Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Needs a 6th Star
Without question, without debate, this is hands down the finest video game that has ever been released. I'm sure there are plenty of people who would argue this point, but they're wrong. Majora's Mask is not simply an Ocarina of Time rehash to keep the Zelda fans happy. This game is vast, complex, gorgeously designed, and perfectly orchestrated. Link is once again out to save the world after being robbed by an imp wearing a strange mask. From the point Link begins pursuit of this annoying villian, the game is thrust into an alternate dimension that is teeming with vicious monsters and comical characters. The bosses are gigantic and wickedly detailed, and are very focused on the extermination of our favorite green-clad hero (Link, NOT Luigi). The new world Link is given to explore is fantastic, and perfect for the gamer who just wants to wander aimlessly about, killing whatever monsters he crosses paths with. For the player who wants to beat the game, and do it quickly, he'll have to search elsewhere. Majora's Mask is going to take some time and dedication, and for those of us who aren't so great at Zelda games, a Player's Guide. But the depth and complexity of the game is the beauty of it. There aren't ten levels of increasing difficulty and objectives. Instead, the game is interactive and far more realistic than something of Goldeneye fare. The characters that Link will meet are both familiar and entertaining. Anyone who doesn't think Tingle is the funniest thing to happen to a video game has either a sick, sick sense of humor, or is complete lacking thereof. There are plenty of other characters that bring a smile to the players face, but Tingle takes the cake. The only thing that could be better than this game, is perhaps a StarCube version. But we'll have to wait for that. The music in this game is borderline perfect, the only problem being the repetition. But what video game doesn't suffer from this problem? That's right, there aren't any. When all is said and done, this game is a necessity for anyone who was, or is, a Zelda fan, or a fantasy game fan, or appreciates a high-quality video game. This is the best thing an owner of an N64 could buy for themselves.
Rating:  - Brilliant but not as good as Ocarina of Time
I've read quite a few reviews on this game. Basically the game play is a bit better than Ocarina of Time - the 3 day thing is pretty cool when you can warp back in time and stuff. This adds more depth to the game since it's not as linear as OOT. You need to do LOADS of side quests if you want to get the top mask. The graphics are OK but there is too much of the old characters from OOT in it which is disappointing. I think the big let-down of the game in my opinion is the MUSIC!! I think the only new tunes are in the dungeons, just outside the dungeons (tune repeated 4 times in different locations), when you fight the kings, and some stuff in Ikana castle (clock town music was new but it was so similar to Hyrule market in OOT that I'm not counting it). The rest is all re-hashed from earlier Zelda games, mostly Ocarina of Time - you also get that intensely irritating tune in the Lost Woods which I was praying they'd ditch. It surprised me that hardly any reviews seem to have picked up on this.
Rating: - I'm really impressed, but really confused...
For those who would hold it against my credibility, I'll say this: I am not one of the people who have been playing Zelda or other Nintendo products since the first one came out. To be perfectly honest, I have been playing Nintendo games for about six years, four of which were spent playing Zelda. I was hooked by the copy of Ocarina of Time at my friend's house, and have subsequently played through that game more times than I can count. When I finally picked up Majora's Mask, I was amazed at the quality of the graphics and sound, and I couldn't wait until I finally collected every single mask, or helped every single person in my Bomber's Notebook.Every feature in the game managed to hold my attention for hours on end. While similar to the complex world of Hyrule, Termina was very complex in it's own right, with well rounded characters and absolutely gorgeous worlds. Tatl is fantastic by herself, taking Navi's occasionally sharp-edged comments and turning them into witty, albeit sarcastic at times, terms for how she thinks is the best way to get through the game. A fairy with personality! There are enough mini-games and subquests (fifty-two heart pieces, for example, as opposed to Ocarina's thiry-six) to constitute a whole other game by themselves, and leave plenty of the options for the gamer looking for a break from the usual quest. However, I'm a bit confused as to why other gamers balk at the idea of a time limit, as if the game will shut down if not completed in forty-five minutes. Clearly, it proves that they have not played the game through, if they played it at all. At the end of three days (supposing you have the Ocarina), the Song of Time can be played to bring you back to the beginning of the first day. If that doesn't leave you enough time to complete a dungeon, there are numerous other songs that can help (The Inverted Song of Time, for example, will slow down time by almost half). True, rupees and other items will be lost in the process, but rupees can be saved at the Bank in West Clock Town, and items are easy enough to obtain. Dungeons reset after you complete them, but you still retain proof that they're done, and only in certain circumstances is it necessary to replay a dungeon. Also, there are numerous ways to save the game itself, with Owl Statues to freeze the game in progress until the next time the file is opened, or the Song of Time itself, which saves all masks and major items collected, people helped, etc. I strongly urge anyone that enjoyed Ocarina of Time to at least play through Majora's Mask. I can guarantee that it will certainly be a worthwhile experience.
|
