The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D

About The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D

Grezzo remade The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D for the Nintendo 3DS, releasing it on February 12, 2015. This title follows Ocarina of Time but shifts focus to a dark fantasy setting in Termina. Link arrives as a Deku Scrub after Skull Kid steals his horse and ocarina while wearing a cursed artifact. The core premise involves stopping a giant moon from crashing into the land within a strict 72-hour cycle. The game features updated textures, models that match original concept art, and a smoother 30 FPS frame rate compared to the N64 version. It remains a single-player adventure where time management drives every decision you make as Link explores forests and towns.

Gameplay

You spend each session mastering the clock mechanic where three in-game days reset all progress except for items and masks. You transform into four different races like a Deku Scrub or Goron to solve environmental puzzles and access new areas. The controls feel tight on the 3DS, allowing quick swaps between equipment and ocarina songs that trigger specific events. A typical playthrough involves hunting down NPCs who need help before their scheduled deadline, which often requires backtracking through dungeons you have already cleared. You collect masks to gain unique abilities like shooting fire or turning invisible. The game forces you to manage inventory slots carefully since carrying too many items limits your movement speed and access to other gear during these frantic time loops.

What Players Think

Critics and players agree this remake holds up well, with a Metacritic score of 89 and an IGDB rating of 90.8 based on 190 user reviews. The community mood leans heavily toward nostalgic appreciation, though some users note the game remains challenging due to its strict time limits. Average playtime sits around 25 hours for a standard run, but completionists often exceed 40 hours chasing every achievement. Players frequently cite the side quests as the highlight, with many reporting over 90% of available tasks completed in their saves. Review snippets from the PlayPile database show users praising the visual upgrades while acknowledging the difficulty spike during final boss encounters. The community consistently rates the emotional weight of the story higher than most other entries in the series.

PlayPile's Take

This game is worth your time if you enjoy tight mechanics and complex storytelling without hand-holding. At its current price point on the eShop, it offers excellent value for a complete experience with new features like the Skull Kid's Hideout dungeon. You will earn multiple achievements by clearing all mask collections and defeating bosses within specific timeframes. The 3DS version fixes frame rate issues but does not change the punishing nature of the original design. Skip this title if you prefer open-ended exploration over structured, deadline-driven gameplay. Play it now to see how a three-day limit changes your approach to problem solving in a way few other games manage.

Storyline

After the events of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Link departs on his horse Epona in the Lost Woods and is assaulted by an imp named Skull Kid who dons a mysterious mask, accompanied by the fairies Tael and Tatl. Skull Kid turns Link into a small plant-like creature known as Deku Scrub and takes away his horse and his magical ocarina. Shortly afterward, Tatl joins Link and agrees to help him revert to his native form. A meeting with a wandering mask salesman reveals that the Skull Kid is wearing Majora's Mask, an ancient item used in hexing rituals, which calls forth a menacing moon hovering over the land of Termina. Link has exactly three days to find a way to prevent this from happening.