Majora's Mask is generally regarded as the darkest entry in the Zelda franchise and was a controversial game for the Nintendo franchise because the content was deemed too mature was it's adolescent audience. The game dealt with concepts such as racism, adultery, black market transactions, organized crime, and death.The game's storyline contains much heavier themes than those seen in prior games of the series, with somber melodies and a myriad of tragic situations. Taking things a step further, enemies Link killed from the Ocarina of Time such as the Sorceress Sisters Twinova are NPC are living happy in this world.
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In Majora's Mask, the player is faced with the knowledge that the world of Termina will be destroyed within three days, and the only means in which to prevent this from occurring is by playing the Ocarina of Time to restart everything from the dawn of the First Day. Majora's Mask goes even further by delving into the emotional and psychological state of Termina's denizens, each of whom responds to the circumstance of their impending doom in an idiosyncratic but realistic manner. Link and Termina's denizens are continually confronted with elements of death, loss, and abandonment over and over and over again as the three-day cycle repeats continuously.
Majora's Mask for what it's worth was truly an underrated and under-appreciated game. For decades there has been a lot of game theories or creepy pasta urban legends on the net about the game. The most common myth about Major's Mask was game being a metaphor for Link's death.
In an interview developers tried to make sense of how so many Zelda games exist and are some how connected on a timeline. According developers, Majora's Mask exist as an alternate reality in which Link failed in the previous title "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time".
As a result of Link's failure several NPC's (none playable characters) died including Link himself. Majora's Mask storyline and characters is serves as Kübler-Ross model Five stages of death. The game begins with the mask salesman from the Ocarina of Time game telling Link "You've met with a terrible fate haven't you". Many have interpreted this quote as meaning Link has died.
1. Denial
In the game, Link takes on the remaining life of characters that have died in the realm prior to Link arriving. In 72 hours, the realm of Termina will be destroyed by a fall moon. Despite the pending doom lingering over their heads none of the citizen are fearful of the end. Each NPC claims nothing will happen and continues onward with their daily routines.
In an interview developers tried to make sense of how so many Zelda games exist and are some how connected on a timeline. According developers, Majora's Mask exist as an alternate reality in which Link failed in the previous title "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time".
As a result of Link's failure several NPC's (none playable characters) died including Link himself. Majora's Mask storyline and characters is serves as Kübler-Ross model Five stages of death. The game begins with the mask salesman from the Ocarina of Time game telling Link "You've met with a terrible fate haven't you". Many have interpreted this quote as meaning Link has died.
1. Denial
In the game, Link takes on the remaining life of characters that have died in the realm prior to Link arriving. In 72 hours, the realm of Termina will be destroyed by a fall moon. Despite the pending doom lingering over their heads none of the citizen are fearful of the end. Each NPC claims nothing will happen and continues onward with their daily routines.
2. Anger
The Deku King is mad that his daughter is missing, so he boils a monkey alive for no reason.
3. Bargaining
Darmani is a dead Goron character Link helps. Darmani died but realizes his followers need his help. He remains a ghost to offer advice but makes a deal with Link to cross-over if Link helps his people
4. Depression
Lulu a Zoran singer loses her voice and will to live after her children are kidnapped and assumed as murdered.
5. Acceptance
In the final dungeon, Link climbs a tower similar to the tower of Babel. Along the way you encounter several ghost and suicidal assassins each with the belief they they control their death. At the top of the tower, link receives the light arrow which as a symbol of enlightenment. Thus, with the knowledge Link has accepted he is dead and can move on to the circumstance that must come.
Regardless of how you play the game or who you save in the side quests the game has a foreboding atmosphere of world destruction conveyed largely through the game's soundtrack and artwork. Even the world's name "Termina" is derived from the Latin phrase "terminus", originally applied to the Roman God of boundary markers, which roughly translates into English as "boundary, limit". The desire to rescue the world from certain peril serves as an additional motivation for completing the game. To say Majora's Mask was just a video game would be to say the bible was just words. It showed so much of the world I never knew existed until I got older. I still ponder on a quote by skull kid, "I am right, was I right?"
The Deku King is mad that his daughter is missing, so he boils a monkey alive for no reason.
3. Bargaining
Darmani is a dead Goron character Link helps. Darmani died but realizes his followers need his help. He remains a ghost to offer advice but makes a deal with Link to cross-over if Link helps his people
4. Depression
Lulu a Zoran singer loses her voice and will to live after her children are kidnapped and assumed as murdered.
5. Acceptance
In the final dungeon, Link climbs a tower similar to the tower of Babel. Along the way you encounter several ghost and suicidal assassins each with the belief they they control their death. At the top of the tower, link receives the light arrow which as a symbol of enlightenment. Thus, with the knowledge Link has accepted he is dead and can move on to the circumstance that must come.
Regardless of how you play the game or who you save in the side quests the game has a foreboding atmosphere of world destruction conveyed largely through the game's soundtrack and artwork. Even the world's name "Termina" is derived from the Latin phrase "terminus", originally applied to the Roman God of boundary markers, which roughly translates into English as "boundary, limit". The desire to rescue the world from certain peril serves as an additional motivation for completing the game. To say Majora's Mask was just a video game would be to say the bible was just words. It showed so much of the world I never knew existed until I got older. I still ponder on a quote by skull kid, "I am right, was I right?"
Some believe the one that dies was Navi. The legend that once fairies served their purpose they die. In the end, Link never finds Navi, he rides off into the light shining through the trees ahead. Some believe that Majora's Mask was a symbol of the death of innocent games itself. Majora's mask was the last game that Nintendo made for the N64, and game sales were showing that a high demand was coming for more mature, gory and violent games. This game is said to be an attempt to show children games can deal with adult topics but in a subtle way.
After you defeat Skull kid and the true demon the Majora's mask, all that we get as a conclusion is a cut scene of those you saved, changed their lives, and a grieving NPC's that regardless of your actions...these characters were dead before you arrived and fate took them away. A power game to say the least. I give The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask a well deserved 10 out of 10.
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