Majora's Mask truly embodies the spirit of the Zelda series

So much has been said about Majora's Mask that it's easy to overlook what makes this game so great when it comes down to bare bones. One of this game's claims to fame is the "Ben Drowned" Creepypasta that plays off of the macabre and dark environment of the game. This game has such a large cult following (it's become even more apparent with the recent collector's editions of the game being sold out in 15 minutes or less) that the premise of the game almost gets drowned out (no puns intended) by all the hype. So, what is it about Majora's Mask that that makes it so popular?

Like Majora's Mask, the Wind Waker wasn't a fan favorite at first

If you think about it, Majora's Mask and The Wind Waker have a lot in common. They both were games that resulted in an upgrade in hardware (MM with the ExpansionPak and WW with the GameCube), and they both weren't well received by the Zelda fanbase at first. You can really tell that the developers were attempting to try something new with these titles. In Majora's Mask, they were able to add more detail and complexity to the overworld that was absent from Ocarina of Time. With Ocarina, the developers introduced the concept of the 3D Zelda game, but with Majora's Mask they perfected it. With The Wind Waker, I think the developers wanted to play with the idea of a more expressive Link and more dynamic overworld, hence the cell-shaded graphics. Both titles were hailed as being too different, and therefore fans steered away from them at first. However, they both eventually became huge hits and received/are receiving remakes. In my eyes, these games (Majora's Mask more specifically) embody the spirit of the series that was introduced in the original game.

The least popular Zelda titles are often the most different (excluding the original of course)

In the original Legend of Zelda game, there was very little direction, leaving the player to explore the world as they pleased. Granted, the Zelda games of today are way more linear than the original Legend of Zelda, but I think Majora's Mask is a more modern version of the original game without being being a direct sequel.
There are so many secrets to be discovered in Majora's Mask. The game itself is like one big puzzle, and it's up to the player to figure out where all the pieces go. That's much like how the original Legend of Zelda game is. In both games, the player acts as a detective trying to solve a mystery with very few clues along the way. Granted, many other Zelda games feature these elements, but in Majora's Mask and The Legend of Zelda, I feel like the exploration element is the most prominent.

There are 24 masks to collect in Majora's Mask, and 20 unique quests to get them

The developers of the upcoming Zelda game for Wii U claim that they're going back to basics. However, I think they already have in the form of Majora's Mask. The game is such a good example of what makes Zelda times great, both new and old. The time where that game was seen as taboo and too different is now gone. I think it's arguably one of the most popular Zelda games to date. Hopefully the upcoming remake will do it justice, but only time will tell. I'll be playing that game as soon as it comes out, so expect a post about by thoughts of the game! With this post thus ends my series of Majora's Mask posts.

If you're intertested in other things I've written about Majora's Mask, be sure to check out my top 5 hopes for Majora's Mask 3D, my theory about the story of Majora's Mask and what it means, the Majora's Mask easter egg in A Link Between Worlds, the classic dungeon theme easter egg in Majora's Mask and the Star Fox easter egg in Majora's Mask.

Daily Easter Egg #6: The Meaning of Ooccoo's Strange Name

Ooccoo and her nightmare fuel son, Ooccoo Jr. from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

This pair may look frightening, but they're actually super useful (but seriously, are those claw nipples?!). In Twilight Princess, they can be used to warp in and out of dungeons/temples, allowing the player to resume where they left off if they need to leave in order to buy yet another wooden shield after theirs got burnt in the Goron Mine for the 1000th time or to get whatever else they may need. Their strange names might make a little more sense after one learns that they're actually color values! It used to be thought that 00CC00 was the hexadecimal color value for Link's tunic in the original Legend of Zelda, but it turns out that 00CC00 is the color value for his tunic in Ocarina of Time's concept art. The latter makes more sense considering Twilight Princess is greatly influenced by Ocarina of Time.

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Daily Easter Egg #5: Pikachu Hates PlayStation!

Who knew that such a cute little creature could harbor so much console-related rage?

Hey You, Pikachu! is a game that was released on November 6, 2000 for the Nintendo 64 where the player gets to raise a wild Pikachu by talking it through various mini games and other tasks. Pikachu responds to your voice in various ways depending on what you say. If the player says the word "PlayStation" to Pikachu, it will get angry and do a thunderbolt attack! This is a reference to the fierce competition Nintendo had with Sony at the time, one of their greatest rivals. Sony is to Nintendo what Blue is to Red, one could say. 

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The Many Reasons Why I'll Always Be a Nintendo Fan

Nintendo was pretty much top dog (or should I say top Nintendog?) back when gaming was in its infancy, and their only real competition at the time was Sega. Nowadays, the market is more divided, and they’ve got the likes of Sony, Microsoft, and even the PC gaming market to worry about. The fanbases for each system are just as divided. When I tell people that I am a Nintendo fan, the reactions tend to be as random as the mini game selection in Mario Party. On one hand, there are people who grew up with it like I did, and they tend to agree with me. On the other hand, there are people who think Nintendo is for babies and gamers who like rehashes of the same games year after year. My brother is one of the latter, and he often asks why I remain a fan even though I’m not a kid anymore. Well, the answer to that question is both simple and complex—much like Nintendo games themselves.
Take Pokémon for example; it appeals to players both young and old, casual and hardcore alike. Games like these grow up with you because they remain relevant and playable no matter what age you are. When you were young, much akin to one Youngster Joey, romping through the tall grass in your super comfy shorts, you probably played through the main storyline of Pokémon, trained a decent team, and beat the Elite Four and that was it. The core gameplay of Pokémon is simple enough for younger players to enjoy. But when you go back and play Pokémon again as an adult (and you're more Cool Trainer than Youngster) you find that there's elements to the game that are geared towards more mature players.  EV training, IV breeding, competitive battling, and shiny hunting are more complex aspects Pokémon that are challenging enough to keep even the most hardcore Pokémon masters entertained.  The reason why Pokémon is loved by so many people is because it was designed with a large, multi-generational audience in mind—much like many other Nintendo games.

