FULL MAJORA'S MASK PREVIEW

Majora's Mask is more than just a watered down repetition of the acclaimed Ocarina of Time Experience, it is in fact entirely unique. It is a new perspective on the Adventures of Link culminating in new areas to explore and from what I can tell the best cast of characters to grace the Zelda series. The game includes the notions of extra-dimensional and temporal travel. We saw this touched upon in Ocarina of time with the 7 year time warp thing, but in Majora's Mask, Time is just as much as an opponent as an ally. This time Link must rescue a twisted version of Hyrule called Talmina, from the perilous descent of a lunar nemesis. As the storybook fairytake of the Fox and the Hound goes, The Sky is Falling!. Ultimately the main goal of the game would seem to be preventing this dire fate from transpiring. The difficulty of this game is in fact that Link has a mere three days to accomplish his goal. Not three of our days mind you but three game days.

The main gameplay element that Link employs to solve the puzzles and complete the required tasks of the game are in fact Masks. We can remember these from Ocarina of Time, as those objects sold by that Happy Mask Man in the Happy Mask Shop that we had to distribute to various people around Hyrule. As it were, we became aquainted with the Keaton Mask, The Spooky Mask, the Bunny Hood, the Gerudo Mask, the Zora Mask, and the Goron Mask. Three of these played an essential role in the obtaining of Mask of Truth. I the game, Majora's Mask, we see the reappearance of the Goron Mask, and the Zora Mask, and this time the creators have included the Deku Mask as an integral element in Link's abilty to transform himself in to the creature that corresponds to the mask. Furthermore, there are many other masks that Link can obtain thoughout the game that enable certain hidden abilities. This all in fact, reminds me of the Movie by the same name The Mask in which Jim Carey would gain all this wild abilities when he donned The Mask. Did the Creators of Majora's Mask get ideas from this movie? Perhaps.

The First Mask I will review is the Deku Mask which transforms Link into Deku Link. The beginning of the game in fact involves Link's transformation. During this part of the game he is unable to transform himself back to his regular form. First it is required that link accomplish a some challenges to proceed further. As Deku Link, he is unable to use some of his weapon in this rather helpless state. With the Deku Mask Link can can gain the ability to float and glide from Flower Patches. This is quite useful to reach areas that are too high or difficulty for Link to get to in any other form. If you remember from Ocarina of Time, Deku Scrubs could spit Deku Nuts at you, and following in similar fashion, Link has gain this profoundly supreme ability (sarcasm intended) to spit, but this time I suppose from what I gather they are "bubbles" or mucus bubbles that can be used to trigger switches and for some other purpose of which I can't fathom. Deku Link also has some kind of spin attack where he can attack enemies. Deku Link does not have the ability to go in water or swim, but he can run across the water temporarily. Wearing the Deku Mask, Link has the ability to play the Deku Horn but he really can't be near fire or he may be killed more quicly.

The next mask I will discuss in the Goron Mask that transforms Link into Goron Link. He gets this from a Goron ghost in the snow mountains. When Link uses this mask his abilities tend to mimic that of the Gorons that we came to be familiar with in Ocarina of Time (Frankly, I didn't care for this Race of creatures, but whatever...) As Goron Link, he has the ability to roll across the ground really fast. When you press the "A" button Link can roll like a boulder. With some magic Goron Link can extend spikes from his rotund body to crush/impale enemies that might get in his way. In this form Link can also perform a combo punch where by pressing the "B" button repeatedly will make him box his opponent. He can also charge up this punch to deliver a more effective blow to objects and enemies. When not rolled up Goron Link's rolly polly self is pretty unweildy. He's rather sluggish, and since he's made of a stone, does not float. Don't put him in water. Goron Link can play the Goron Bongos.

Another major Mask Link will employ is the Zora Mask, which transforms him into Zora Link. Obviously, since the Zora are great swimmers, so is Zora Link, where Deku and Goron Link can't go, Zora can. His ability to change into Zora Link will be essential in completing certain areas. His speed underwater is rather impressive. He can walk underwater unimpeded by the effects of physics and water pressure. Zora Link has these integrated Jai-Lai like blades that can be projected from his fins and act as a boomerang that can be used to attack enemies. Pressing the "B" button repeatedly will allow Zora Link to Karate chop his opponents. Similar to Nayru's Love, in this form Link can create a forcefield around himself using magic to prevent enemies from attacking. Zora Link is weakest against extreme heat like fire or even chilling ice. His instument is a guitar. - Rock on man!

Back to the Oddity of Hyrule