The BEST Side Quest in Zelda History

Side quests have always played a big role throughout The Legend of Zelda series, but if you've played Majora's Mask, you know it's a game defined by them. That's why today I will take a deep dive into what I consider to be the BEST Side Quest in Zelda History to see what makes it so unforgettable.
Do you agree that this is the best side quest in Zelda history? If not, be sure to let me know why and what you'd pick down in the comments!
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[@adamkahmann2937]

This side quest is so good it feels like if you didn't complete it, you didn't actually experience Majora's Mask.

[@MrDrBoi]

Absolutely agree!

[@luluna5228]

well now i feel bad rip

[@Broockle]

I would have never figured it out without looking it up tho 😆 When I played MM originally I think I only got around half the masks in the game lol And something needs to be said about losing out on a cool challenging boss fight when you acquire the fierce deity mask 😆

[@simonn2045]

There's so much of Majora I don't remember as I've only completed it once but this is THE quest I will never forget.

[@shaneconger301]

Majora's Mask is a game about helping a cursed couple reunite and save their wedding, which happens to have some voodoo doomsday stuff going on in the background

[@kaitlynboisvert8150]

I always loved that when you wore the Couple's Mask and spoke to the Happy Mask Salesman, he would give you his normal assessment of the mask's history, but then would suddenly chuckle and say: "You must have gone through a lot of trouble to acquire that mask!" It's like the game is acknowledging that it threw a lot at you for the side quest and you deserve to feel proud for successfully completing it. 🥰

[@MrDrBoi]

I love that little detail!

[@JasonEllis-s6b]

I never actually talked to him with that mask. Glad someone realizes haha.

[@kaitlynboisvert8150]

@@JasonEllis-s6b Highly recommend it! It sure is worth it. 🥰

[@salvadorsanchez5057]

"That's the Postman's Hat, isn't it? That is a fine thing. It is filled with the joy of freedom."

[@MrDrBoi]

I remember being so happy when I discovered the Happy Mask Salesman will comment on each of your masks.

[@salvadorsanchez5057]

@@MrDrBoi my favorite ones are those that give a really cute meaning to an otherwise ugly or unremarkable mask. "That's the Gibdo Mask, isn't it? That is a fine mask. It is filled with the love of a father and child."

[@FlamingZelda3]

bro I think I teared up when the postman finally found his freedom.

[@elliotlevy8610]

​@@MrDrBoiApparently there is even a line for the giant mask, but you can't actually see it during the game.

[@juandough1]

I feel jaunty when i do battle whilst donning it

[@lucaslinton2755]

i think anju felt the most pain of all when that umbrella pole went right through her face

[@MrDrBoi]

Lmao when I saw that it cracked me up

[@RayDelgado25]

Damn it you beat me to this comment!! Painful indeed

[@lucaslinton2755]

@@RayDelgado25 xD

[@drascia]

Idk man, an umbrella injury will heal, but a broken heart can't. r/iam14andthisisdeep

[@Mike.yt543]

I think it's actually Sakon who felt the most pain if you happened to shoot him with a projectile as he's running off with the bomb bags.

[@RayDelgado25]

The possibility that Kafei is unfaithful is hinted at in the names... Kafei and Cremia... coffee and cream! The developers and writers didn't miss a beat on this quest!

[@MrDrBoi]

I never made that connection, that's pretty cool!

[@EighmyLupin]

I don't think he's really been unfaithful. I think she just has a major crush on him that everyone pretends they don't know about because it's awkward. Mama doesn't seem to like Kafei and just wants Anju to come with her far away. Talking smack about Kafei is kinda two birds, one stone. I mean the fact she wants them to hide on Cremia's ranch, makes it seem like she's using the possibility that Kafei might be there to lure Anju.

[@RayDelgado25]

@@EighmyLupin I agree, it's probably in there as a distraction or a small joke

[@zemmnighteither8495]

thank you for this vedio, I had thought I had pretty throughly explored this quest and it turns out there is still plenty of content I have yet to see.

[@MrDrBoi]

@@zemmnighteither8495 Glad I could show you something new!

[@AmericanPrincess852]

I adore this quest and it took me YEARS to realize that the couples mask depicts a couple embracing rather than just some weird runic symbol. Also the last thing they say to you as the moon is about to hit will always stay with me. "We will greet the moring togethter." No matter what that morning is- what matters is that they are together now.

