The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D

 3DS
User Score
8.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 863 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 757 out of 863
  2. Mixed: 53 out of 863
  3. Negative: 53 out of 863
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  1. SNESFanForever
    Sep 10, 2016
    6
    Majora's Mask has grown a little too old. It contains amazing mechanics and dungeons but the time limit system makes it a frustrating experience. This could have been one of my favourite Zelda games of all time if they didn't try to do something different here with this useless stressful clock preventing any player from fulfilling their desire for exploration. Very disappointing.
  2. Zachatastic117
    Jul 3, 2015
    7
    So after beating Ocarina of Time 3D for the first time 2 years ago, I was trying to find a decent price for the N64 Expansion Pack along with Majora's Mask, I eventually gave up on finding a copy that was good. Fast forward 1 year and a couple months later, and Nintendo announces tat this game is getting a 3D remake. I was excited, but it was pretty obvious they would. So what do I thinkSo after beating Ocarina of Time 3D for the first time 2 years ago, I was trying to find a decent price for the N64 Expansion Pack along with Majora's Mask, I eventually gave up on finding a copy that was good. Fast forward 1 year and a couple months later, and Nintendo announces tat this game is getting a 3D remake. I was excited, but it was pretty obvious they would. So what do I think of it? Disappointing. I absolutely loved OoT3D, but this game tries way too hard at being dark. The story begins with Link looking for Navi, only to mugged by a Skull Kid wearing an odd mask, who takes the Ocarina of Time and Epona. Link then jumps down a giant hole into Termina, where he finds that Epona has been sent to some other place by Skull Kid, and is then turned into a Deku Scrub by the same skull kid. He then finds out that the Moon will fall on the world, so he sets out to stop it from falling. As for game play, it is essentially Young Link from OoT but with some new tricks, and transformations, which despite being the main focus of the main game, are underused, as each transformation is used about 3 times in the main game. The music is good, but a lot of the music re-used from OoT, which while the music in that game is amazing, just feels lazy since they could've added in more music when remaking it. Over-all,the game was a disappointment that I didn't expect. 7/10, as it tries way too hard to be"Edgy and Dark" and doesn't.… Expand
  3. Hackrmin
    Oct 27, 2020
    7
    I picked up this game on release, played it for a while, felt the zora swimming, then cried.
    This is majoras mask, and while i love this game and i have an overall good time with the remake, i just hate the small things they changed, like the bosses and the zora swimming. if you are going to play this version, please just play the N64 version. if you absolutely MUST play this version, Use    I picked up this game on release, played it for a while, felt the zora swimming, then cried.
    This is majoras mask, and while i love this game and i have an overall good time with the remake, i just hate the small things they changed, like the bosses and the zora swimming. if you are going to play this version, please just play the N64 version. if you absolutely MUST play this version, Use progect restoration. While this remake isnt awful, and its certaintly more accessible, a lot of this games character is sanded off, so sadly i need to dock a few points.    … Expand
  4. MARUYAMA
    Apr 9, 2015
    6
    it's the N64 game with a fresh coat of paint, actually not even the N64 version but the virtual console version ( since it has those annoying dark screens whenever there's a flash or light on screen )

    one could argue that, like in ocarina, a lot could be done with what was left out of the original game due to time constraints, or to refine gameplay to more modern standards making it,    it's the N64 game with a fresh coat of paint, actually not even the N64 version but the virtual console version ( since it has those annoying dark screens whenever there's a flash or light on screen )

