Majora's Mask: An overlooked game? In the shadow of Ocarina of Time. (with a little poll)

[Boneasse]

I was reading a topic on Ocarina of Time nostalgia, at which point I realized that such a thread should exist for Majora's Mask aswell.

I know this might sound weird to many people, but Majora's Mask was never the same succes as Ocarina of Time was. OoT sold around 7.6 million copies, whereas MM only sold approximately 3.6 million. For those who are bad at math, that's 4 million less.

Now, don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying Ocarina of Time is a bad game, at all. These two games are my all-time favourites. However, I believe Majora's Mask to be better than Ocarina of Time. If only slightly. Where some consider Ocarina of Time to be marginally better. Why is this?

Majora's Mask had a deep and dark story, with themes like death and healing at it's disposal. Loads of side-missions and the masked theme aswell. Plus, you had to use the 3 days at your disposal to solve many puzzles, which actually presented a challenge unlike many other Zelda games.

My question to you is, do you agree with me? Or do you believe Ocarina of Time to be better? I know it's a matter of opinion, but there's bound to be some of you, like me, out there. Cast a vote and add a comment, as to why.

I'm adding this video, in loving memory of Majora's Mask. Watch it if you're a fan. It's sure to bring back memories:

 

[Pimppeter2]

OOT is better. But MM was very very very good. I think more people have played it now. ANyway, there some of the best games evar made

 

[Flour]

OoT wasn't a huge, difficult collection quest on an extremely strict time limit.

 

[Boneasse]

I don't like time-limit missions. Consider my feelings toward an entire game of time limits.

Thing is though, you could slow down the time considerably?

 

[Boneasse]

OoT wasn't a huge, difficult collection quest on an extremely strict time limit.

Maybe I truly am the only one who thinks the time limit has it's own charm. I loved solving the puzzles and quests back and forth between the 3 days. It tooke time and effort to figure out and I liked that.

 

[Boneasse]

I don't like time-limit missions. Consider my feelings toward an entire game of time limits.

Thing is though, you could slow down the time considerably?

Problem is I could have a 20 minute time limit to walk 5 metres and I'd still be stressin out, its not that I can't do it, its just that I like to explore and screw about at my own pace.

Yeah, I can see why that is really. But the time-limit can't be the reason why there were sold 4 million more of Ocarina of Time, can it?

 

[Zombie_Fish]

Majora's Mask was a good game, but I personally prefered Ocarina of Time. Bear in mind that OoT was one of the first 3D exloration games about, so it would be more popular in that sense. Also, I just found Majora's Mask to be a bit repetitive and short as a story, as you would have to free the four giants and then defeat the mask, I just found that a bit short and half-done. Also, I thought that having to use the ocarina loads because you had a time limit and would need to reset it over and over again annoying to do after a while.

However, one thing I did like lots about it was the ability to fight the bosses over and over again as much as you want. I liked that, and wish that they included that aspect in other Zelda games as well.

 

[NeutralDrow]

I liked Majora's Mask about the same as Ocarina. The story was pretty dark, the dungeon items seemed more sensical, transforming was fun (especially Zora form), and the time limit in the background was short enough that I felt a sense of urgency, but not actually short enough to be inconvenient (especially with the Song of Inverted Time).

I think the only instance where I almost ran out of time was when I got it into my head to finish a bunch of sidequests and the entire Great Bay arc in the same time period, and I got stuck in the temple. I still did it, but with only an hour to spare...just enough to spend another three days on just sidequests, to calm my nerves.

 

[fix-the-spade]

I have to go with Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask didn't have the same 'OMG!' factor that stepping out into the Kokiri village had.

It's a great game, good story, plays well, I quite like the time limit system and the plot/general mood is a lot darker than Ocarina of Time. It's just that Ocarina landed first so it's the ground breaking one, which is why it occupies a special place in so many gamers hearts.

 

[Boneasse]

Majora's Mask was a good game, but I personally prefered Ocarina of Time. Bear in mind that OoT was one of the first 3D exloration games about, so it would be more popular in that sense. Also, I just found Majora's Mask to be a bit repetitive and short as a story, as you would have to free the four giants and then defeat the mask, I just found that a bit short and half-done. Also, I thought that having to use the ocarina loads because you had a time limit and would need to reset it over and over again annoying to do after a while.

