Why Is It So Underrated?

[Eturnus_Frost]

Greetings,


It's been awhile since I've last posted here, but there has been little microscopic Wasps inside my nervous system poking at it with a metal stinger.

This Wasp was carrying a game called ''Majora's Mask'' and had ''Insert Negative Feedback/Complaints (Here)'' slapped on its abdomen.


Ok, enough with my lame metaphors...

My point is, why is Majora's Mask so underrated and criticized?

I'm sure theres other topics about this, but I really just HAVE to get this out of my system through typing.


Majora's Mask to this day remains on my top five favorite Vg's of all time.
As for the Zelda series, yes, it still tops every single damn Zelda game out there imo.

Majora's Mask had a special feel to it.
Whenever I saw in a magazine that the game was coming out, I literally jumped up in joy and ran to my parents to get it for me for Christmas.

Around the time Majora's Mask was being announced/released my family was on vacation in Michigan, it happened to be a snow in, no electricity for about two days.
After that we stayed their for about a week, by that time Majora's Mask was already out, so I knew nothing about it at all. So, before Christmas came I saw the box at
a local game store, looked on the back and saw...snow? Back then my mind was a bit..one sided..so I was thinking ''So, this Zelda will be taking place all in Snow this time?''.
Yeah.., even though I liked the idea I had.. it was awkward, making me want to buy it even more. So, I finally get it on Christmas at my Grandmother's and stare at the
box and instruction booklet all the way home...sniffing it too because new instruction booklets smell great. I get home, pop the game in my console, watch the opening
scene and...a bit startled with the Mask and...the noise when it zooms in. As soon as the game starts and a little past the intro..I already loved this game more than
OOT.

The town was full of citizens. each townie had a scheduled event (Well, most did), Mailman would come out around 1pm, Inn closes at 8pm?, etc.
It was settled, I loved this game. Each townie had their own character built to grab you by the edge and wrap you up along with them. As I progressed in the game
I couldn't help but wonder what the Lon Lon Ranch guy was doing at 2am or where he was at, or when the Stock Pot Inn clerk Anju was feeding her Grandmother.

I spent at least 30 hours of Game Play messing around in the town and playing ''role play'' hence going to sleep at night, getting a job, etc. What a lot of us would do
when we were younger.

First time the moon started to come down and crash I started to run and tried to hide in the Bomber's Gang's shelter (Whatever they were called).
The moon came crashing down, and you see Link die as a Deku Scrub..I was quite shocked and it sent chills down my spine.

I do admit at first, I thought the game had ended and it was ''short'' since you started over in the same spot in front of the Clock Tower with repeated dialog.
But I figured out what to do not but a few hours later.

I just don't see how some idiots out their ''Not just some of the gamers itself, but Game Reviewers as well'' could miss something like this.
MAJORA'S MASK IS NOT SHORT.

No.

Its not.

This is my opinion of course but I have plenty who would agree with me.
Collecting all masks, side quests, beating all four temples, etc.

It's sad to think a lot of gamers sold the game after the first time the moon crashed, and I DO know a lot that did.
Which is why I see a lot of ''1 out of 10'' ratings from Zelda fans on IGN, Gamespot, etc.

It took me about 7 months to actually beat the game, because I didn't know how to get a lot of the masks, which my friend helped me with.

And why all the complaints about the game being too ''difficult''?

During these years of recent releases we beg for hard games for Wii, but Wii is made to be a bit simple so anyone can pick it up and go at it.

It's just looking back, I thought Majora's Mask was relatively easy, except for collecting all the masks (Couple's Mask was hardest imo).
I guess I also love this game because its one of the ''darker'' Zelda's out of the bunch.

Timed Events, Moon Crashing, The rush of it, Character building, Masks, Awesome villain (Once I came to figure out it was THE Skull kid from Lost Woods)my first
snow experience in 3-D, and the time to explore and do what you want.

Really..I love this game.


Sorry for making such a long post, just I don't find many forums where I can discuss all the nostalgic memories of a treasured masterpiece.

