PREVIEW – The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D
The wait is almost over. In just under three weeks, arguably the most anticipated game in the Legend of Zelda franchise, Majora’s Mask 3D, hits shelves. Thanks to our friends at Nintendo, we were able to get our hands on Majora’s Mask 3D, and I was able to spend several hours exploring dungeons and temples, hunting down masks, and scavenging around every nook and cranny the game had to offer. Here are some of the many things you have to look forward to when The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D is released on February 13th.
If you’re not familiar with The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, the game picks up shortly after the events from The Ocarina of Time, with young Link and Epona searching for their old pal Navi. Things quickly take a turn for the worst, and the hero of Hyrule finds himself in a strange land that almost resembles a parallel universe. Majora’s Mask is definitely a different breed of Zelda game, and relies heavily on time management. Every dungeon run and side quest is a race against the clock, and it’s up to you to get the job done before the 72 hour deadline is up.
One of the major improvements is the user interface. Much like The Ocarina of Time 3D, the Ocarina can be quickly accessed on the bottom left of the touchscreen. Another useful item in Majora’s Mask, the Pictograph, is now accessible on the top left of the touchscreen. The masks, maps, and items are all easily reached on the bottom of the touchscreen, essentially eliminating the annoyance of fumbling around several screens for items. What I liked most about the UI compared to the previous version on the Nintendo 64 is the removal of all the clutter on the screen. The big, clunky sun dial that was used to track your remaining days and hours has been upgraded to a much simpler and easy to read gauge.
As expected, every graphical detail of the original Majora’s Mask has been scrubbed and polished perfectly. The once pointy and blockish character models now have smooth, round facial features, and look much more life like. The texture of the land and buildings is impressive, and many small details have been revamped and modernized. Simple things like balloons and door frames have been updated, and may not be noticed on first glance.
If you’re familiar with the original Majora’s Mask you know that there is no shortage of side quests and extra tasks to do. When embarking on these side quests you may notice that things are not exactly as you once remembered. Puzzles don’t always have the same answers they once did, stray fairies are not always located in their old hiding places, and even shops and buildings in Clocktown are not in the same orientation that they once were. Bosses also have a new weak spot to attack. Each boss has an eye somewhere on their bodies, in true LoZ fashion, that can be targeted for extra damage.
The frustrating camera movements that once plagued Majora’s Mask are now a thing of the past. Whether it’s maneuvering around an enemy while locked on , rolling around tight paths as a Goron, or swimming around as Zora Link, you’ll be happy to know that there are two ways to make your life easier. The first is to purchase the New 3DS, which features a C stick that is used for all camera controls. The second option is the Circle Pad Pro, which is a solid option for those of you who own and are content with their current Nintendo 3DS.
While counting down the days to February 13th, you can take solace in knowing that you will definitely not be disappointed. During the hours spent playing Majora’s Mask 3D it gave me all the feelings of nostalgia that a perfect remake should, but also had several aspects that made it feel like a new experience. Be sure to check back next week for our full review on The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D!