    one could argue that, like in ocarina, a lot could be done with what was left out of the original game due to time constraints, or to refine gameplay to more modern standards making it, but not Grezzo, they just want to make better graphics and make the game easier to assure sales to more casual players.
    they don't even update the music, which is pretty distracting at times, looking at 3DS graphics and listening to N64 midis is not good and it breaks the experience.    … Expand
  5. Astorgh
    Feb 16, 2015
    7
    The original Majora's Mask can, for sure, be called the best game in the series and there are many reasons for that. This remake tried to fix things that needed to be fixed but in this process screwed up some elements that made the game about adventure. One of the things that made the original so special is that you actually had to find out what to do in order to advance by searching forThe original Majora's Mask can, for sure, be called the best game in the series and there are many reasons for that. This remake tried to fix things that needed to be fixed but in this process screwed up some elements that made the game about adventure. One of the things that made the original so special is that you actually had to find out what to do in order to advance by searching for things, talking to people, exploring the field and towns, etc. It was all a big puzzle that you had to solve by your own. All of this was lost in this remake. It's no longer a puzzle, it's a game of just following every single instruction that they give you so you can advance. The satisfaction of figuring out something by yourself disappears. One of the main aspects of the original game was how different it was from Ocarina of Time. Mr. Aonuma said in this game's Iwata Asks that Majora's Mask was originally “designed to challenge Ocarina of Time veterans”. The overall design this two games was completely different, and that was one of Majora's main concepts. Sadly, this remake wasn't done in with that concept in mind. As you progress in the game you notice how developers wanted to make it as close to Ocarina as possible. It's like Navi returned to tell you everything you needed to do, but in a subtle and less annoying way. It's understandable why they decided to go this way. Majora's Mask was complicated in its own way and many people disliked it when it first came out for being so different. Nintendo couldn't take this risk again and made this remake for all the Ocarina of Time fans. For all those people that find the Water Temple frustrating and were happy when Grezzo made it easier in the 3D remake. Ultimately, over the years game design has declined in complexity to appeal to the masses, and that's completely fine because that's the only way the video game industry will survive. Majora's Mask 3D is still a great game, with great graphics and some nice changes (like the Gyorg battle, how the Song of Double Time functions, etc), but it lacks the main the exploring elements that made this game so special.… Expand
  6. alecxl
    May 2, 2015
    6
    While collecting all of the masks, learning the songs and completing the quests was fun, keeping an I out for how much time I had until the final day and remembering the shedule of NPCs is a very interesting concept, I was really stressed at some points in the game, negative stress that is. I LOVE Zelda, but this just isn't the right one.
  7. bonsai
    Apr 10, 2017
    5
    The only Zelda game i don't like.
    I don't understand how a fantasy game can be fun to play when you have to rush everything in order to finish it, found myself leaving the game after 5/6 hours of gameplay.
  8. Lohengriehn
    Feb 15, 2015
    5
    what a stupid system to play everything over and over again. frustrating. graphics are nice though. same matches on sounds, music and effects. but if time runs out, you have to go back to day 1....time factor shouldnt force players to rush through games-specally on such games. unfortunately thats exactly the case on this game. 5/10. everything else are fan-based ratings over here. as usual.
  9. FreezeBlade1220
    Apr 8, 2015
    5
    Let's start with the fact that I'm not the biggest Zelda fan out there. Considering how much I loved Spirit Tracks and the original, I was still excited. I wasn't a big fan of the whole "three day time limit" thingy. It felt like a gimmicky way to get you too try and beat the game.
  10. Mr_Blaze527
    Feb 17, 2015
    5
    Just gonna say this game should had been remade for the Wii u or even both. I just can't find myself playing this game on the New 3ds. I love Nintendo but this Shid is a pain to play a game I love on the 64 to a handheld. Should had came out for the wii u.
  11. Natharaga
    May 30, 2015
    7
    They took and didn't really do anything with it. The visuals are better, but the game doesn't feel like the Majora's Mask nostalgia trip it could have been. The game has been made easier to appeal to the 3DS audience and it makes the game feel hollow for me. I remember the game being challenging when I was little. Racing against the clock at the very beginning with no save points. TheThey took and didn't really do anything with it. The visuals are better, but the game doesn't feel like the Majora's Mask nostalgia trip it could have been. The game has been made easier to appeal to the 3DS audience and it makes the game feel hollow for me. I remember the game being challenging when I was little. Racing against the clock at the very beginning with no save points. The rarity of save points. A bomber notebook which was poorly designed so I would actually have to think while solving the games puzzles. I can still see a lot of the things I liked about the original, but the feel is gone.