I could go on and on because theres so much to this game.
OOT was superb, but..I don't think it matches to MM.

If this topic is in the wrong sub-forum, please forgive me.

I never will understand ''some'' of the hate for this game.

[Chaoto]

They made the items that appeared in OoT much better in MM such as the ice arrows because not only did they freeze water this time butshooting keese or the crow like things was lots of fun making them smash like glass once they hit the ground. I also think the master sword is over-rated and worked out the gilded sword is stronger. I did how ever prefer the master sword over the biggoron sword though. I find it funny when some idiot says OoT had better graphics when MM needed to the exspansion pack becaus ethe normal N64 couldn't handle the game. I dont normaly judgea game on graphics it's all game play and story for me

However I dont dislike OoT since that and MM are my too faverate Zelda games and though it may seem cheap now I would not mind if they made more zelda's on the OoT MM style graphics of zelda.

[ShadowLink92]

Even though OoT is still my favorite Zelda game, MM was a masterpiece. The attention to detail made it, for lack of a better term, come alive.

From what I've seen, MM isn't really underrated. There are some people who think it was bad, but the people who liked it outnumber them.

[Goronlove7]

Ya I'm sorry but you over exaggerated how many people disliked this game I and lots of people loved this game I think it blew WW out of the water.

[Eturnus_Frost]

Originally Posted by Goronlove7

Ya I'm sorry but you over exaggerated how many people disliked this game I and lots of people loved this game I think it blew WW out of the water.

Perhaps I did, just the community down where I live mostly hate it.

I was aware of Exaggeration though, I just had to let out some steam.

You can't help but be a bit on the biased side when ventilating.

[Oizys]

I have an overall feeling of hatred towards this game, but it is due to my own stupidity.

Once upon a time, three of my friends and I decided to play all the 3D Zelda games until they were finished. Simultaneously.
None of us had ever played MM. We wondered for a while how this could have happened, and then I was chosen to play it.

MM is a difficult game, and while that isn't really a problem in everyday life, it is when your trying to beat it in one sitting in under 12 hours (on a bet), having never played it before in your life, while being distracted by the 3 other games playing right next to you.

It was... frustrating to say the least.

So I don't blame the game. Just the circumstances in which I was forced to play it in.

[Eturnus_Frost]

Originally Posted by Oizys

I have an overall feeling of hatred towards this game, but it is due to my own stupidity.

Once upon a time, three of my friends and I decided to play all the 3D Zelda games until they were finished. Simultaneously.
None of us had ever played MM. We wondered for a while how this could have happened, and then I was chosen to play it.

MM is a difficult game, and while that isn't really a problem in everyday life, it is when your trying to beat it in one sitting in under 12 hours (on a bet), having never played it before in your life, while being distracted by the 3 other games playing right next to you.

It was... frustrating to say the least.

So I don't blame the game. Just the circumstances in which I was forced to play it in.

Oh crap, I couldn't handle that, I have a bit of OCD.

You should turn out your lights, make it peace and quiet and play.

[Nathan]

There was a time, mostly the first couple years after MM came out, that there were many haters. Afterall, a game with 7 million sales before it made a game with 1.5million sales seem like a epic failure.

However, those days are long gone. Most appreciate what MM is, and many wish what was in MM to be brought to all future Zelda games.

[rayburn]

the first time I saw an advertisement for it I went crazy running around with my toy sword killing invisible moblins it was great. My mom finally gets the game for me and then we found out it required an expansion pack. I had to wait a whole year to play it, it just sat there on the stand screaming to be played and I couldnt. I must say that was the most tramatiseing experiense of my life.

[Chaoto]

I'd say both OoT and MM had their advantages over each other that many will have their own oppinions to. They both certainly WW out of the water though I did enjoy WW it just didnt seem the same by sailing all the time and when I 1st saw cartoon Link I was thinking I realy hope they change him back to the way he was. TP Link is a big improvement after the way WW link was drawn and i dont normaly judge a gam eof graphics but seeing a character that we all know and love transformed like that can be quite disapointing.

