Just recently, Nintendo dropped the news that the long awaited remake to Majora's Mask is finally coming in 3D for Spring of next year. This for many was good news, but for others it seemed to be a little underwhelming. Some fans, including myself were disappointed, and some were clearly happy. After the break, I will be looking at different opinions on the remake, while adding in my own...
For starters, I asked several people what their thoughts on the Majora's Mask remake was. One particular fan who was against the remake said, "Well, the dominate reason is, I didn't think Ocarina of Time 3D did much to really "remake" Ocarina of Time, and I kind of expect the same with Majora's Mask 3D. Aside from that I think there are other games they could do more from a remake standpoint than Majora's Mask." This, personally, I can agree with, as all Nintendo did to remake Ocarina of Time was primarily improve the visuals, add some gyroscopic controls (with mixed reception,) and then add the Sheikah Stones. It does not feel like much changed, but then you have to ask, what is there to really gain from a remake? As far as I can tell, the main idea for a remake is graphical capabilities. Looking between Ocarina of Time 3D and Ocarina of Time, is it possible that Nintendo is remaking the game before it really is time to remake it? I know another fan said, "I would have rather it been an HD Wii U remake. I was never a big advocater of a 3DS remake but I am looking forward to playing it and will be buying it. I'm kind of indifferent towards it, I wasn't really surprised that it happened."
I didn't want to end my search for opinions there. I wanted positive ones. Reasons why fans were excited for Majora's Mask 3D. One fan said, "I'm so excited for it. Majora's Mask has always been one of my favorite Zelda games and I've always considered it to be very underrated in the franchise. I'm excited to be able to take Termina by storm again and solve the puzzles, hear the stories, and collect all those fantastic Masks again in remastered 3D gameplay just like Ocarina of Time 3D." It is a fair point.
This remake can really breathe new life into the game, and provide people with opportunities of replying a game they last played maybe 14 years ago, and it also provides newer younger fans with their first attempt at a Zelda game that is new to them. Also, one fan provided a useful point of, "Well, I'm a Zelda fan, anything that is Zelda I get hyped about whatever it is. Mainly, I am excited about MM 3D cause I would now have a portable MM without the use of my laptop. It would be neat to have a world crushing moon in your pocket? Now, come on, we all know that you do." Maybe a remake is more to some people than just a graphical and musical improvement. It's a chance for nostalgia to strike, and a chance to be able to really take this game and play it where ever you are.
Now, I know I called this article, "The Ugly Face behind the Majora's Mask 3D Remake," and there is more to that than just a clever pun. I named it this, because I personally do not feel that a remake of Majora's Mask is fully justified. I didn't even feel a Wind Waker remake should have happened yet. Remake's take away some of the original quirks a game has. Last time around, Nintendo watered down the Water Temple in Ocarina of Time, and made it easier. Majora's Mask originally had a very creepy aura surrounding the entire premise of the game, and it's possible that this could be lost too.
I have heard complaints with how the moon looks now, how it's almost comical. In other words, I almost feel as though we won't be getting a full and proper remake, because the graphical difference isn't that large, and the musical difference...well there won't be any. Don't get me wrong, I know graphics are not everything, but for a remake, it's almost essential to create a new experience, or enhance the old one. My concern is that this Majora's Mask Remake may not be able to enhance that experience for many of us. I could, however, just be looking at it the wrong way.
I'm going to end this article on just a few questions rather than a simple conclusion. Is a remake justified? Has it been long enough? Is it possibly too late for a remake given that the main demand was from when Ocarina of Time 3D came out? Should they have instead made it on the Wii U? I think, however, the biggest question for some of us is easily, are we asking too much of Nintendo, making too big a deal, and should we just accept what they do? There is demand for Majora's Mask 3D, and I know personally that I will buy it, I just may not be fully satisfied about it.
What do you think?
Below are all of the opinions collected. None of them are mine, and all of the names have been left out to protect their identity. If you want to attack someone, feel free to attack me.
"Either it happens or not - doesn't really bother me. lol I never really understood what all the fuss was about. XD"
"It's great for those who wanted, but I'm absolutely 100% neutral to it, since I don't own or plan to own a 3DS"
"Hmmmm...........I'm kinda on the fence......on the one hand I'm excited they are remaking it.....but on the other, why so long? I'm not the kind of gamer fan that wanted a remake....anytime I see a fan saying it I chuckle at the thought, but now I guess the fans are really getting it and I guess I'm not surprised"
"Well, I'm a Zelda fan, anything that is Zelda I get hyped about whatever it is. Mainly, I am excited about MM 3D cause I would now have a portable MM without the use of my laptop. It would be neat to have a world crushing moon in your pocket? Now, come on, we all know that you do. "
"Well, the dominate reason is I didn't think Ocarina of Time 3D did much to really "remake" Ocarina of Time, and I kind of expect the same with Majora's Mask 3D. Aside from that I think they're other games they could do more from a remake standpoint than Majora's Mask."
"They shouldn't have remade the game. I don't like it when people remake things that are great the first time. Let's remake Tron, shall we? No, let's do an HD remake of Last of Us. OoT was a "see what the 3DS can do" (there is a word for that) whereas MM is just....there. It now is canon as a real game people will buy, after the many "bad" reviews of the first time. Maybe not "many bad reviews", but at first people were skeptical."
"I would have rather it been an HD Wii U remake. I was never a big advocater of a 3DS remake but I am looking forward to playing it and will be buying it. I'm kind of indifferent towards it, I wasn't really surprised that it happened."
"I'm so excited for it. Majora's Mask has always been one of my favorite Zelda games and I've always considered it to be very underrated in the franchise. I'm excited to be able to take Termina by storm again and solve the puzzles, hear the stories, and collect all those fantastic Masks again in remastered 3D gameplay just like Ocarina of Time 3D."
"It's about time it's in 60fps, if it's not, screw it there's no improvement whatsoever. I'm tired of the 20fps limiter on MM. If it's 30, that's ok I guess, OoT N64 was 20fps, as was virtual console and every collectors edition. The 3DS one was 30fps but how is Zelda not in the category of games that is deemed 'quick reaction' idk I mean, people take it seriously, don't they? With more fps, you'd stop jumping off edges at the wrong angle or missing the bushes when you try to hit them with your sword. A problem I still have at 20-30FPS, it's not about it 'looking' smooth for me, it's about the amount of information you can intake, and thus, your performance as a gamer. Why cripple the gamer? Would you like it if you were driving and your windshield wipers cut out 50% of your vision by basically flickering in and out 30x a second? NO! Ugh."
About the Author:
Christopher Weil
The 2006 Time Magazine person of the year, born in Toronto, Canada, Christopher developed a passion for gaming at a young age. His favorite franchise has always been The Legend of Zelda, but he can also usually be found playing SimRacing games such as iRacing. He's in university studying mechanical engineering and looking to start his own 3D printing business.
