Why does Majora's Mask get so much hate?

[The_Vigilant]

Maybe I'm surrounded by ignorant people, but it feels like everytime a conversation makes its way to Zelda games, Ocarina of Time gets a sycophantic pleasuring and Majora's Mask gets a deuce laid upon its noble brow.

These wankers will say the most absurd things: "the clock system doesn't allow enough time to complete dungeons," "the characters and story were stupid," "it doesn't 'feel' like a Zelda game." And in summation, they even go so far as to call it a "stupid," "bad," or "terrible" game. Not just "inferior to God's holy firstborn, Ocarina of Jesus," but actually a bad game.

My cards are on the table: I loved MM. I've completed it more than OoT (6 times to 4), though I'd rate the two games as equals. But how is it that a gamer who loved OoT can hate MM?

 

[Nautical Honors Society]

Never have I ever heard any hate for Majora's Mask only praise.

I have heard deserved distaste for Twilight Princess and undeserved distaste for Wind Waker however.

 

[Chibz]

I've never once seen someone complain about Majora Mask. It's like OOT, pretty much worshiped. Even though I might never understand why.

 

[TheEvilCheese]

People don't like seeing their hard work go to waste (be undone after a set period of time). I'm pretty sure it was impossible to do everything in the allotted time and people who like 100% completion hate that.

But it is an excellent game in its own right and (while not OOT) is actually one of my favourite Zelda games. The creepy atmosphere was a very nice touch and the Gameplay was very good.

To summarise, personal preference, it's good but not the best in my mind.
You'll probably be finding far more people singing its praises here than in other places.

Also, more interesting first thread than most people, welcome to The Escapist.

 

[The_Vigilant]

So I am just surrounded by douchebags after all. It should be noted that these same simpletons wax poetic about Twilight Princess and eviscerate Wind Waker.

 

[Kapol]

While I haven't heard much about hate for it, I know quite a few people didn't care for the game. To be fair, it did change quite a bit from most other Zelda games with it's three-day limit and need for mask. But that's one of the reasons it's one of my favorite Zelda games. I like it better then OoT as well. The three day limit makes it much more interesting and allows for a variation of puzzles and challenges. I still remember trying to get a mask from a couple on the last day just before the end.

I really need to play through the game again, but I do think it's a bit underrated in the series. It had the misfortune of coming out after OoT, which was one of the first big 3-d adventure games that many remember playing. It was always going to have a hard time no matter how well it did. Nostalgia is a powerful force and OoT had plenty of it working in it's favor (not to mention that it was a great game on it's own).

Don't know why some users seem to dislike TP though. I really enjoyed that one as well, almost as much as OoT.

 

[viranimus]

Perhaps how deviant it is from the franchises norm? I mean seriously the game is like Zelda on Acid, and LoZ was sort of trippy already.

If you have the time, you absolutely should read this. Its quite entertaining.

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

Spoiler

Yes, it is fiction.

Honestly The only time I have ever heard hate for it was when it was first releeased. Since that time its been praised and damn well revered.

 

[Thomas Remenar]

I really loved Majora's Mask.

 

[Lord Devius]

My cards are on the table: I loved MM. I've completed it more than OoT (6 times to 4), though I'd rate the two games as equals. But how is it that a gamer who loved OoT can hate MM?

I prefer MM over OoT. However, to answer your question...

A gamer who loved OoT? Likely going to love it for the fairly linear storyline with predictable turns set in a semi-standard fantasy land, not too fraught with misery. A bit of funky time-business with the Bottom of the Well (who invented the Song of Storms?! WAAAA), but fairly standard otherwise. Dungeons are acceptable, with all optional stuff being really pointless, so they don't feel too pressured to get EVERYTHING. It's also got a 100-skulltula thing, which ends up with a really pointless reward for completing it.

Majora's Mask, however, is a very dark, oppressing plot about a land whose actual name seems to say its existence is fated to end. Whereas the time-based things in OoT amounted to "is it day or night?" MM takes it to new levels. They did help you keep track of a lot of stuff with the Bomber's Notebook, which people seem to ignore (from personal experience, all but 3 people I've talked with about the game have forgotten it exists past a "what was the password to the Bombers' hideout again?" mechanic). There are only four dungeons, probably the lowest number in a Zelda game period, and 100%ing them (in at least half the instances available, YMMV) gets you fairly crucial upgrades in the Double Magic and Double Defense powerups.

In short, it was a bit too complex and... somber for what OoT fans would like.

I love it, though.

 

[Ice Car]

Maybe I'm surrounded by ignorant people, but it feels like everytime a conversation makes its way to Zelda games, Ocarina of Time gets a sycophantic pleasuring and Majora's Mask gets a deuce laid upon its noble brow.

These wankers will say the most absurd things: "the clock system doesn't allow enough time to complete dungeons," "the characters and story were stupid," "it doesn't 'feel' like a Zelda game." And in summation, they even go so far as to call it a "stupid," "bad," or "terrible" game. Not just "inferior to God's holy firstborn, Ocarina of Jesus," but actually a bad game.

My cards are on the table: I loved MM. I've completed it more than OoT (6 times to 4), though I'd rate the two games as equals. But how is it that a gamer who loved OoT can hate MM?

I totally agree, I see a lot of hate for the game. Doesn't deserve the crap it gets, it is an excellent game and my favorite in the franchise.

