Play it, definitely. It is best thought of as "Groundhog Day" meets "Alice in Wonderland."
Hell I would play MM over OoT at this point. OoT is the better game but its core gameplay been copied and improved many times over. There really is no game like Majora's Mask. The 3-day cycle is absolutely brilliant.
It's also one of the trippiest games ever made, in a good way. Even with recycled assets and basic gameplay from OoT, Majora's Mask displays an insane creativity. The last temple is one of the most far out places I've seen in a game.
Chris FOM is totally right though; don't try to compare the game to a traditional Zelda game, because it really doesn't top them in terms of traditional Zelda content. MM uses established Zelda gameplay as a vehicle to do its own crazy thing.
You know, I know it's common knowledge that Majora's Mask only has four dungeons, but it's not really true. (don't read this if you haven't played it)
I know you don't typically count mini-dungeons, but The Ancient Castle of Ikana is as close as you can get to being a full dungeon.
It's the first place you need to use the Mirror Shield, which is consistent with "full" dungeons requiring the use of a new item.
It has a unique boss, which is probably more interesting than most of the bosses in the series. It even has a good bit of dialogue, and a couple of easter eggs.
It's at least as long as the shorter dungeons in Ocarina of Time, Wind Waker or A Link to the Past, all of which are count those levels toward their totals.
It doesn't have a unique miniboss, but neither does Snowhead Temple (they both have the same miniboss... Wizzrobe!), so you can't count that against it.
In conclusion, The Ancient Castle of Ikana kicks too much ass to be considered a mini-dungeon.
It's not a dungeon in the Oxford Zelda Dictionary sense, because the skeleton dude at the end has merely miniboss music and moreover does not leave a heart container. So it's like the well in OoT, or your first trip to the Forsaken Fortress in WW (the second trip in that game, however, does count as a dungeon).
Also the fact that you fight a wizzrobe is immaterial: you fight a Stalfos in the well (iirc) and yet the Stalfos was the miniboss of the Forest Temple.
As Penny Arcade's resident Majora's Mask hater(Despite buying it on N64, and Wii), I would recommend against playing it. Its just a far inferior Zelda experience to well, every other Zelda game ever made. I've given it its fair chance, on multiple systems and attempts to play through it. Fewest dungeons in a Zelda game, its water dungeon is somehow worse than OoT's, has some really annoying segments(Fuck you Deku Butler), and a shitty save system that is comparable to Dead Rising, which people bitched about in DR but MM gets to squeeze on by because it has Zelda in the title? Any one of these would be tolerable by itself, but added up, its the worst Zelda by far. The internet's love for Majora's Mask makes no sense to me.
However, you should own a classic controller for playing Super Metroid on your Wii.
I believe the save system was due to cart limitations. It was packed pretty tight I believe.
Also, Majora's Mask was hardly as crazy as Dead Rising. You didn't have to wade through throngs of zombies (potentially dying) to reach a save point in Majora's Mask :P In fact, wasn't there a song to warp you to (or at least near) a save point?
You know, I know it's common knowledge that Majora's Mask only has four dungeons, but it's not really true. (don't read this if you haven't played it)
I know you don't typically count mini-dungeons, but The Ancient Castle of Ikana is as close as you can get to being a full dungeon.
It's the first place you need to use the Mirror Shield, which is consistent with "full" dungeons requiring the use of a new item.
It has a unique boss, which is probably more interesting than most of the bosses in the series. It even has a good bit of dialogue, and a couple of easter eggs.
It's at least as long as the shorter dungeons in Ocarina of Time, Wind Waker or A Link to the Past, all of which are count those levels toward their totals.
It doesn't have a unique miniboss, but neither does Snowhead Temple (they both have the same miniboss... Wizzrobe!), so you can't count that against it.
In conclusion, The Ancient Castle of Ikana kicks too much ass to be considered a mini-dungeon.
It's not a dungeon in the Oxford Zelda Dictionary sense, because the skeleton dude at the end has merely miniboss music and moreover does not leave a heart container. So it's like the well in OoT, or your first trip to the Forsaken Fortress in WW (the second trip in that game, however, does count as a dungeon).
Also the fact that you fight a wizzrobe is immaterial: you fight a Stalfos in the well (iirc) and yet the Stalfos was the miniboss of the Forest Temple.
/Zeldaspergers
Heart container is a silly thing to use as a metric, though. That's my entire point. It's close enough to being a full dungeon that the only arguments against it are things like that. And in addition to Castle Ikana nearly being a full dungeon on its own, the Pirates' Fortress is also longer, more detailed, and more involved than a typical mini-dungeon. So, in terms of main quest content, Majora's Mask is not as light as the "four dungeons" thing would have you believe.
The miniboss music thing is a good point. I forgot that. The level itself does have unique music and graphics, though, which tend to be reused in mini-dungeons a lot. It would have been rad if Igos du Ikana had his own battle theme...
Anyway, getting back to Majora's Mask and for convincing you to buy the game, well, let me put it this way: When the cartridge came out and cost $100 Canadollars or whatever it was, and then you still had to buy the Expansion Pak for the N64 system itself which cost another $30, it had to be one awesome Zelda game for it to be worth it.
And it is one FUCK-AWESOME ZELDA GAME!
And you get to have it for $10, with better visual quality.
Why are you still hesitating?
Well, there is no rumble though, so it might be a little hard to 100% it without an FAQ, but you'll still be able to get a lot out of the game.
I recommend a WaveBird! (aka the best controller, always and forever)
and yes MM is still the best Zelda game (at least until Thursday)
If you can get a hold of one, that is; for some reason, Nintendo stopped with them after the GameCube dried up, instead continuing with the wired controllers.
