A Majora's Mask for Art's Sake

[DvSag]

As a fan of the Zelda series, it's hard not to notice the small things, and it's especially hard as a fanboy to not make some connections between games.

For instance: Have you ever noticed how much the style of Majora's Mask tries to emulate that of Wind Waker?

If you ask me, I'd much rather see a re-make of MM in WW style cel-shading than a straight up port onto the VC. And if you're still asking me, I don't think it would be all that difficult to make the transition.

Now, before you start taking a whack at me, take a look at some of these images and art from MM, and keep WW in your mind:

http://www.zeldawiki.org/images/8/81/Deku_Royal.png
It wouldn't be so hard to imagine these characters in cel-shading...

http://www.zeldawiki.org/images/4/47/Moon.png
Why such an animated face on the moon? Would a crashing moon not be menacing enough on its own?

http://www.zeldawiki.org/images/8/8f/Blacksmiths.gif
This Master-Blaster team of Zubora and Gabora, though dark in appearance, have such light-spirited and cartoony dialogue. Cel-shading wouldn't ruffle any feathers here.

http://www.zeldawiki.org/images/6/69/Zora_Mask_transformation.jpg
The transformations in an updated, cel-shaded MM would be even more of a sight to behold!

Also, take notice of the more awkward statures of these characters:
Goron Elder (http://www.zeldawiki.org/images/b/bf/Goron-elder.jpg)
Four Giants (http://www.zeldawiki.org/images/3/30/Four_Giants.jpg)
The Indigo-Gos (http://www.zeldawiki.org/images/0/03/IndigoGos.jpg)
Deku Link (http://www.zeldawiki.org/images/4/4f/Deku_Link.png)
Is it not possible that some of these characters were made with a basis for humorous animations?

I'd also like to point out how short the period of time between MM and WW actually is. The two games released in under two years difference. The two games must have been in development simultaneously. And if they were, don't you think that some ideas on both games' artistic styles may have splashed and seeped into each other?

MM on VC?
Yes please!

MM remake in WW style cel-shaded graphics instead?
*slips into diabetic shock just realizing how sweet of an idea that is*

[Zeanith]

I totally wish this would happen. In fact, I just may fly to Kyoto and beg Iwata myself.

My favorite game, and my favorite style put together? Oh my. 'Tis HEAVEN.

[Ver-go-a-go-go]

I'm not trying to bash you or anything, but this would be a real waste of time for Nintendo. Releasing MM for VC would be so much easier, and the fans are already begging for it. Plus, I think the cel-shading should remain exclusive to WW for now.

[Skull_Kid]

The Cel shading would totally ruin Majora's Mask... If they are gonna remake something, it's gonna be ALttP, as Aonouma said on an interview...

Majora's Mask is perfetc the way it is, period

[DvSag]

No way would cel-shading ruin MM. Most of the characters, and plenty of the architecture already have a warped-cartoony look to them. The transition wouldn't be hard at all.

And Aonuma didn't say he was going to remake ALttP in 3D, he just said it was an interesting idea and he might. But I see that move as being far too risky. Remaking ALttP could severly alienate many fans who are already wavering since Zelda's past few routes. WW was cel-shaded, which made the older fans uncomfortable; and TP is considered a cake-walk, by no means a hardcore game. How do you think these people would feel if one of the greatest Zelda games of all time was remade into a different format, and wasn't nearly as good as its predecessor?

At least with this idea they can keep the same physics and gameplay, all while giving it a fresh new look for the current gen.

[Ver-go-a-go-go]

No way would cel-shading ruin MM. Most of the characters, and plenty of the architecture already have a warped-cartoony look to them. The transition wouldn't be hard at all.

And Aonuma didn't say he was going to remake ALttP in 3D, he just said it was an interesting idea and he might. But I see that move as being far too risky. Remaking ALttP could severly alienate many fans who are already wavering since Zelda's past few routes. WW was cel-shaded, which made the older fans uncomfortable; and TP is considered a cake-walk, by no means a hardcore game. How do you think these people would feel if one of the greatest Zelda games of all time was remade into a different format, and wasn't nearly as good as its predecessor?