[@MrDrBoi]

Wow I never realized that, that's a neat detail!

[@Maceyoshiman]

Loved MM for many years now. I never knew that's what the symbol was. Good share 👍

[@NukeCaulfield]

I still don't see a couple embracing. Can you explain how it looks that way?

[@Noah_Krakatoa]

@@NukeCaulfield I only just saw it after reading the comment, but the two semi circles at the top are their heads touching, and the wavy vaguely triangular overlapping shapes are their arms

[@CoachJohnMcGuirk]

In a 1998 interview in nintendo power Shigeru Miyamoto is quoted saying: "the couples mask is just some weird runic symbol. You would have to be nuts to see something there"

[@darkyami12141]

One particular scene that always stayed with me is the moments between Cremia and Romani on the last day. Cremia let’s Romani drink the Chateau Romani and when Romani asks why? Cremia tells her that “she’s grown up and old enough to try it.” Then later tells her to sleep on her bed together that night because she knows the moon is going to fall and it will probably be the last time they live. I felt Cremia’s love and sadness in that scene as well as trying to keep Romani happy and ignorant of their upcoming deaths so she can be a hold her innocent kid nature just a little longer Moments like these along with all the other character moments and side quests makes this game a freaken masterpiece ❤

[@MrDrBoi]

I love that scene! I'm also really fond of the scene where you can tell Romani actually knows the fate of the world as well but hides the truth to try and keep Link optimistic, just like Cremia will do to her.

[@darkyami12141]

@@MrDrBoi made me love her character even more!

[@xVibra]

There's also the implication that a Milk Bar is just a stand-in for what would be a normal bar that serves alcohol, and that many farmers do sell and brew alcohol the same way. There's probably kids who grew up on wine or mead farms who couldn't wait to be given alcohol, since they likely have a hand in making it as well. Cremia giving alcohol to Romani on the final day would be a way of easing the stress that comes with everyone fleeing and their inevitable deaths, but also considers how much of a big deal it is for Romani to be recognized as a grown up, able to do grown up things finally, after proving herself in saving the farm. It gives children the credit they deserve by showing that they know what's going on around them, even if they may not understand the finer details.

[@daniel8181]

I wish we could get another game like mm, games are so big now, It seems like ill never again get this intimate storytelling.

[@Iffondrel]

​@daniel8181 yeah, games really are big these days. Like don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed playing Tears and teres a lot of innovation happening in video games all the time. But MM is still so stand-out for how compact and compelling the story and structure was. Nothing quite compares.

[@GG256_]

I always saw Kafei as an alternate reality Link. He gets to actually live a life of peace, find love into adulthood, only to be regressed into a child instead of sped into adulthood. To top it off, you actually get to play as him. There are far too many parallels

[@MrDrBoi]

I never really felt that way but now that you say it I kind of see what you mean.

[@OklahomaBoomer]

Same model and everything, just different garb, hair and eye color.

[@OnlyTAS]

You can even hurt him with explosives and he has animation for that

[@lpfan4491]

@@OnlyTAS It sucks that they removed that in the remake tbh.

[@adrienaline4894]

@@OklahomaBoomer And in every game, Link's garb, hair and eye colour changes anyway. Adding even more credence to this theory.

[@pianomanty]

I love how after saving clock town we see that EVERYONE's story in this quest gets resolved instead of us having to choose between who gets hurt and who gets helped

[@MrDrBoi]

Love the credits in MM!

[@jesserichardson8116]

Bomb Shop Lady: “Am I a joke to you?”

[@frogxgorf]

Cremia: "Am I a joke to you?"

[@d8dknee8rjdje8]

Deku Butler "Am I a joke to you?"

[@DeltaBlazin]

​@@d8dknee8rjdje8while that is a genuine shame, it does teach a lesson that there's some problems you can't solve. You do at the very least help the Butler by racing him.

[@POPINCONEJO88]

I love how in Majoras mask the butterfly effect is a major key factor when it comes to side quest.

[@MrDrBoi]

Yes! It's awesome to see the consequences of your different choices!

[@Smfsableye]

And the fact that you can reset the timeline makes you feel bolder to take more risks with it.

[@torydavis10]

I would argue that anju/kafei is the main quest, and the whole moon thing is just a distraction along the way. As you noted, the first thing we see at the start of every cycle is kafei dropping his letter in the box. MM is a weird and beautiful game.