However, one thing I did like lots about it was the ability to fight the bosses over and over again as much as you want. I liked that, and wish that they included that aspect in other Zelda games as well.

I can see why some might find it a little shallow, the story that is. What I think MM lacked in a bit of story-line, in gained in the stories of all the characters in the game-world. Nearly everyone had something to say and an agenda. I find that intruiging.

 

[velcthulhu]

Majora's Mask was brilliant.
The three-days mechanic allowed them to have events which were not triggered by the player. In any other game, the plot has to wait until the player gets to it, but in MM the storyline just happens, and the player can go to different parts of it and interact with/change them as he wishes. This is only possible because the game repeats the three days over and over, so you can't just miss a crucial plot point and be unable to get back to it.

 

[Boneasse]

I have to go with Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask didn't have the same 'OMG!' factor that stepping out into the Kokiri village had.

It's a great game, good story, plays well, I quite like the time limit system and the plot/general mood is a lot darker than Ocarina of Time. It's just that Ocarina landed first so it's the ground breaking one, which is why it occupies a special place in so many gamers hearts.

That might be mate, which I won't say is a 'shame' per se, it just made Majora's Mask seem inferior in many ways. Which is the shame.

 

[Boneasse]

Majora's Mask was brilliant.
The three-days mechanic allowed them to have events which were not triggered by the player. In any other game, the plot has to wait until the player gets to it, but in MM the storyline just happens, and the player can go to different parts of it and interact with/change them as he wishes. This is only possible because the game repeats the three days over and over, so you can't just miss a crucial plot point and be unable to get back to it.

Exactly my point. I simply loved that.

 

[jebbo]

I think I prefered Majora's Mask. The dark setting and mood coupled with all the sidequests in the Bomber's notebook made for a better game imo. You ended up really caring about the characters and there 3 day cycle of life. Or maybe that was just me..? Plus the bosses were all awesome. I think the only downside was the shortness of the main quest, if you didnt go all out to collect all the masks then the main game was over quite quickly, needed a couple more dungeons

 

[War Penguin]

I liked Majora's Mask more than Ocarina of Time. I loved the idea that you could turn into three other species, it was the darkest of the two games, and it was a greater challenge (not that I'm saying Ocarina of Time wasn't a challenge).

 

[KaZZaP]

MM was a different formula and I give it mad props for that because not many Zelda games are different.

 

[Boneasse]

I think I prefered Majora's Mask. The dark setting and mood coupled with all the sidequests in the Bomber's notebook made for a better game imo. You ended up really caring about the characters and there 3 day cycle of life. Or maybe that was just me..? Plus the bosses were all awesome. I think the only downside was the shortness of the main quest, if you didnt go all out to collect all the masks then the main game was over quite quickly, needed a couple more dungeons

Nah mate, I'll agree with you that the characters had more personality in MM, which made you care more.

I liked Majora's Mask more than Ocarina of Time. I loved the idea that you could turn into three other species, it was the darkest of the two games, and it was a greater challenge (not that I'm saying Ocarina of Time wasn't a challenge).

Am not saying that either. But some of the puzzles in MM had me stumped for some time.

 

[Laze]

MM was by far more challenging and interesting.

The complaint that it was "shorter" is fallacious because, while the "main" story could be completed quickly, it didn't HAVE to be. There were tons of extra places to go and collectibles, and the world was at least as diverse as OOT. Just because you chose not to play through the majority of the game (if you skipped everything non-essential) doesn't mean you can knock the game for being "short". Do you really want every single experience forced on you by the developers? A Zelda game should be immersive enough to make you want to explore.

Plus, way more styles of play. Instead of just "run around" or "ride the horse", you had "run around or ride the horse or swim as Zora or Goron Roll or bounce around as Deku". And because you had more ways to move/attack/whatever, the puzzles could be inherently harder because there were more possible solutions.

If you hate time limits though, then I can understand your dislike of the game; that moon timer was nerve-racking.