I mean, it's possible, and preferable (IMO), but trickier than finding a wired controller. They even made a new color for the Wii.
Of course, with the new model Wii and the Wii U, they'll no doubt become even harder to find. I'm going to miss it when the next Smash Bros. comes out...
Like Mega Man Legends? Then check out my story, Legends of the Halcyon Era - An Adventure in the World of Mega Man Legends on TMMN and AO3!
Anyway, getting back to Majora's Mask and for convincing you to buy the game, well, let me put it this way: When the cartridge came out and cost $100 Canadollars or whatever it was, and then you still had to buy the Expansion Pak for the N64 system itself which cost another $30, it had to be one awesome Zelda game for it to be worth it.
And it is one FUCK-AWESOME ZELDA GAME!
And you get to have it for $10, with better visual quality.
Why are you still hesitating?
Well, there is no rumble though, so it might be a little hard to 100% it without an FAQ, but you'll still be able to get a lot out of the game.
GET IT!
The only thing I don't like about the adapter is that it doesn't work with the GameCube versions of OoT and Majora, Twilight Princess, Tatsunoko Vs Capcom (the first JP version, not sure about the one released in América), and some other games, but it's a Godsend for Mega Man Anniversary Collection and any game for the VC.
Get a Classic Controller Pro instead of the original.
And yes, it's completely worth it. I also use my CCP on the PC with the Mayflash USB adapter so I have a nice gamepad.
I have a mayflash USB adapter for the pc as well and I can't get it to work correctly with Majoras mask. Link won't sprint unless the joy stick is DEAD center it makes turning very annoying is there any way to fix this? Thanks in advance.
Posts
Hell I would play MM over OoT at this point. OoT is the better game but its core gameplay been copied and improved many times over. There really is no game like Majora's Mask. The 3-day cycle is absolutely brilliant.
It's also one of the trippiest games ever made, in a good way. Even with recycled assets and basic gameplay from OoT, Majora's Mask displays an insane creativity. The last temple is one of the most far out places I've seen in a game.
Chris FOM is totally right though; don't try to compare the game to a traditional Zelda game, because it really doesn't top them in terms of traditional Zelda content. MM uses established Zelda gameplay as a vehicle to do its own crazy thing.
Also the fact that you fight a wizzrobe is immaterial: you fight a Stalfos in the well (iirc) and yet the Stalfos was the miniboss of the Forest Temple.
/Zeldaspergers
but when it's wedged in between the likes of Great Bay and Stone Tower...
it's just not a dungeon
I believe the save system was due to cart limitations. It was packed pretty tight I believe.
Also, Majora's Mask was hardly as crazy as Dead Rising. You didn't have to wade through throngs of zombies (potentially dying) to reach a save point in Majora's Mask :P In fact, wasn't there a song to warp you to (or at least near) a save point?
The miniboss music thing is a good point. I forgot that. The level itself does have unique music and graphics, though, which tend to be reused in mini-dungeons a lot. It would have been rad if Igos du Ikana had his own battle theme...
I hope you mean this thing. Best thing you can get for your Wii besides rechargeable batteries for the remotes.
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-10y-49-en-70-3nz6.html
...as is the original of that converter, which lets you use the Classic Controller (original only) with Y and B acting as B and A due to how it was designed.
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-10y-49-en-70-34yd.html
Anyway, getting back to Majora's Mask and for convincing you to buy the game, well, let me put it this way: When the cartridge came out and cost $100 Canadollars or whatever it was, and then you still had to buy the Expansion Pak for the N64 system itself which cost another $30, it had to be one awesome Zelda game for it to be worth it.
And it is one FUCK-AWESOME ZELDA GAME!
And you get to have it for $10, with better visual quality.
Why are you still hesitating?
Well, there is no rumble though, so it might be a little hard to 100% it without an FAQ, but you'll still be able to get a lot out of the game.
GET IT!
I WILL NOT BE DOING 3DS FOR NWC THREAD. SOMEONE ELSE WILL HAVE TO TAKE OVER.
Spoiler contains Friend Codes. Won't you be my friend?
More Friend Codes!
Mario Kart Wii: 3136-6982-0286 Tetris Party: 2364 1569 4310
Guitar Hero: Metallica: 1032 7229 7191
TATSUNOKO VS CAPCOM: 1935-2070-9123
Nintendo DS:
Worms: Open Warfare 2: 1418-7870-1606 Space Bust-a-Move: 017398 403043
Scribblenauts: 1290-7509-5558
If you can get a hold of one, that is; for some reason, Nintendo stopped with them after the GameCube dried up, instead continuing with the wired controllers.
I mean, it's possible, and preferable (IMO), but trickier than finding a wired controller. They even made a new color for the Wii.
Of course, with the new model Wii and the Wii U, they'll no doubt become even harder to find. I'm going to miss it when the next Smash Bros. comes out...
Like Mega Man Legends? Then check out my story, Legends of the Halcyon Era - An Adventure in the World of Mega Man Legends on TMMN and AO3!
The only thing I don't like about the adapter is that it doesn't work with the GameCube versions of OoT and Majora, Twilight Princess, Tatsunoko Vs Capcom (the first JP version, not sure about the one released in América), and some other games, but it's a Godsend for Mega Man Anniversary Collection and any game for the VC.
I have a mayflash USB adapter for the pc as well and I can't get it to work correctly with Majoras mask. Link won't sprint unless the joy stick is DEAD center it makes turning very annoying is there any way to fix this? Thanks in advance.