Why Majora’s Mask Has the Best Opening of Any 3D Zelda

The Zelda series, particularly the 3D games, is generally the subject of almost unanimous critical acclaim. Even after over two-and-a-half decades, new additions to the series still receive perfect scores from prominent video game publications. That’s not to say the games go without scrutiny, however. Zelda hasn’t quite mastered every key ingredient to a great game, and one such chink in the armor is the opening portions of the 3D games. Unlike their 2D counterparts, the 3D Zelda games produce a lot of mixed reactions with their introductory moments.

These mixed reactions seem to stem from the starkly different approaches that 3D and 2D Zeldas take with their openings. 3D Zeldas tend to start at a crawl with sometimes long-winded intros that focus more on characters, story, and tedious tutorials rather than hurriedly sending players off to their new adventures like a stressed parent eager to get the kids out of the house. Whereas a 2D Zelda game has you rescuing Zelda with your dead uncle’s sword in under an hour, a 3D one will have you asking yourself why you must lure a cat home and herd goats before you’re set loose in Hyrule Field. In a franchise that values gameplay over story, tiresome opening sequences that try a little too hard to stage the plot seem counterproductive. But not every 3D Zelda game’s opening is a snooze-fest. I’m here to make the case for Majora’s Mask and why its introduction stands as a great example of how future 3D Zeldas should incorporate both story and new gameplay elements to help make a better first impression on players. Take the jump for details on why Majora’s Mask excelled where many other 3D Zeldas were lacking!

Majora’s Mask kicked off with a rare success for 3D Zelda games: the story actually worked well in tandem with the gameplay. At the time of Majora’s Mask‘s release, it must have been exciting for fans to play a direct sequel that picked up right where Ocarina of Time left off. Not only was there a familiar incarnation of Link, but he still carried the Ocarina of Time and rode Epona, both of which were stolen by Skull Kid at the start of the game. Knowledge of how valuable a friend and asset Epona is to Link, and that the Ocarina of Time could be very dangerous in the wrong hands, created an immediate sense of urgency that wasn’t present at the outset of any other 3D Zelda.

Majora’s Mask was also very self-conscious. While most 3D Zeldas weighed themselves down with bothersome tutorials, Majora’s Mask, for the most part, cut right to the chase. Literally. As soon as Skull Kid made off with Epona and the Ocarina of Time, players were given control of Link so as to pursue the thieving imp. For once the developers actually paid mind to the fact that most players probably already played past games in the series. Instead of teaching players how to move and swing Link’s sword, the game provided them with everything necessary to learn the basics if they didn’t already know: space in which to move freely, shrubs to slash with your sword, and ledges to jump between. It was a subtler approach that had more in common with 2D Zelda games such as A Link to the Past than other 3D Zeldas.

Majora’s Mask further distinguished itself when Link was transformed into a Deku Scrub by Skull Kid. Transformation Masks were one of Majora’s Mask‘s chief deviations from the rest of the series, and introducing the first of them right out of the gate was a smart move on Nintendo’s part. Significantly altering the gameplay right after giving players a small taste of the traditional 3D Zelda control scheme helped to keep things more engaging. There was a small sort of tutorial area that helped players to learn Deku Scrub Link’s abilities, but it wasn’t at all intrusive on the game’s natural pacing. Instead of pulling players off to the side to learn through some kind of menial task, the game allowed them to get the feel for the new controls and mechanics while still hot on Skull Kid’s trail. That tutorial was actually enjoyable because it was necessary to the rising action of the story.

Majora’s Mask was developed in a relatively short amount of time for a 3D Zelda game. Perhaps this was a blessing in disguise, as the developers may have been forced to compress the usual tutorial-heavy opening into a neat little package due to time constraints. Whatever the case, I hope Nintendo hasn’t forgotten what Majora’s Mask did right. I’m not particularly looking forward to learning that the B button swings Link’s sword again.

So, how do you feel about the varied success of 3D Zelda games’ openings? Is Majora’s Mask really as great at making a good first impression as I claim? I can’t know what you think unless you comment!