[@MrDrBoi]

There really isn't anything else like it. So glad this game exists!

[@FlamingZelda3]

Honestly I played this quest several times as a child but never bothered to actually complete the game. you might be onto something.

[@lpfan4491]

It is straight up designed to be the last quest you do in the game too, with it ending in the final hours and leaving you enough time to rush two rooms over to beat the game. The only reason you often won't do that is the heartpiece from day 1 that the mask gives you.

[@combinecommando001]

@@lpfan4491 Postman hat and Couple's mask both are always my last masks that I get, the timing to get both is a bit tight, but not impossible, just gotta really abuse the bunny hood.

[@jesseburgener442]

If Anju being willing to wait for Kafei in Clocktown knowing that the moon is about to destroy the town isn't love, I don't know what is

[@seereebee]

Whenever I replay Majora's Mask I like to make this the absolute last thing I do. That way Kafei and Anju are reunited when Link defeats Majora.

[@MrDrBoi]

It's the best feeling knowing everything is solved before finishing the game!

[@tomrees82]

They would reunite regardless since defeating Majora means they don't die.

[@brendanreilly4675]

And also it guarantees that you obtain the château Romani drink from Kafei’s mom in the bar during the last five minutes so that way you have infinite magic before you go to the moon.

[@LordMalice6d9]

​@@brendanreilly4675The chateau Romani helps a lot during the final boss.

[@fangirl_alice]

I remember playing Majora's Mask for the first time and coming across her crying on the bench on the second day. As a young girl I really empathized with her & I was so determined to help her out.

[@MrDrBoi]

It's just so sad, her dialogue and the way she shakes just make her feel so helpless that you have to do something.

[@thefourthsword4648]

Anju and Kafei are what definitively made me fall in love with narrative design. And now, years after playing, I am actually a game designer with a specialisation in narrative design

[@MrDrBoi]

That's so awesome!

[@TayoEXE]

That's so cool! I'm a developer now doing programming stuff rather than design, but I want to make even a smaller game on my own with better design. MM is also my inspiration when it comes to making more endearing characters and stories that make you WANT to help them and see how things unfold. MM is a class A example of why a role like yours is really needed for games like this since it really tells a story in a way that linear media can't. Discover bits and pieces yourself, fit the pieces together to form the whole, more nuanced and deeper story, but even if not, still enjoy the more surface level story at first. It's fantastic design.

[@EliJakobable]

I will never not be mad that they didn't show an adult version of Kafei at the end of the game. It makes me Furious.

[@MrDrBoi]

Yeah, the first person perspective in the credits is cool but I wanted to see him restored too, even if just for a second.

[@wintersong2266]

I kind of like that they subverted the trope of the lovers only getting together after the curse is broken, even if it is a bit weird. In a normal game breaking the curse would be the entire point. But here it is treated as a mere inconvenience.

[@EliJakobable]

@@wintersong2266 oh for sure. I was just saying that at the end of the game, they purposefully don’t show Kafei , implying that the curse was broken(because Majora had been defeated) and it’s because the devs didn’t create and adult Kafei model. I love that you get scenes of anju still accepting Kafei in his cursed form. But I hate the idea of “implied adult Kafei”.

[@gwendolynstata3775]

Even in the 3DS remake. They had time to fuck with Zora swimming and Deku hopping, but felt the need to keep the lack of Adult Kafei in??

[@329link]

I'd be willing to chalk that up to time issues. The game was made in a year, and a whole new model with unique animations could've taken time they didn't have.

[@jaker721]

Man, I knew this side quest was huge, but I had no idea that there was this much content!

[@davidward9550]

Wow! I learned soo much more about this quest line than I thought I knew! Makes me have a lot of respect for characters I thought were insignificant. Seeing the way anju handled her grief was just heartbreaking... These characters are all made of polygons and yet that pose of her crying on her bed was something I literally experienced myself just a few days ago...it's so real

[@MrDrBoi]

Yeah there is something about that animation in particular that really gets me too.

[@EmmaViv]

I feel like I should mention on behalf of the fandom that the game never specifies that Cremia's crush is on Kafei; that ambiguity plus some of Cremia's dialogue lead some to believe her crush is on Anju. It's a debate/theory from the old forum days

[@leemckenna8214]

Idk if you're gonna mention it. But the VERY FIRST thing I noticed when they've been reunited, is the parallels with Link leaving a child and coming back as adult, and then ultimately going back to child while everyone he knew and loved is now an adult.

