The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D

There has been a lot of hype surrounding The Legend of Zelda lately, between the upcoming movie, and the remake of Ocarina of Time. To celebrate, I figured now is a good time to finally finish Majora's Mask, which I have owned forever on both N64 and 3DS. Ultimately, I decided to go with the 3D version because I value the handheld convenience, and the improved camera controls very highly. I have tried to play the game a couple of times before, always stopping shortly after Clock Town for some reason. This time I committed to seeing it through, and I'm glad that I did! From the outset of the game Majora's Mask takes a notably different tone than other games in the series, as you are attacked while on your horse, riding through a dark and foreboding forest. This tone persists, and even contorts even further from the franchise norm as the game progresses. Central to the experience is the three day time loop, which you can manipulate and reset with the help of your trusty ocarina. You only have these three days to accomplish any specific task, although there are fast travel points and other fast ways of travel that make things less daunting. Ultimately the game follows a similar structure as it's prequel, with an overworld and four main dungeons. The characters you meet throughout each have their unique quirks, with many offering quests for varying rewards. In the 3D remaster, each quest is marked on a timeline in your Bombers' Notebook, making it easy to remember different tasks. The difficulty along the way also stands out from other games in the series, as there are some seriously tough encounters with Soulslike walkbacks. A main mechanic of the game are the various masks that you can collect, each providing different benefits. Finding a new mask is always a fun experience, although some have way more utility than others. It felt extra rewarding to backtrack to a specific place or time to use a mask you found in order to advance a quest or unlock a path The boss encounters have changed in the 3D version as well, but I found them all to be enjoyable (and at times challenging) either way. The final sequence and boss fight were a major standout, subverting expectations with a puzzling and surreal finish. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D and it's N64 counterpart are both undoubtedly masterpieces worth playing, and the risks they took still resonate almost thirty years later.

Play it for the:

• Iconic characters and time loop mechanic
• Eerie and expressive atmosphere
• Uncharacteristic difficulty level

Reviewed on 2026-09-10

The game features so many iconic items and settings - such as Great Bay and the bunny ears from SSBM!