The Legend of Zelda Thread

[Saturnine Tenshi]

[TCP]

Would rather this be on Wii U rather than the a platform barely more powerful than a N64 BUT, goddamn if I don't love me some Majora's Mask.

[TheFlyingGerbil]

3DS ran the gussied up version of OoT fine and what looked fairly sharp on a small screen would look a bit pants on a 40" plus TV. Nintendo are only going to (be able to) do so much polishing to an N64 game or were you hoping for a complete remake? I'd rather Nintendo spend that sort of effort on new games or getting Zelda Wii U out sometime in 2015 instead of falling into 2016.

[TCP]

Complete remake, yo!!! Let's be honest, the new Zelda isn't going to be better than Majora's Mask.

 

Regardless, this is cool, and I didn't mind how the OoT remake looked on 3DS (though I felt like it could have been a bit more modern looking). Hopefully afterwards they do a new 3DS Zelda game in the style of the N64 remakes.

Edited November 6, 2014 by The Cowboy Poet

[TheFlyingGerbil]

I'd much rather a new zelda game plus a slightly ugly old game than only a pretty version of an old game. Maybe because I never played OoT/MM when they were released (OoT3D was the first time I beat that game), I don't have a particular fondness for them so am happier with the new experiences than other Zelda fans seem to be and have never been disappointed with any of the subsequent home console releases.

 

I'm happy sticking with top down zeldas on handhelds too - I like that they provide a different experience to the home console rather than just a watered down version of them.

[TheMightyEthan]

Considering Majora's Mask is the worst Zelda, I would be shocked if the new one isn't better.

[Saturnine Tenshi]

Hear, hear! Top down Zeldas are the best Zeldas!

[TCP]

Considering Majora's Mask is the worst Zelda, I would be shocked if the new one isn't better.

 

I've never face palmed on the internet before*... but.... I think, I think this is it..... 

 

 

 

 

*Probably not true

[Mister Jack]

Considering Majora's Mask is the worst Zelda, I would be shocked if the new one isn't better.

 

Majora's Mask is the worst Zelda.

 

Worst Zelda..

 

[FMW]

I mean, lets just clear the air about Majora's Mask for a moment.  It is probably the worst expression of the things that Zelda games normally do.  The exploration isn't as fun because you always feel like being rushed.  All the fun little discoveries of secrets tucked away in the world are kinda less fun because those things are still there but they're all dark and creepy and twisted.  The scale is all condensed down so that everything can be quickly accessible within the time limit.  The story isn't at all similar to the Zelda myth that guides 90% of the franchise narrative arcs.

 

Majora's Mask is, for all these reasons, not a very good Zelda game.  If you want a Zelda fix, it won't come from Majora's Mask.

 

But if we set aside the expectations of "Does Majora's Mask do a good job of being Zelda" I think that it stands as a very well made and powerful game on its own.  What's done with the graphics is remarkable.  Most quickly made sequels that just recycle models from the previous installment feel cheap.  Majora's Mask actually takes advantage of the fact that they have old models that players will have expectations of and subverts those expectations over and over again.  That's where a lot of the creepy comes from.  The music (as this announcement trailer did a lot to remind us) is REALLY good and unlike most video game soundtracks.  The way the entire game world operates like clockwork revolving around the central clock tower allows for some really well done sidequest storylines that play out over the course of the three days.  The main story is one of the more thematically rich stories in video games period (pro tip:  it's about the end of childhood).

 

There's a lot of stuff in Majora's Mask that's REALLY good.  Though it is not good at the things that people think of when they say "Zelda game", I think it is one of the very best video games that is branded Zelda.

[CorgiShinobi]

If it makes any difference, I think Ethan and TCP are both insane.

 

Ya'll need some proper perspective.

[TheMightyEthan]

I didn't say it was a terrible game or anything, just that it's the worst Zelda game.

 

I have not played Zelda 2, that might be worse.

[TCP]

Zelda II and Skyward Sword are the worst Zelda games. Oh and the DS games.

I will now rank the Zelda series.

 

1. Ocarina of Time

2. Majora's Mask

3. A Link to the Past

4. Twilight Princess

5. Oracle of Ages/Seasons

6. Link's Awakening

7. Wind Waker

8. Minish Cap

9. Legend of Zelda

10. Skyward Sword

11. A Link Between Worlds

12. Zelda II

13. Pile of touchscreen garbage 1

14. Pile of touchscreen garbage 2 

 

This is the definitive ranking and can not be argued with.

Edited November 7, 2014 by The Cowboy Poet

[TheFlyingGerbil]

the only reason that can't be argued with is because it is pointless to argue with a madman. 

