Unmasking the Enigma Behind Majora's Mask

Credit: Nintendo

Within the Legend of Zelda franchise, “The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask” is a standout game that seemingly does not belong. People either love it or hate it for the same reason because it's so different. Why you may ask? There are few titles if any that have been able to uniquely tell a story as profoundly as “The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask”. Like most games in the Legend of Zelda franchise, they will often follow a certain formula where the character you play as, Link, is tasked with the goal of defeating Ganon and saving Zelda. Though in the case of Majora’s Mask, a direct sequel to Ocarina of Time, Ganon and Zelda do not play a major role in the game at all. It was a fresh breath of air in the franchise, but for many people the mechanics, story, and progression system were too much to handle. But there's more to the surface than meets the eye, and beneath the mask, hides an emotionally mature story that holds its own right to be called a masterpiece.

I wanted to take some time today to unmask the underlying themes of Majora’s Mask that broke the status quo and in its own unique way, present the story we all know and love. Picking off where the events of the Ocarina of Time left off, Majora’s Mask takes a different approach to the classic progression-based system of most Zelda games.

After the events of Ocarina of Time, Link sets off to find his fairy companion Navi and is subsequently robbed by Skull Kid wearing Majora’s Mask taking Epona and his Ocarina of Time. As he chases Skull Kid he is transformed into a weaker being: a Deku Scrub. He later meets the Happy Mask Salesman and gets the task of retrieving Majora’s Mask and the Ocarina of Time so he can return to normal. Link finds himself in the parallel world of Hyrule called Termina where players are greeted with a 3-day cycle locked in the confines of Clock Town.

The story is now more or less familiar as we see our hero once again, try to save the world. Originally your objectives were quite simple, to get Epona and Ocarina, and get back to finding Navi. However, as you are forced to learn the mechanics of the game and to learn more about the Townsfolk you eventually understand their fear and sorrow of the impending doom. You start to care, you want them to live on, you want them to see their loved ones, and you want them to realize peace. As you forge relationships with the residents of Clock Town, the looming moon, with its grotesque grin, is a constant reminder of impending catastrophe inching ever closer to the end of Termina and the lives of all who live there.

With these two forces, your growing affection for the Townsfolk and the impending doom of the apocalyptic moon, merge together to infuse Link and ourselves with an aligned purpose to save the world of Termina but more importantly, achieve a sense of peace for the people. That is where the true story lies within Majora's Mask, we are not saving a princess or defeating a villain, but instead helping the inhabitants of Termina face their own struggles. The rich cast of characters each with their own personalities, stories, hopes and dreams connect us with an element of empathy that is a stark difference from the typical narrative.

Majora’s Mask represents much more than your typical Legend of Zelda game. It delves into the themes of identity and acceptance presenting a story that resonates on a profound level. As you unmask the underlying themes and dive into the intricate gameplay, every moment spent aiding the citizens of Termina, adds to the emotional weight challenging us to look past the surface as you discover there is much more to being a true hero.