At least with this idea they can keep the same physics and gameplay, all while giving it a fresh new look for the current gen.

So you're saying OoT would be "excellent" with cel-shading too? I'm sure doing it to MM would tick off a lot more people than it would please. And the "hardcore" argument against TP is non-existent. That's purely your opinion, and quite a few people don't share it.

[Axle the Beast]

I agree with you that it would work as a "toon" style game. I also agree with you that it is very likely that their styles seeped into each other.

However, I'd rather not see them mess with Majora's Mask. It's really close to my heart, and while I'm sure they could do it well, I don't think the WW style is the best for MM. It could work, but I don't think it's the best for it.

I'd rather see them make something new anyway.

[Chris]

MM is original because of the way it is done, making it with the same graphics as WW would be so messed. I am not sure what cel-shading is, but I am hoping someone will tell me. I also don't know what VC is, sorry for my stupidity. If you can tell me, I can make this post alot better.

[DvSag]

So you're saying OoT would be "excellent" with cel-shading too? I'm sure doing it to MM would tick off a lot more people than it would please.
Oh, absolutely not. It wouldn't make any sense to cel-shade OoT at all. I can't think of any more than a handful of cartoony moments or characters. That game is meant to be taken with as much seriousness as you can with a video game of that rating. The events and tone of the entire Adult portion of the game would never work in a light tone. I picked MM for a reason, not just because I thought it would be cool.

And Chris:
Cel-shaded graphics are the same as in Wind Waker
VC is an abbreviation for the Wii's Virtual Console

[ChargewithSword]

MM has moments that would never work with cel shading. But then again, if they laid off on making huge eyes and used only dark colors, it would work. I don't want anything as bright as WW tainting my MM. MM is a gritty game that's comedy grind to halts after the Deku Palace.

All in all the eyes, the shapes of the heads, and the color are what would make or break the style.

[El Bagu]

Majora´s Mask is a game that is interesting enough for me to make me want to see it in a different style. Since I do not like the TP graphics I guess cel shading would have to be the way (unless the come up with some new kind of look). I would defenetly buy it and from the moment they annonced it I would look forward to it with much joy and happiness.

What I would love even more is a 2D version of the game ;)

[Vincent]

I don't know about that. I'm guessing you don't sense the dark feeling shrouding this game. It would be better suited for TP style graphics, but not as bright. Perhaps they could do it as one of their New Play Styles games. I doubt that would happen though.

[Josh]

I'd like to see at least one more game in the future have cel-shaded graphics. Majora's Mask I'm uncertain about. I think it's the darkest really Zelda game in the series, and changing the graphics I think would make it look too happy, which it's clearly not. But I wouldn't mind. I'm not one who wants it on the VC, I don't have any crap to lose.

[DvSag]

I'd like to see at least one more game in the future have cel-shaded graphics. Majora's Mask I'm uncertain about. I think it's the darkest really Zelda game in the series, and changing the graphics I think would make it look too happy, which it's clearly not. But I wouldn't mind. I'm not one who wants it on the VC, I don't have any crap to lose.
See, I feel this is an overlooked misconception.
Remember how many dark moments WW had? And it had cel-shaded graphics.

- The destruction of Greatfish Isle.
- Any scene where Ganondorf is involved. He emitted a serious tone throughout the entire game.

(I'll finish this post later. I'm heading out now. Sorry!)

[Josh]

Yeah Wind Waker had it's dark moments but virtually every Zelda Game had it's dark moments. But I didn't really find the "dark" moments in Wind Waker that dark, because they were in the cartoony graphics. Sure the end King scene was a little bit further, but I think it still would have been even more dramatic in realistic graphics.