People don't like seeing their hard work go to waste (be undone after a set period of time). I'm pretty sure it was impossible to do everything in the allotted time and people who like 100% completion hate that.

But it is an excellent game in its own right and (while not OOT) is actually one of my favourite Zelda games. The creepy atmosphere was a very nice touch and the Gameplay was very good.

To summarise, personal preference, it's good but not the best in my mind.
You'll probably be finding far more people singing its praises here than in other places.

Also, more interesting first thread than most people, welcome to The Escapist.

Not enough time? You pretty much had infinite time, just use the Song of Time or reverse Song of Time to adjust how much time on the clock you have. How simple is that? You should have a lot of time assuming you aren't brain-dead and haven't figured out how to set back the time.

 

[TheEvilCheese]

So I am just surrounded by douchebags after all. It should be noted that these same simpletons wax poetic about Twilight Princess and eviscerate Wind Waker.

TP isn't a bad game in my opinion (in fact, its very good), but compared to Wind Waker...

No, I just don't understand that =/

 

[ClockworkAngel]

I used to not like Majora's Mask, but I was too young when I played it .. and couldn't wrap my head around all of its complications. Years later, when MM was released on the Wii's Virtual Console, I played it and found it thoroughly enjoyable, and a change in pace from the Zelda norm.

 

[Schuldrich]

I used to not like Majora's Mask, but I was too young when I played it .. and couldn't wrap my head around all of its complications. Years later, when MM was released on the Wii's Virtual Console, I played it and found it thoroughly enjoyable, and a change in pace from the Zelda norm.

I think this might be exactly it. OoT came out in 1998, I was 12. In OoT it was easy to get a handle on where you're going and what you needed to do. A few places tripped me up but I got through the game. MM however was confusing, at least that's how I remember it being. I know I got stuck more in it and I'm not even sure if I beat it the first time I played it. When I went back a few years after I loved it and I made sure to get everything.

It's easy to have your first experience taint further thoughts and keep you from actually giving it a second try. If I hadn't gone back and played it again I probably would remember being 14 and getting frustrated at some points.

Of course they could just be the Zelda "purists" who think if it isn't OoT or LttP it's a terrible game.

 

[ms_sunlight]

These wankers will say the most absurd things: "the clock system doesn't allow enough time to complete dungeons," "the characters and story were stupid," "it doesn't 'feel' like a Zelda game." And in summation, they even go so far as to call it a "stupid," "bad," or "terrible" game. Not just "inferior to God's holy firstborn, Ocarina of Jesus," but actually a bad game.

Anyone who thinks the clock system doesn't give you enough time to finish the dungeons is just crap at gaming. I've played through LoZ:MM three times, and even the first time managed to complete every dungeon first time with a full complement of lost fairies. By playthrough no. 3 I was doing that with a day to spare to do other stuff.

Majora's Mask is a masterpiece. It's actually my favourite Zelda game, and it's filled with dark, clever touches and moments of genuine horror. The mask mechanic that allows you to change into a Zora, a Deku and a Goron is genuinely interesting and well-implemented (although it's by no means the first game with a shapeshifting mechanic) and the dungeons and gameplay are fantastic. Who the hell are these people who are hating on LoZ:MM? Point me at them!

 

[Aurgelmir]

Maybe I'm surrounded by ignorant people, but it feels like everytime a conversation makes its way to Zelda games, Ocarina of Time gets a sycophantic pleasuring and Majora's Mask gets a deuce laid upon its noble brow.

These wankers will say the most absurd things: "the clock system doesn't allow enough time to complete dungeons," "the characters and story were stupid," "it doesn't 'feel' like a Zelda game." And in summation, they even go so far as to call it a "stupid," "bad," or "terrible" game. Not just "inferior to God's holy firstborn, Ocarina of Jesus," but actually a bad game.

My cards are on the table: I loved MM. I've completed it more than OoT (6 times to 4), though I'd rate the two games as equals. But how is it that a gamer who loved OoT can hate MM?

Ocarina of Time was the first 3D Zelda game, and it pulled it off really well. It is also a Zelda game that follows the standard Zelda Format (Two worlds, X dungeons, Kill Ganon)

Majors Mask on the other hand is so different from this. And I think the timer stressed out a lot of people, since you lost so much of your gear when you got pulled back in time.

I liked MM, but all in all I felt OoT was much more enjoyable.

Though none can compare to Oracle of Ages and Season imo, best Zeldas Ever.

 

[random_bars]

People who say that the clock system didn't allow enough time to complete dungeons never found the reverse song of time. It's that simple. Apart from that, I've never really seen it get much hate.

 

[DJDarque]

I've heard the hate for it, but not a whole lot. It's my absolute favorite, though tied with Ocarina of Time.

Maybe people don't like it because Ben drowned.

 

[Zeema]

I really loved Majora's Mask.

Yeah same here i never heard of any hate

i can think of some things i didn't like about but nothing that would make me hate it.

 

[SpaceBat]

I find OoT to be superior to MM in nearly every aspect, but that does not make MM a bad game. In fact, MM is probably one of the best games of all time. The game is by no means hated, although it is not nearly as popular as OoT, you're just surrounded by douchebags which is why it seems to you as if the hate outweighs the love.

I mean come on, they praise TP while bashing WW for gods sake.

 

[Soxafloppin]

I don't think there's a lot of hate for it, Though i'd say more people prefer OOT, and MM is in its Shadow slightly.