    My displeasure with this game also stems from the fact there is no master quest like in the OoT remake. The first remake soared off on such a high note that my expectations were crushed when I played this remake. If you are new to the series the game will probably be more fun for you, but if you are looking for a nostalgia trip just plug in your old N64, it is a better experience.    … Expand
  12. Nerrel
    Apr 27, 2015
    5
    For obvious reasons, Majora's Mask was far overshadowed by Ocarina of Time- Link's first N64 adventure was a straightforward and accessible journey while Majora's Mask was a dark, strange, and stressful endeavor. Many gamers were turned off by its limited time system, and the awkward nature of the game led to poorer reviews and sales than its prequel.

    But this polarization also worked    For obvious reasons, Majora's Mask was far overshadowed by Ocarina of Time- Link's first N64 adventure was a straightforward and accessible journey while Majora's Mask was a dark, strange, and stressful endeavor. Many gamers were turned off by its limited time system, and the awkward nature of the game led to poorer reviews and sales than its prequel.

    But this polarization also worked in Majora's Mask's favor- those who liked the game regularly praised it as being even better than OoT. The same quirks that turned mainstream gamers off were regarded by fans as endearing traits, lending an atmosphere and impact to the title that no game has recreated since. The game developed a hardcore following that even led many to sign petitions and start a years-long campaign for a remake.

    Unfortunately, MM3D was not created for those fans. It was created explicitly for those who disliked the original experience, and plays as if the creators themselves share the same disdain for the original that many critics did. Whereas OoT3D struggled to remain as faithful to the original title as possible, Nintendo went out of their way to make MM a different game.

    The original save system is gone. Before, players could only save by playing the song of time, which would reset the game's 3-day cycle. The result was that play sessions were demanding and long, requiring players to cram as much progress into each sitting as possible at the risk of hitting the 3-day deadline.

    While this system was inflexible and straining, it created a structure for play sessions that always ended in the same gratifying way- the player would feel stress for a few hours, completing a marathon of tasks one after another, but then finally save and lock in all of their progress at once with a cathartic and immensely rewarding return to the first day.

    MM 3D removes the ability to save with the song of time, instead using owl statues to save at any time. While this is undoubtedly convenient, it removes the stress and sense of rush that made the original intense. Tension doesn't build up the same way when the player can save every 5 minutes, and playing the song of time has lost all of its impact and reward. Players no longer boot up the game to see the iconic "Dawn of the First Day" warning that greeted players at the start of each session, and are instead unceremoniously dropped back in at the point they last saved at.

    A new save system was a sensible addition for handheld play, but it shouldn't have come at the cost of the original mechanics. By not even providing the option to save with the song of time, Majora's Mask 3D immediately loses a lot of the impact and immersion of the original.

    There have also been unfortunate changes to the way Link's forms control. In the original, Deku Link could easily chain spin hops together to keep his speed unbroken when crossing lily pads. Now, the spin abruptly cancels as soon as Link hits water, breaking the momentum of the spin. This makes traversing the Southern Swamp slower and more tedious, as Link's momentum has to be rebuilt after crossing each and every lily pad.

    Zora Link was originally able to swim like a dolphin, with a feel vaguely similar to the Arwing from Starfox64. Zora swimming brought a level of speed and agility that hadn't been seen before in the Zelda universe, and many gamers regard it as one of the few examples of good swimming controls in gaming history.

    There was one problem- Zora Link charged forward when starting to swim, which could lead to accidental crashes into nearby objects. To address this, Nintendo replaced Zora swimming with a much slower, plodding swimming style that was easier to control in tight spaces.

    Link can only Zora swim now by using up magic, which depletes so rapidly that Nintendo may as well have removed it altogether. It's no longer possible to travel using the Zora swim, as even a double magic bar isn't enough to reach any of the destinations in Great Bay before running out and there are no magic pots anywhere to refill with. The bay itself feels boring and slow to traverse, as its large open spaces were designed with a much faster speed in mind. Worst of all, the new speed doesn't even work well in the tight spaces it was designed for, causing frequent camera glitches and offering turning too slow to take corners easily.

