Nintendo captured lightning in a bottle with ocarina of time. But for its sequel, they
wanted to diverge into its own adventure and style. Culminating in one of the darkest and
mysterious titles in the franchise. With an entirely new antagonist, a deep and rich backstory,
and new mechanics that took exploration, combat, and puzzle solving to the next level.
This.
Is the Legend of Zelda, majora’s mask iceberg.
Ben Drowned
This was a creepy pasta slash Alternate reality game. The story begins with a young man receiving
a cartridge of majora’s mask that is haunted by a ghost. The ghost eventually starts communicating
with the man through his dreams. An elaborate backstory develops as one of the most beloved
and notorious ARG’s to exist.
Star Fox Reference
When the second row of masks have been acquired by the player, you can examine it to potentially
catch a star fox 64 reference. The keaton mask resembles Fox or his father, james. The
bremen mask resembles a bird, which is an allusion to falco. The bunny hood resembles
Peppy Hare. Don Gero’s mask closely resembles slippy. And the mask of scents resembles Pigma,
a former member of the star fox team.
Thwarting The Abduction
Majora’s mask has many mysteries. Perhaps the biggest of them all is the existence of
what appears to be aliens. Though all references to them are referred to as, ghosts, or more
simply, them. The young character Romani is said to be the only one aware of their existence.
You can play a mini game whereby link defends romani ranch from these invaders. If the player
fails this event, they will abduct the cows as well as romani herself. The next day, Romani
will have returned to the ranch. However, she’s much different than the previous day.
She hardly speaks and seems to have no memory of the event. She even seems to appear frustrated
or in pain. Some going so far as to suggest she’s been lobotomized. Many have speculated
that these beings were somehow linked to the gorman, who are clearly malicious towards
the romani ranch. However, the director of the game has remarked on these creature’s
existence in a 2015 interview. He states, “The reason we used this at the time was
because japan was experiencing something of a UFO boom. And it even went so far as for
shows on TV to cover it.” He goes on to say, “the idea of UFO’s abducting people
led to this whole idea of Earth being invaded by aliens becoming rather popular. I thought
it would be really interesting and scary to use in a project. That’s how we decided
to go with that.” Regardless of its implementation, its theorized that the creatures are based
off of the flatwoods monster, a real world documented UFO case, who closely resembles
the creatures. You can also see various pieces of art throughout the ranch that display UFO’s.
The Hand
Another of the game’s most mysterious instances is the long arm and hand that can be found
inside a toilet. The player can provide it with a piece of paper. In exchange, the hand
gives link a piece of heart that was once dropped into the toilet. There is not much
context given outside of this single event. However, several creatures within the zelda
games appear somewhat similar in nature. The dexihand and the floor master enemies both
appear as arms with a hand. And the wallmaster even appears as an individual hand. Players
have theorized about some connection between these beings. But shiggearu miyamoto has stated
that the creature known only as three question marks, is a reference to a ghost story where
a hand emerges from a toilet, and grabs the person sitting on it.
Trading Post Man
This character has two different roles within the game. By day, he is the salesman of the
trading post. He has a friendly demeanor and runs a respectable straightforward business.
However at certain points throughout the day, he no longer works at this location. He disguises
himself with an altered demeanor, running a shady pawn shop that sells stolen goods.
Most of the townsfolk seem oblivious to this act, minus a few characters who are in cohorts
with the man.
Murdering Sakon
At one point throughout the kafei and anju quest, a character named sakon will steal
a bomb bag from the store owner’s old mother. If the player shoots the bag with an arrow,
it explodes. This causes the quest to fail, forcing you to repeat that part of the quest
again. Perhaps what’s most interesting, is that in the process of doing this, you
actually eradicate sakon completely.
Alcoholic Milk
In the land of Termina, milk is actually said to be alcoholic. That is why there is a milk
bar that does not serve children. Gorman is also portrayed as an alcoholic throughout
the game. Cremia even lets her little sister celebrate their final day in style before
the moon crashes. She gives romani her own mask, and finally lets her get hammered on
some of that dairy hooch.
Unused Assets
Like many other games, Majora’s mask has an accessible debug menu that allows the player
to access various content. One of the only known methods of reaching the debug menu is
by playing the song of soaring over 2000 times.
Ocarina of Time served as the framework for majora’s mask development. They were given
a shorter amount of time to develop the game, as well as a requirement to reuse assets.
Because of this, several elements of O o t can be found through the debug menu, despite
it being an unused asset. The game includes quite a few unused songs, playback data, and
even instrument sounds that were only used in ocarina of time. These songs can be accessed
via game shark codes. The sun’s song will accelerate the flow of time for the next 12
hours. While Saria’s song simply plays the music and has no other effect.
You can also find several items, even some that can be stored within bottles. Not surprisingly,
they don’t serve much of a purpose.