[DvSag]

Yeah Wind Waker had it's dark moments but virtually every Zelda Game had it's dark moments. But I didn't really find the "dark" moments in Wind Waker that dark, because they were in the cartoony graphics. Sure the end King scene was a little bit further, but I think it still would have been even more dramatic in realistic graphics.
I don't know if I can agree with you there. It is a matter of personal preference, but I don't think having WW in a more realistic art style would have made anything more dramatic than how it is now. You really get more of a shock just about every time you realize "Whoa! They put something like this in a cartoony game?" and then nod your head with satisfying approval at the masterpiece before you.

[ChargewithSword]

I don't know if I can agree with you there. It is a matter of personal preference, but I don't think having WW in a more realistic art style would have made anything more dramatic than how it is now. You really get more of a shock just about every time you realize "Whoa! They put something like this in a cartoony game?" and then nod your head with satisfying approval at the masterpiece before you.

The thing that made that moment so dark was not the cartoony graphics. It was the color palette. Zelda and the King mostly had the camera on them and they looked very serious. They have smaller eyes compared to many of the other characters.
Ganondorf had a wicked design in the first place. The thing is that if that final battle was done with the normal colors of WW (the colors during Ganondorf's speech) it would have been awkward.

[Ver-go-a-go-go]

"Whoa! They put something like this in a cartoony game?" and then nod your head with satisfying approval at the masterpiece before you.

No, actually I laughed when they tried to that. I've said before in other posts in other threads that I never had anything against WW graphics, but I just couldn't take anything serious in that game. It was more of "funny" game for me instead of the usual Zelda title.

[DvSag]

Ok, WW definitely had funny moments, but it wasn't a "funny game".

Majora's Mask had PLENTY of funny and quirky moments.

[Ver-go-a-go-go]

Ok, WW definitely had funny moments, but it wasn't a "funny game".

Majora's Mask had PLENTY of funny and quirky moments.

Well, I just meant that the "serious" moments didn't seem so serious to me. It was actually kind of funny to see them trying to make serious moments with those kind of graphics. But, that's just my opinion, and I'm sure many others disagree.

[Kybyrian]

I can imagine the images you posted being transitioned to The Wind Waker's graphics very easily. I never noticed how easy it was to picture them like that. Like Josh said maybe it would take a bit of the gloom away, possibly?

[DvSag]

Well, I just meant that the "serious" moments didn't seem so serious to me. It was actually kind of funny to see them trying to make serious moments with those kind of graphics. But, that's just my opinion, and I'm sure many others disagree.
And as an American in the free world, you are entitled to that opinion.
:wave: Good for you! lol

I can imagine the images you posted being transitioned to The Wind Waker's graphics very easily. I never noticed how easy it was to picture them like that. Like Josh said maybe it would take a bit of the gloom away, possibly?
Maybe a bit, but definitely not as much as some people here think it would.
MM wasn't a very drab game, visually. There were bright and lively colors aplenty on cities worth of trippy architecture and absolutely silly looking characters. However, it wouldn't be difficult or a terrible idea to give the WW graphics a grittier, dirtier pallet to work with; either way would work just fine, methinx.

[Bluelink6]

I think this game would have looked very good in wind waker style. I can just see toon Deku Link in toon- And anyway, teh way he looks, he's practically made for being toon. I would have liked this game in toon.

[Vincent]

I made an image of what Deku Link would look like, with TWW style graphics.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm243/Swiftblade_of_Cyrodiil/tww-deku-link-1.png

Is this what you want?
(Here's the original for comparison (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a273/pocket_igloo/legend%20of%20zelda/dekulink2.jpg).)

[DvSag]

Wow. You have blown me away with your madcrazywicked art skillz. Very well done.

Yea, an ingame model would probably look something very close to that.

Really, I can't stop swooning over your picture. Lol.

[herooftimewarp]

majora's mask would be awesome in tp graphics in my opinion.....well i am a little picky on graphics so when i played oot it was a little too bulky for me but i got used to it....cel-shaded graphics...not so much..and i would like to play tp in cel-shaded graphics and oot in tp graphics as well