[Mister Jack]

Why does everyone hate Skyward Sword?  I mean, it wasn't as good as the more popular games in the series but I didn't think it was terrible either.  It also made an attempt to tell a story with actual characters in it, which is more than I can say for several of the other games.

Edited November 6, 2014 by Mister Jack

[deanb]

Give it a decade and a 4K re-release and folks will love it.

[Mister Jack]

"Wind Waker with less wind waking?!  Take my money!"

[TCP]

I disliked that there was essentially only 4 areas, and no connection between any of them, besides the sky area. You least that feeling of adventure you get when you go to Lake Hylia, Zora River, The Lost Woods, the snow mountain from TP, Zora's Domain, etc etc for the first time. I know Majora's Mask also had 4 areas 5 or 6 areas, but they were environments we hadn't seen in a 3D Zelda, and all the areas had a lot of character and atmosphere, something missing from SS.

Also the puzzles outside of the temples was a little gruelling at times, I like exploring the world between dungeons, but when everything is a puzzle, it just sort of becomes tedious for me. The motion controls were alright, but I don't believe they improved the game in any significant way, and most of the music was good, the story and characters were awesome. Though, for a AAA game in 2011 (even if it was on Wii) it's kind of inexcusable to not have voice acting. Not saying Link should talk, but the NPCs should.

I liked the art style though!

[TheMightyEthan]

I will be very unhappy if they put voice acting in Zelda.

[TCP]

Then go read a book, you nerd!

[TheFlyingGerbil]

I don't think the humour of the games would translate well into voice acting and it would lose a lot of its charm on the process.

 

Nintendo game are all about polish and really how many games have polished voice acting that deliver everything you want? At best it is adequate but often distractingly bad. Plus if you add voice acting when the people who wanted it would complain it's not how they expected it to sound so no one would be happy. At least if you leave it out you have the people who don't want it left happy.

Edited November 7, 2014 by TheFlyingGerbil

[TheMightyEthan]

Yeah, for a new franchise voice acting is fine, but at this point the characters of Zelda are so established that there's no way it would sound right to anyone, because it wouldn't fit with your imaginary version.

[FMW]

I would support adding voice acting if it was actually going to be incorporated into the design of the game.  Like, maybe a Twilight Princess style deal where you have an always present companion who's chatty and can provide color commentary while the game is in motion.  Or if they want to tell a different type of story that would benefit from nuanced delivery.

 

However if all we're talking about it Zelda as we know it with voices reading along with the text in the barebones cutscenes that justify visiting all the local dungeons I'm gonna say that's a bad idea.

[TheFlyingGerbil]

Post from Eiji Aonuma on Miiverse. (I've edited out some niceties)

 

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D was actually in development almost immediately after we finished working on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, which was released in June of 2011. So although we’ve been working on the game for quite some time, we didn't want to say it was being developed until we were at a point  where we could proudly say that this is not going to be just another remake and that it's going to be worth your time. For a while now, when fans from Japan and around the world would ask me if we were working on a Majora's Mask remake, I would silently plead in my heart, thinking, “Please wait a bit longer!” (laughs).

 

We’ve spent a lot of time making sure the gameplay experience is smoother than in the original version without taking away from this unique world. I hope those that haven’t played the original game, and those of you that played it but gave up mid-way through will take this opportunity to give the new version a try.

 

Oh, and I should mention that we haven’t removed the distinct look and feel that are unique to this game, so it should live up to this game's Japanese catchphrase, “this Zelda has a scary vibe.” Brace yourselves for what this world has to offer! (laughs)

 

First off - it's going to be a 4 year development by time it is out. For a remake. WTF, Nintendo. It's almost like any success the have had in the past is in spite their efforts not because of them.

 

Secondly, it sounds like there is going to be some Wind Waker HD style tinkering. That worked out well in WW by all accounts, making it more enjoyable without effecting the heart of the game. Not having played Majora's Mask I don't know what was devilish about the gameplay that needs changing. Was it anything so big as the shard fetch quest or something smaller akin to the faster boat? What would you like to see changed and what do you think would be a step to far if they altered it?

 

Edited November 10, 2014 by TheFlyingGerbil

[TCP]

If they're changing anything I can 100% guarantee it'll be the save system. In the original you can do a hard save, which will erase all your progress and return you back to Day 1 with all the items (missing bombs, rupees, arrows, etc), or a quick save at an owl statue, but that will erase itself when you load.

It would be cool if you could wear the fierce deity mask outside of the final boss fight. You could do it with Game Shark back in the day it was awesome.