Though I liked the look and power of the Gilded Sword over the Master Sword I did like the look of OoT's Mirror shield over MM's Mirror shield especially when wearing the Red Tunic.

[sage_of_fire]

OoT is my favorite game, but much of that these days is due to nostalgia, something MM doesnt have with me (I was VERY late getting it) MM is a complete masterpiece. In my opinion, the NPC interaction has been UNMATCHED in any zelda game, or any other video game for that matter. WW tried with the notebook type thing, and TP came as close as any other, but MM is still the best at that. The main complaint about it I hear is that they reused the character models, which used to make sense to me, but it's just something you have to get over and move on about. My only complaint about MM is the fact that it is so short. ONly four temples. True the sidequest and what not make up for a lot, it's still fairly short compared to OoT, TP, or even WW.

[Eturnus_Frost]

Originally Posted by sage_of_fire

OoT is my favorite game, but much of that these days is due to nostalgia, something MM doesnt have with me (I was VERY late getting it) MM is a complete masterpiece. In my opinion, the NPC interaction has been UNMATCHED in any zelda game, or any other video game for that matter. WW tried with the notebook type thing, and TP came as close as any other, but MM is still the best at that. The main complaint about it I hear is that they reused the character models, which used to make sense to me, but it's just something you have to get over and move on about. My only complaint about MM is the fact that it is so short. ONly four temples. True the sidequest and what not make up for a lot, it's still fairly short compared to OoT, TP, or even WW.

I disagree about it being shorter than OOT.

Since I did beat OOT pretty fast my first time playing it.

Although, with MM it took me much much longer because I had no internet back then, so I was stuck finding the masks on my own.

Although same case with no internet for OOT as well, just I figured things out faster.

So I have to be a bit biased on this one.

[Onyx]

Majora's Mask IS pretty hated. Not by Zelda fans, but by regular gamers. Even the guy at the video store where I buy all my old games suggested that I didn't get it. But alas, I did. I love it, the only problem I have with it is the saving thing. You can't just pick up where you left off, it drives me insane and that is why I have yet to finish it. It annoys me like none other, turning it on and then realizing... holy crap how many times have I done this already? I can't sit for hours playing one game, so it's hard to turn it off and then re-do a lot of it if I decide not to finish whatever I'm doing at the time. Like right now, the Zora eggs. Geez, I've done it around 5 times now.

In OoT you can save in Temples and stuff and usually everything would be how you left it. I don't have the patience for MM, lol.

[sage_of_fire]

Originally Posted by Onyx

Majora's Mask IS pretty hated. Not by Zelda fans, but by regular gamers. Even the guy at the video store where I buy all my old games suggested that I didn't get it. But alas, I did. I love it, the only problem I have with it is the saving thing. You can't just pick up where you left off, it drives me insane and that is why I have yet to finish it. It annoys me like none other, turning it on and then realizing... holy crap how many times have I done this already? I can't sit for hours playing one game, so it's hard to turn it off and then re-do a lot of it if I decide not to finish whatever I'm doing at the time. Like right now, the Zora eggs. Geez, I've done it around 5 times now.

In OoT you can save in Temples and stuff and usually everything would be how you left it. I don't have the patience for MM, lol.

That's a good point, it seems if you're not already a zelda fan, then you don't like the game, Ive heard that alot from avid gamers who aren't a HUGE zelda fan.

Originally Posted by Eturnus_Frost

I disagree about it being shorter than OOT.

Since I did beat OOT pretty fast my first time playing it.

Although, with MM it took me much much longer because I had no internet back then, so I was stuck finding the masks on my own.

Although same case with no internet for OOT as well, just I figured things out faster.

So I have to be a bit biased on this one.

I've noticed the difficulty of OoT varies person to person. Personally it took me only two weeks, while MM technically took me 3 years. I played up until Gyorg and quit, then picked it back up 2 years later. But I stick to my opinion on the length of the game. It may just be the way it played out for me, but opinions vary as well.