There are also unused assets existing as a set of cutscenes. It’s supposed to show
the fairy helping link to pose properly. She also has him practice his spin attack. Her
holding him in place is the tutorial for the spin attack. And she won’t let him go until
he properly performs the move.
Another removed cutscene shows link going through some additional physical training,
this was done to earn an enhanced defense. And perhaps what’s most interesting about
these cutscenes was the fact that they end inside the fierce deity form. Some theorize
that the mask may have originally served a larger role within the game. Others think
that this may not have even taken place in physical form, instead existing as a psychological
experience through which Link improves through his journey.
Link Stole the Kokiri Sword
In ocarina of time, we see that link is only supposed to be borrowing the kokiri sword.
However, he starts out majora’s mask with it. What’s even more interesting is that
the sword has received slight modifications. It has a yellow handle and a different blade.
This suggests that he’s already reforged the kokiri sword. It also may imply that he
has no intention of returning the sword. Although he may be physically unable to return it.
Grey NFR Demo Cartridge
Many games will have separate demo versions of the game. Oftentimes they will feature
different, or limited segments of the game. Both ocarina of time, and majora’s mask,
have gold and grey demo cartridges, entitled not for resale. The grey NFR cartridge is
the rarest and most expensive of them all. It’s the earliest known version of the American
version of the game, thus it shares a lot of similarities with the japanese version.
The game starts with a selection screen, where you choose from 8 areas to spawn. You’re
granted limited items with nearly all masks, and all songs. There’s also a number of
translation differences contained throughout.
One of the most notable differences is that cremia mentions madame Aroma is her aunt.
If this were the case, it would make her cousins with her crush, kafei. The final release only
referred to her as some middle-aged woman instead.
Death Metaphors
This is a commonly theorized metaphor for Majora’s mask that suggests the five stages
of grief can be seen throughout. These are the phases that people go through when they
lose something, or someone, of importance. Link is said to be going through these stages
as he lost someone. Some think its his friend, Navi, while others think it’s more esoteric,
and he’s grieving over his own death.
The clock tower is said to represent denial. The deku palace is considered the anger phase.
Snowhead would be considered Bargaining. The great bay is theorized to represent depression.
The final stage of acceptance is torn between several options. One is the ikana valley,
another is defeating the mask itself, and another theory is that it's the fierce deity
mask. Some even theorize that these are all just feelings that are being felt while Link
is slowly dying after falling at the beginning of the game.
The Moon Always Had a Face
Many of the NPC’s have dialogue that comments about the moon. However, they don’t make
comments about the existence of a face on the moon. Instead they just seem to remark
about the strangeness of the expression of the face. This implies that there has always
been a face on the moon, even before the events of the game.
Zelda guyden
The nintendo 64 once had an additional peripheral component that allowed players to use proprietary
discs. This device was called the 64 disc drive, or 64 D D.
There were two planned zelda titles for this device. The first was an add-on for ocarina
of time, called Ura zelda, which translates to other zelda. Another was titled zelda guyden,
which translated to zelda side-story. The former was cancelled, while guyden's development
continued. However, the team decided that the game too closely resembled ocarina of
time. They asked Miyamoto to create a different game entirely. He agreed, but challenged the
team to create the game in a single year. The game’s name was changed to majora’s
mask and released later.
Not surprisingly, a large number of changes were made throughout the development of the
game. We have very little information about the title. Some things we do know... like
a fishing minigame called jabu jabu fishing. Which was even commented on by miyamoto, saying
that if you managed to catch jabu jabu, it may even prevent the moon from falling. Another
interesting feature Miyamoto spoke of, was a merchant that sold additional time added
to the in-game clock for rupees. There were a number of items removed from the beta as
well. Each of the instruments for link’s transformations originally had their own items.
There was also an adult link mask. The goron used a hammer as an attack instead of a punch.
There were several other items that were removed, however most of them are a mystery.
Majora’s Cult
This is in reference to the carvings and objects found in twinmold’s lair and stone tower.
They seem to depict majora’s mask. People have theorized that these are places of worship,
where the mask was utilized.
THe Moon Isn’t Evil
This theory suggests that the moon is being held captive by the skull kid. While the face
it makes could be perceived as menacing, it could also be seen as in anguish or torture.
The moon also drops items known as the moon’s tears. Why would the moon be crying?
Happy Mask Salesman’s Identity
This character is an elusive individual with not much backstory provided. His first appearance
is in ocarina of time, though not to the same level as majora’s mask. Some think he appears
to be sinister in nature. Obviously he has some more elaborate and frustrated animations.
