Gaming anniversaries are always fun to celebrate, because they can evoke in us memories of “games and gaming platforms gone by,” and how much of an impact the titles in question made on the industry as a whole. Today, we’re celebrating The Legend of Zelda Majora’s Mask, one of the all-time classic Nintendo titles that was first released on the Nintendo 64. Today is the 25th anniversary of the North American release of the game, and that means it’s time to celebrate!
So, what made The Legend of Zelda Majora’s Mask so special? First, it was a game that was made in pretty much record time. After the success of Ocarina of Time, the team was tasked with making a “follow-up” in under two years. That time constraint led to the legendary/infamous “Three Day-Cycle” that Link had to endure repeatedly. If he didn’t save the land of Termina before the moon fell in three days, all would be lost. Thankfully, he could reverse time and start all over again as many times as he needed until he could stop the moon from falling.
The other key thing that set the game apart was the mask mechanic. Link would don masks to become various entities (like a Zora, Goron, or Deku Shrub) or be granted special abilities (like being faster, being “invisible,” doing special dances, etc.).
Majora’s Mask remains an iconic part of the series for its unique characters, like the Skull Kid, special side quests that required you to move through all three days, and the epic Fierce Deity Mask. If you want to play the game, you can get it on the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack!
