Why The Zelda 3DS Announcement is Good for Majora’s Mask 3D

It’s been an interesting day today, as arguably the biggest news day so far this year at Zelda Informer has happened. Nintendo announced an all new Zelda 3DS title, one that they are aptly referencing as A Link to the Past 2 in Japan, though that name is far from final (The logo is just The Legend of Zelda). Normally an event announcing a new Zelda title would be met with much fanfare, and surely there will be plenty of that ahead.

However, hopes were raised among the people clamoring for Majora’s Mask 3D to get unveiled when a certain retailer listed Majora’s Mask 3D on their site. Obviously, this didn’t guarantee anything, and surely we are a bit at fault for even making a feint connection at the possibility, but as I noted in the Q and A yesterday, I really didn’t think we would see it announced today.

Fast forward to today, and some people were naturally let down by the announcement of this title. It seems to stem from the fact it’s not a full console 3D experience, the fact it may seem a bit like retreading old ground, and simply the fact it’s not Majora’s Mask 3D. Except, this announcement actually sped up any chance of seeing Majora’s Mask 3D in the next two years.

Eiji Aonuma, in an interview in 2011, said this about Majora’s Mask 3D:

“It’s something I’m asked about often and I assure you that it is something I’ve spoken to Miyamoto about. But recently we released The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D as a remake. We are considering the idea, but it didn’t seem right to launch a remake one after another, so the next Zelda game on 3DS will be original.”

So, the wheels were turning to make it happen, but they didn’t feel it was right to release it until a new 3DS Zelda game existed. As you can see, if you use their own logic, that means that finally getting a Zelda 3DS announcement can only mean the next Zelda title we see for the 3DS will indeed likely be a remake. That remake will either be Majora’s Mask 3D or A Link to the Past.

However, the details surfacing in how this new 3DS Zelda is an all new adventure that takes place in the world of A Link to the Past actually suggests something pretty interesting: It is possible we get A Link to the Past remade and packaged in with this game as a “second quest”, or additional menu option to play. That means, in all likelyhood, A Link to the Past 3D will have already existed when this game gets launched. Grant it, that is a total shot in the dark, but it does indeed make some sense.

That means, next year, we could indeed see a Majora’s Mask 3D release. Why? It’s almost certain Zelda U will not be ready next year. 3DS Zelda is arriving this year. What better way to fill in a year gap in potential releases than giving fans the game they want? It’s bound to happen, and this Zelda 3DS announcement simply gave us a much better timetable for expectations.

So sure, many a Majora’s Mask fan probably want this game sooner than later. Some may even want it more than the all new Zelda game just announced. But, if we just base it off what we do know about the game from Nintendo’s own mouth, this announcement just gave us an idea of when we can expect to hear about Majora’s Mask 3D. So sure, be upset at Nintendo for not giving you something right now they already previously said you wouldn’t get until this game happened. But don’t ignore the fact they are doing things, so far, exactly as they said they would.

Up next on the 3DS? Majora’s Mask. After that? The world.