But even his smile can appear menacing. He also seems to be more knowledgeable than just
about any other character link comes across. He seems to be the only one to possess and
share knowledge of majora’s mask. He’s aware of the 3 day time loop. He also seems
to be aware of link’s previous accomplishments, and where he originally comes from. And most
notably of all is his knowledge of the song of healing, which seems to convert troubled
or damaged souls into wearable masks. The salesman also seems to possess some notable
abilities like gliding and vanishing entirely. He was also able to follow link for some unknown
amount of time, without alerting the player of his existence.
There exist a number of different theories for the identity of this character. Some think
he’s exactly as he appears, a random mask salesman. However, some think that he’s
much more significant. Some theorize that he’s actually a god of some kind, with an
ability to convert beings into masks, while at the same time putting the soul to rest.
Some suggest that he was never alive throughout the entire game, existing only as a ghost
or some spirit. Others think that it’s a physical embodiment of the 4 giants, as they
were also knowledgeable of the song of healing. An interesting note is that all of the children
in the moon have the same hairstyle as the happy mask salesman. Some think that he’s
link’s counterpart, especially with how many times he helped him through the game.
He frees link from his curse, teaches him the song of healing, and it’s implied that
he is the one to reset the cycle, if link fails to play the song of time before the
moon falls. Or is the opposite true? Perhaps the salesman is the hidden antagonist of the
game, with intentions of destroying the world. Is it possible that the salesman is even Majora
himself?
Intense Psychological Trauma
Each time link wears a new transformation mask, you see him screaming in what appears
to be absolute agony. The reason for this is because he is overwhelmed by experiencing
the mask bearer’s entire lifetime of emotions all at once. By the end of the game, especially
if you’ve worn the fierce deity mask, your character will have experienced several lifetimes
worth of psychological trauma and emotional overload.
Majora the Dragon
According to a mahnga side story of the game, majora was said to originally be a giant dragon
like creature. His responsibility was to guard an empty and timeless land, that existed as
neither living, nor dead. The creature’s armor was said to be capable of granting wishes
and granting great power unto its owner. Beings of all kinds sought the armor, but majora
the dragon devoured them all. Until one day, an adult appearing similar to link approaches
majora, but instead of seeking his armor, he only sought communication. After several
days pass, events occur where the dragon perishes, leaving behind his armor. In attempts to seal
the power away, the man carved a mask from the armor that was left behind.
The Twyleye and the Mask
We learn through the happy mask salesman that majora’s mask was once used as an ancient
artifact. It was used in dark magical rituals for a time, before it was sealed in shadow.
Some fans have speculated that the interlopers, who are also known as the Twyleye, are the
ancient race that used the mask in their rituals. These beings are from twilight princess and
already own a powerful artifact mask, known as the fused shadow. Many think that their
mask was created as their own version of majora’s mask. The fused shadow also appears to possess
an eye that some argue is similar to the eyes of majora’s mask. Some go so far as to suggest
that they created majora’s mask as well.
Rivalry of the Gods
This is in reference to a theory about the builders of the stone tower. It’s said that
they didn’t worship the goddesses. Instead, they worshipped the four giants of the land.
The theory suggests that they built the tower simply as a means to reach the sacred realm.
It was their goal to defeat the goddesses by using the giant’s mask. When the goddesses
heard of their plan, they decided to completely turn the tower upside-down.
Kahloo Limpah
The self-proclaimed reincarnated fairy, played only a minor role within majora’s mask.
But his importance increased as he had more appearances within the series. Some have speculated
that he played more of a significant role than most people realize. Some fans believe
that he is the termina counterpart to Link. They both wear green outfits and have a strong
connection with fairies. It’s also worth pointing out that link was a child stuck in
the body of an adult in ocarina of time. And tingle seems to be the same thing, although
in more of a manchild sense. Another interesting note is that tingle was originally seen in
termina. However, every appearance after that was in Hyrule. This has caused players to
theorize that he was exiled, or willingly fled, from Termina. Some even think that he
now acts as a dimensional refugee.
Mario Enslaved Theory
We’re aware that masks can be created by transforming the body and soul into a physical
object that takes the form of a mask. This theory postulates that the happy mask salesman,
or one of his cohorts, turned mario into a mask. The theory goes on to suggest, that
this act may have even been done during the slumber during the events of super mario bros
2. We obviously don’t see the mask being used during the playthrough of the game. However,
one can theorize if perhaps some of the mario games featured somebody wearing the mario
mask, transforming them into the embodiment of the italian plumber. What a nightmare that
would be. Who would want to experience repeatedly getting friend zoned by peach.
Lightning rarely strikes twice, and nintendo knew that going into the development of majora’s
mask. Instead of trying to make ocarina of time 2, they made something entirely new,
with elements and aspects that can’t be found anywhere else. And it still holds strong
as one of the best games in the franchise, with many fans revering it as their favorite
of them all. Like and subscribe if you’d like to see more videos like this. And let
me know in the comments which subjects you’d like to see covered next.