This has caused endless debates over which of the releases were technically superior, though it really just comes down to taste. Still, Ocarina of Time is fairly often cited as the more accessible and memorable of the two Nintendo 64 releases, while Majora’s Mask is frequently labeled harder, more mature, and quite cryptic. By combining this with a new feature that would allow Link to gain special powers by wearing certain masks, Majora’s Mask was certainly a departure for the series.ĭespite some fans finding a few of Majora’s Mask‘s features a bit cumbersome and ambiguous, it still earned widespread critical acclaim and managed to sell extremely well, and it went on to gain a cult following the years following its release. Though they could turn back time to the first day with the use of Link’s trusty ocarina, doing so would only save their most substantial accomplishments, meaning that most puzzles would be reverted to their pre-cleared state, gained currency would reset to zero, and NPCs would forget they had met Link. In this game, players were burdened with a three-day cycle in which to complete a variety of pressing tasks lest a moon crash into Termina and completely reset their progress entirely. It was so unique – and ultimately so divisive – because of its unusual gameplay mechanics. Majora’s Mask stood out as an oddball entry in Link’s ongoing journeys, and not just because it took place in such a strange and eerie new land. It’s here that series veterans were introduced to a very new kind of Zelda experience. This time, however, the green tunic-wearing hero was searching for his lost fairy, Navi, when he stumbled upon a scenario that sent him into an alternate reality of Hyrule known as Termina. But there he was – the same Link fans had just taken through the immense time traveling tribulations of Ocarina of Time was back once again and ready for his new adventure. Though the series was known for featuring many of the same characters, locations, and themes, 2000’s The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask marked the first time the Zelda franchise had ever seen a story and iteration of its protagonist, Link, directly connected to a previous game. How do you follow up something with that much cultural impact? Well, with the franchise’s very first direct sequel, of course.

The Nintendo 64 megahit had sold extraordinarily well, received some of the best reviews of any game ever made, and was already being considered one of the most influential games of its era.

After Ocarina of Time introduced players to the very first 3D Zelda experience in 1998, Nintendo clearly knew fans would be clamoring for more, more, more.

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