The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

About The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (N64)

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is an action-adventure game developed by Nintendo EAD and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It launched in Japan on April 27, 2000 and in North America on October 26, 2000, as a direct sequel to Ocarina of Time. Directed by Eiji Aonuma and produced by Shigeru Miyamoto, it reused Ocarina of Time’s engine and was finished in about a year.

Link arrives in Termina, a parallel world to Hyrule, after the Skull Kid steals his horse and the Ocarina of Time. Wearing the cursed Majora’s Mask, the Skull Kid has pulled the moon toward the town of Clock Town, and it will fall in three days. Link must use masks, time travel and the help of four giants to stop him.

Detailed Gameplay

Majora’s Mask plays like Ocarina of Time, but its three-day cycle changes everything: you repeat the same 72 hours, keeping key items and masks.

The three-day cycle and time travel

• The moon falls at the end of day three, so plan each cycle around dungeons and quests.
• Playing the Song of Time on the ocarina returns Link to the dawn of the first day.
• The Inverted Song of Time slows time to a crawl, giving you room to finish longer tasks.

Masks and transformations

• Link collects 24 masks, each with its own power, from people he helps.
• The Deku Mask turns Link into a Deku Scrub who can fly short distances and shoot bubbles.
• The Goron Mask turns him into a Goron who rolls at high speed and pounds the ground.

Dungeons, bosses and the four giants

• Four dungeons hold the four giants: Woodfall, Snowhead, Great Bay and Stone Tower.
• Each dungeon ends in a boss fight, from the masked warrior Odolwa to the aquatic Gyorg.
• Freeing a giant adds its strength to the final confrontation with Majora’s Mask itself.

Side quests and the Bomber’s Notebook

• The Bomber’s Notebook tracks the schedules of Termina’s residents and the quests they offer.
• Helping the postman, the lovers Anju and Kafei and many others earns masks and heart pieces.
• The Anju and Kafei quest, spread across all three days, is one of the most praised stories in the series.

Game Highlights

• A living three-day world: Every character follows a daily routine, so revisiting places reveals new scenes.
• Transformation masks: Playing as a Deku, Goron and Zora changes movement, combat and puzzles.
• A darker, stranger Zelda: Termina’s doomed mood and tragic side stories set it apart from the series.
• The Fierce Deity Mask: Earn every mask to unleash Link’s powerful adult form against Majora.

Controls

On the Nintendo 64 controller, the Analog Stick does most of the work. - Analog Stick: Move Link, aim the bow and steer while swimming or rolling. - A Button: Perform context actions, talk, roll, swim and interact with objects. - B Button: Swing the sword and use the currently assigned item. - C Buttons: Use assigned items, play ocarina songs and switch to first-person view. - Z Button: Target enemies and characters, and crouch when standing still. - L and R Buttons: Use the shield and strafe around a locked target. - D-Pad: Navigate menus and select options in most screens. - Start Button: Pause the game and open the inventory and mask menus.

Tips and Strategies to Win

Mastering Termina is about planning your time, not rushing through dungeons. - Slow time with the Inverted Song of Time before starting a dungeon, so you are not forced out mid-boss. - Deposit rupees in the Clock Town bank before resetting, since banked money survives. - Talk to everyone and note their schedules, because most masks come from side quests, not main dungeons. - Save at owl statues before tough sections, and use the Song of Soaring to fast-travel between them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What makes Majora’s Mask different from Ocarina of Time? A: It uses a repeating three-day cycle in Termina, with transformation masks, living NPC schedules and a darker story about stopping the falling moon.

Q: How many masks are there in Majora’s Mask? A: There are 24 masks, including three transformation masks and the Fierce Deity Mask, earned by collecting the rest and giving them to the Moon Children.

Q: Can I play The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask online for free? A: Yes, you can play The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask online for free in your browser here, with no download or installation needed.