Majora's Mask is a cult favorite among the Zelda faithful, appealing to a smaller section of the fanbase with its dark tone and unique time-travelling mechanic. The new, revamped 3DS version seems to be upgrading quite a few aspects of the game, bringing more modern visuals and features to the title originally released in 2000. The first reviews are in--here's what critics who played the game early had to say.
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Polygon, 9/10: Even with the safety net of a revised save system, Majora's Mask still feels like the franchise's uncharacteristically dark and dangerous off-shoot. The game wasn't just ahead of its time when it first launched 15 years ago; it's still ahead of its time today. This remake carries a level of polish and consideration that Nintendo excels at, but it's the old stuff - the three-day structure, the inescapable gloom, the non-linearity - that remains its most exciting feature.
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"The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D is the best version of a game that's still unlike any other game ever made. And that makes this remake something very few remakes are: Unconditionally fresh."
IGN, 8.7/10: "The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D proves that interesting game design and strong world-building never get old. Even 15 years later, it still delivers charming characters, tense resource management, and a world rife with personality. Despite some cumbersome menus and a single drag of a dungeon, Majora's Mask is a great adventure that (repeatedly) stands the test of time."
Gamespot, 9/10: "The overall package for Majora's Mask 3D preserves all the weird delight of the original game while lowering the barrier of entry for new players. There's still a lot that's challenging about the puzzles and fights, but a few minor tweaks make your hard-won heart containers and masks feel that much more satisfying. The changes to how you can control and manage time mean the otherwise dense Majora's Mask is comfortable for shorter play sessions, making it a great fit for the handheld. It's evident that Nintendo put a lot of thought into updating this classic, which takes the game beyond a simple remake to become a new-old classic.
GamesRadar, 4.5/5: "Majora's Mask is still as much of a joy to experience as it was a decade and a half ago. Play it for the fancy graphics, the lighting, and the added portability if you want, but just make sure you play it. At first glance a sort-of sequel to Ocarina of Time that's long been seen as the quirky younger sibling that's not to everyone's taste, Majora's Mask blossoms into a sweet, scary, timeless tale that's a showcase of Nintendo's brand of creative genius at its most unconstrained. It might only be a remake - but it's only a remake of one of the most interesting, experimental games of its time."