[ashleyclonch]

I really agree...MM is a very hated underappreciated game. BUT I love it!

I think the problem with it was there were no new items, it had to follow OoT, and there were few new characters.

but it had an amazing story line, the items were greatly improved (along with the graphics as we've already said...), AND each of the characters had their own story.

The problem was mainly in the saving. I bet even those of us to love the game still hate the way you have to save.

But for me personally, the gaming style was right on. I'm the type who loves to replay games. ..actually I've played through MM the most because no matter how many times I have to do something over it seems new to me. MM is the most different of all of the Zelda games, and I respect is for this. Keep in mind also that this was the first game Miamato (spelling) wasn't in charge of. ..so the new creater (his name is slipping my mind right now) had a huge footsteps to fill. And he did this in a different and unique way, and it was excellent.

Oot is my love, and it will always be a classic...but MM is my bestfriend..there for me when I need it.

[sage_of_fire]

I didn't hate the way it saved per-say, but I will say that it got annoying sometimes. The addition of Kaepora Gaebora and the statues was a good way to make the system "zeldy-y" though.

[Ganon the King]

MM got 99/100 on IGN... at least it was appreciated by them. Unlike *cough* FPS hardcore nerd lover*cough* Gamespot, it got 83/100. Can that really make sense? Can anyone make sense of that?

Obviously MM is either your type of game or its completely not your type of game. In IGN's case it was and in Gamespot's * cough*FPS*cough* case ot wasn't.

Truth is, not only does MM have better graphics; better sound; a darker, more mysterious feel and plot to it, it also utilises everything about Ocarina of Time in the best way possible. This ranges from masks, to characters, to weapons and every other little detail that would take too long to mention.

It's 3-day-cycle system allows the feeling of real world where things keep flowing. This system allows you to interact with characters in a way no other video game has ever portrayed. It also allows deep character interaction.

Now the difference between Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask is:
Ocarina of Time came out first so it is more "influential."
Ocarina of Time was played by millions.
Majora's Mask was only played by one million and a half.

There are more differences but I can't list them.

So overall MM does everything better and recreates massive nostalgia.

When people say MM was "short" they mean it was short as in the length of the game. But that's not true... the four dungeons it does have are accompanied by four sub-dungeons and other quests that you have to complete to go to those four dungeons. On top of that it has massive side content which ends up surpassing Ocarina of Time in overall content (including its dungeons).

However, when you play MM it does not recreate the world Hyrule was set in. It doesn't have the magical feel of Kokiri Forest, Kakariko Village, CT and all those other places. However, when you play OoT, you'll miss a lot more from MM

Also, when I was anticipating TP, I wanted it to be more like MM than OoT but with the shell of OoT. That would make a perfect game... which sadly TP could have been... but wasn't.

[sage_of_fire]

I've heard alot of people don't like the three day system, but I did. My sister hated it (mainly because she beat the first temple without realizing you could slow time down lol)

[Razz]

MM and OoT are great, but you know what

I still consider WW to be the best zelda game I've ever played

Even if I've denied it in the past, I just can't get that game out of my head

[Ganon the King]

Originally Posted by King Razz

MM and OoT are great, but you know what

I still consider WW to be the best zelda game I've ever played

Even if I've denied it in the past, I just can't get that game out of my head

I've gone through phases like that.

[sage_of_fire]

WW was good, but again, it has things you have to get by, just like MM does.

[vacumgod]

The 3 day time limit put a lot of gamers under a lot of stress, Zelda, being such an open game, shouldn't have time limits to ones exploration.

[sage_of_fire]

Not completely, but the Three day time limit really isn't a limit. Being as you can go back in time and all

[vacumgod]

Sure you can go back in time all you want, but at the core of zelda is exploration, and through that exploration you change the world around you, refilling lake hylia, saving kakariko,
however in MM when you go back to the 1st day, all the changes you made in the world basically cease to exsist again, is there any point is saving a world in which constantly "erases" your progress?