    There are a host of similarly senseless changes that bring the experience down. Of course, Majora's Mask 3D does a lot of things right- Grezzo once again delivers a beautiful visual upgrade, and many small, tedious elements have been streamlined to make the game more fluid. Regardless, there are too many things ruined for MM3D to supplant the original and become the definitive version. MM3D should be thought of as a Special Edition- it takes one step backward for every step forward it brings. Overall, the original is still the more consistent and deep experience, even if it's not as pretty to look at.    … Expand
  13. darkzaga
    Mar 31, 2017
    7
    después del majora de 64 este se me hizo exageradamente sencillo... me dio la impresión de que le redijeron la dificultad... el hecho de que muestre imágenes de lo próximo a hacer le quita al juego su personalidad orinal de la que nos enamoramos todos en la n64. igualmente reconozco la mejora grafica pero no es algo que sume demasiado al fin y al cabo. Dzaga
  14. JcMarto
    Aug 8, 2019
    7
    It's the same old Majora's Mask, but nerfed on most fronts to pander to a more casual audience. Zora swimming has been all but ruined, movement over water with the Deku Scrub Mask on has been changed so you no longer carry momentum between leafs. The new save mechanic undermines the core gameplay mechanic of a 3 day cycle. Most of the bosses have been nerfed and are now almost insultinglyIt's the same old Majora's Mask, but nerfed on most fronts to pander to a more casual audience. Zora swimming has been all but ruined, movement over water with the Deku Scrub Mask on has been changed so you no longer carry momentum between leafs. The new save mechanic undermines the core gameplay mechanic of a 3 day cycle. Most of the bosses have been nerfed and are now almost insultingly easy to beat.

    I would have really liked the inclusion of a master mode or something similar, where the original Majora's Mask gameplay was intact, just given a fresh coat of paint. At it's heart this is still Majora's Mask, but a watered down experience from the original    … Expand
  15. INU4SH4
    Jun 23, 2020
    7
    I will just write a short and provisional review as I feel like Majora's Mask deserves a second chance. The concept is so unique and there is high replay value so I will rewrite this review one day if I change my mind about it.

    I did enjoy the story a lot but there were problems. The game became very repetitive and some puzzles were very frustrating but overall still a very good play.
  16. peevedComic
    Mar 21, 2021
    5
    While much of the charm of the original game is still present, it baffles me as to why the control schemes for the transformation masks were changed (which needlessly slows down both southern swamp and great bay), and as to why the bosses were changed to be more in line with the "hit the glowing eye" fights of other Zelda games. In addition, many of the sequences of the game were made toWhile much of the charm of the original game is still present, it baffles me as to why the control schemes for the transformation masks were changed (which needlessly slows down both southern swamp and great bay), and as to why the bosses were changed to be more in line with the "hit the glowing eye" fights of other Zelda games. In addition, many of the sequences of the game were made to be much easier, even segments like the Captain Keeta chase which were already easy. You'd be better off picking up the original game.… Expand
  17. ratboy10000
    Nov 7, 2022
    7
    Even though this game may be quite stressful due to the time mechanic (which was not really favorable for me, because I like to take my time enjoying the game and progressing), I think it makes up for that in terms of concept, art style, and soundtrack. Ocarina of Time meets Silent Hill kinda vibe.

    My personal feelings aside, Majora's mask is a work of art and I hope others can    Even though this game may be quite stressful due to the time mechanic (which was not really favorable for me, because I like to take my time enjoying the game and progressing), I think it makes up for that in terms of concept, art style, and soundtrack. Ocarina of Time meets Silent Hill kinda vibe.

    My personal feelings aside, Majora's mask is a work of art and I hope others can appreciate it better than I did.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best 3DS Game of 2015
1
#1 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2015
11
#11 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 82 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 81 out of 82
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 82
  3. Negative: 0 out of 82
  1. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Apr 20, 2015
    90
    Dark, surreal, poignant. Link's foray into the world of Termina – a strange fascimile of Hyrule destined to be crushed beneath a grimacing moon unless our hero can find a way to stop its descent – is certainly one of his most unusual adventures, but it's also one of his best. [Issue #14: Old vs. New – March/April 2015, p.64]
  2. Games Master UK
    Apr 9, 2015
    91
    Another brilliant and bold 3DS must-buy. [April 2015, p.74]
  3. Washington Post
    Apr 6, 2015
    100
    To my immense surprise, I haven’t fallen for a Zelda game like this since I played the The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991). Evidence of master craftsmanship is everywhere in this game. By the time you’re flipping a temple upside down then right side up, you may discover that your imagination has been enlarged.
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