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Since its NES release in 1986, “The Legend of Zelda” remains one of the most revered game series and is one of my favorites. One of my favorite entries in the series was “Ocarina of Time” released on Nintendo 64. I never played its follow up game “Majora’s Mask,”originally released in 2000, but it was a critical success. Some good 3D remakes of “Legend of Zelda” games are now available for Nintendo 3DS so if you missed the original, you can play “The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D” for the first time or, for returning players, you can now experience it in 3D.
Majora’s Mask 3D is a remaster of one of the most interesting entries in the classic series. If you’re a long-time Zelda fan, this game is unlike anything you’ve played. “Majora” is different and innovative because it has a time limit. The moon is falling from the sky and you have 72 hours to save the world from the brink of destruction. This is easier said then done, you must solve puzzles, conquer dungeons, beat bosses and solve the problems of the people of Termina. The time limit adds a sense of urgency and makes the game feel much more epic because you can’t afford to dilly-dally.
For the longest time, I was getting frustrated with the game until I realized Link has the ability to reverse time to the beginning of his 72 hours. You want to do this before you start each dungeon to give you enough time to figure everything out. I know it feels like a cheat, but it’s the only way to do it if you want to complete the game. There will be times during the course of the game when you’ll have to speed up time. But watch out, because you run the risk of reaching the end of your time limit, you cannot reverse time in increments, you can only reset to the beginning, so you have to be really aware of your time to see everything you want to see.
The only problem with resetting the clock, you’re basically starting over. Yes, you retain your items and your dungeon progress, but you have to experience the story again which can become repetitive. Having the ability to speed up time might annoy purists or people who have played the game before.
The old version made you wait for the timer to reach certain places for events to happen which led to a lot of wasted game play time. I think the ability to move it forward yourself makes the game significantly less frustrating. If you get too close to the end of the time limit, the tension really ramps up. The screen starts to shake and if it runs out it’s game over. Managing how time works can be irritating, but it creates an incredible sense of urgency.
“Majora’s Mask” was ahead of its time. Not only does the story hold up but the gameplay functions are still pretty revolutionary, which is astounding for a game that’s 15 years old. If you’re a die-hard “Zelda” fan, you have to play this game. But don’t expect it to be like anything you’ve experienced in the series. Some mechanics are the same, but the constant manipulation of time really changes the feel of the game. The graphics have been totally upgraded and the 3D really makes for a visually appealing experience, which is heightened by HD music.
If you didn’t care for this game or you missed it when it first came out, now is the time to give it another chance. You’ll be happy you did.