuck you, Roger Ebert) comes along that brings with it an almost living, entity-like thing. If any videogame has achieved that, it is Majora's Mask.

[–]Ezekyuhl 7 points8 points ago

When I was a kid we called Majora "Ma-hor-ra" pronouncing the 'J' with an 'H' sound. Did anyone else do this, I have always wondered.

[–]mirkle 28 points29 points ago

Are you by chance mexican?

[–]Effluvium 10 points11 points ago

I've said this before, but Majora's Mask is the Blade Runner of video games.

[–]VESIUS 11 points12 points ago

Those are some weird looking tits...

[–]SandieSandwicheadman 8 points9 points ago

I was gonna say, isn't Majora a chick?

[–]sputnikv 3 points4 points ago

majora is a mask, or were you referring to the evil entity of majora? either way, it's generless i would say

[–]Ezekyuhl 21 points22 points ago

That would make sense of why Majora is such a good villain...

[–]Flywn 2 points3 points ago

That and there's a theory that's been floating about that Majora is only hours old when you fight him. Basically the mask is similar to Giygas in that it's the fetal form of the boss that passively corrupts everything around it. Which would explain why his second form (when he finally gets personified) is a laughing child.

[–]DoctorSteve 3 points4 points ago

No one should want a sequel to Majora's Mask, or to see Majora reused. This game was made as a sidequest, and is perfect in creating a world, telling multiple stories, and closing the book on it.

Incorporating anything from that world would ruin it. It is possible to create a good sequel, but I'd rather see them create another high-concept game, with new characters, than reuse these perfected ones.

[–]Decimater 2 points3 points ago

While we're all gushing about the awesomeness of Majora's mask, I'm going to leave this creepy ass story here... http://inuscreepystuff.blogspot.ca/2010/09/majora.html