Pokémon appeals to all ages, no matter how weird your friends think you are for playing it.

I love how Nintendo games are often bigger than themselves and bridge the generational gap. It's a prime example of excellent game design when the game can remain relevant and enjoyable no matter what age you are. It becomes less about sales and doing what's mainstream and more about gameplay; that's how they stay afloat as a company and continue to have much success. In fact, Eiji Aonuma, producer of The Legend of Zelda series, says that he doesn't pay attention to sales when creating a new Zelda game; he'd rather focus on memorable gameplay. The same rings true for the design of many other Nintendo games too. Whether you're playing with puppies, saving Princess Peach for the 1000th time, giving a hand in the toilet some paper in exchange for a questionable heart piece, or saving the galaxy by committing mass genocide, you're having the time of your life doing it because it's a Nintendo game and that means awesome gameplay. Many people criticize the company saying that they don't invest enough in next gen graphics or more mature gameplay. However, Nintendo argues that the graphical styles and gameplay mechanics they choose set them apart from other companies, and I think that's true. Look at how people criticized The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker when it first came out for looking so childish. Now, 10 years after its release, even the normal, non HD version cell-shaded graphics for the Gamecube still look excellent. That was a smart move on the developers' part; not many games from 2003 look as good as The Wind Waker.  In terms of gameplay, Nintendo games usually aren't on the violent side, which is why some people say their games are for babies. I disagree—a game doesn't have to be violent to be fun. I've had more fun playing Animal Crossing than Grand Theft Auto. Many may criticize the Nintendo formula, but there's no doubt that it works. Part of the reason why it works so well is because of the amazing team of developers, directors, and presidents that Nintendo has.

Just a hand in the toilet, nothing to see here.

Seriously, who could not love the likes of Shigeru Miyamoto, Reggie Fils-Aime, Satoru Iwata, and Masahiro Sakurai (to name a few)? I love how involved these guys get with the fans. You can really tell that they love what they're doing, and how passionate they are about their work. They're also the kind of people who listen to what their fans want as well. Heck, it even says so on the Nintendo of America twitter page that they listen to the fans. Because these guys are so present in the public eye, it really makes you feel as if you're part of the Nintendo family and that you know these guys personally (or that you'd really like to)! I love how that because the higher ups at Nintendo are larger than life, it really gives the impression that they love the the games and the company as much as you do and that provides to the fans a real sense of involvement in the company itself. It's just nice to know that they care as much as the fans do. You get the whole experience with Nintendo, and there's nothing else like it in the world.

Shigeru Miyamoto, Satoru Iwata, Reggie Fils-Aime, and Masahiro Sakurai, everyone

To me, both Nintendo as a company and the games they produce are just so magical (although I don't know how it gets very much more magical than the picture above). Who could ever forget the first time they heard the iconic Mario Bros theme song, or when they received their very first Pokémon, or when they stepped foot into Hyrule for the first time? Nintendo games are all about the overall experience, and their games more often than not have a lasting impression on all who play them. Takashi Tezuka, one of the developers of the upcoming Wii U title, Yoshi's Wooly World, said something that really struck me. He said in a developer diary that he wanted to create a game that brings a smile to your face just by owning it. That to me is just so wholesome, and I don't think there are many other gaming companies who take as much pride in their games as Nintendo does. And the fans are the same way—we proudly stand by Mario, Yoshi, Samus, Link, and even Wario—and he smells like garlic and B.O. It's a great time to be a Nintendo fan right now, even though people have been quick to start predicting its demise (Amiibo Apocalypse anyone?). Fans stick by the company in the good times and the bad—just as they were there to cheer us up when we were down as kids and even as adults. No, Nintendo isn't going anywhere soon, and as they displayed at E3, effectively winning and stealing the show, they have a lot in store for the future. I guess maybe the biggest reason why I'll always be a Nintendo fan is because they're always moving forwards, never giving up, always innovating, and continuously proving people wrong.

Daily Easter Egg #2: Totaka's Song

This simple song can be found in many games that Kazumi Totaka composed music for

The first time I heard this little tune was in the original Animal Crossing. It appears as K.K. Song in every Animal Crossing title, and everyone's favorite musical doggie K.K. Slider (or Totakeke, his Japanese name) is named after Kazumi Totaka himself. As it turns out, this song doesn't only appear in Animal Crossing games, but in a slew of other titles as well. It can be heard in The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, Mario Paint, Luigi's Mansion, Super Smash Brothers Brawl, Pikmin 2, Yoshi's Story, and in many other games too. It is still being determined whether or not this song is in more recent titles Totaka has worked on. Usually the song is pretty well hidden within certain areas of the game and will only play after a certain amount of time has passed.

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