[@caprielazevedo]

this has always been my favorite Zelda sidequest along with tarrey town from BOTW, and I constantly reset Majora's Mask right after completing the quest and leaving anju and kafei together

[@MrDrBoi]

I always leave this till right before I beat Majora. And I make sure to give the Postman the priority mail so both he and Madame Aroma get their resolution before finishing up.

[@TheGloriousOmni]

I saw the title and was immediately like "Anju and Kafei. Has to be." And it was. Let's go! Now to watch the rest of the video.

[@KingLee8977]

Same

[@zeroxwarrior]

Same as well was gonna post this comment lol. It has to be it’s the only side quest from the Zelda series that stayed with me since I first played it and something of a standard to judge all other side quests. Majora’s mask is such a lightning in a bottle strange Zelda game that will never be remade again.

[@jocornu3291]

Same, I don't think there's another contender for that title. The quest is so bittersweet and really encapsulates what I feel the whole game is really about, it's just great

[@devonm042690]

I'm surprised you didn't mention what happens if you forget to give Anju the Pendant of Memories before going to help Kafei when you were talking about optional scenes associated with this quest. Kafei enters the room, walks over to the mannequin holding Anju's dress and mask, and just stands in front of it. It's so heartbreaking to realize at the last moment that you screwed up in this way. Especially with what Kafei says if you talk to him there. "Isn't her bridal dress lovely? We promised each other when we were children that we'd marry on the day of the Carnival of Time. ...But my promise... I couldn't keep it." Kafei was so close, but Anju was already gone, and it's your fault because you carelessly forgot about the precious item Kafei had entrusted to you.

[@MrDrBoi]

It's a great scene for sure, I mention it at 22:40

[@devonm042690]

@@MrDrBoi Oh, I thought it was skipped or missed because around the 21 minute mark it sounded like you were wrapping up the video, and I didn't expect anything not already covered to be inserted there. My bad.

[@muhammadfadag3068]

@@devonm042690 you let down Dr boi because you "carelessly" didn't pay attention at this point in the video🤣

[@KooriGraywolf]

Oh damn, I got to see pretty much all of the hidden cutscenes, EXCEPT the mailman writing himself a letter to flee. As someone also obsessed with schedules, just not to the same degree as him, that just hurtssss

[@c0d3_888]

ngl, failing this quest results in a more emotional outcome than succeeding in it. i remember the feeling of dread when i realized that kafei was going to be stuck in sakon's hideout while anju waits for him until the end.

[@The__Struggler]

This side quest has stuck with me ever since I first experienced. I’ll never forget the huge wave of emotions I felt when reading the lines at the end, “we shall greet the morning together.”

[@MrDrBoi]

Yeah what a great line, so much said in just a single sentence.

[@leargamma4912]

And to think, this sidequest might not even exist, including all of these small, intriguing details, if Yoshiaki Koizumi wasn't allowed on the team in a desperate struggle to meet that 1 year deadline. God Bless that man, and the whole 1998-2000 Zelda team. This game is truly special. Even if it is the lesser *game* out of the N64 duology, it is the far superior *experience*. I'm keeping this masterpiece until my grave. 😅

[@drascia]

"Even if it is the lesser game, it is the far superior experience" sums it up perfectly. One of my childhood best friends and I were heavily divided on which of the two games was better - OOT for him, MM for me. And what it all boiled down to was he put gameplay first and I put storyline first. Even today, no matter how fun a game is I'll get bored of it if there's no compelling story 😂

[@MrDrBoi]

The more I learn about Koizumi the more I appreciate his hand in the development of these games!

[@lpfan4491]

@@drascia Tbh, I also prefer MM in gameplay. I probably wouldn't if I played the rushed japanese version, but localization saved the day. 😂(Which is why I will never be on-board with world wide releases. If they were standard in the N64 days, we would have been cooked here.)

[@oscarm7689]

All these years later and people are still talking about Majoras Mask and the stories it tells.❤

[@MrDrBoi]

Catch me in 2046 still singing its praises haha

[@lemax6865]

That's because it's a well-made game with excellent writing.

[@treep1gg]

The attention to detail is what really sells Majoras Mask for me. When I was just a little kid, too stupid to progress through the main plot, let alone through the side quests, I spent most of my playtime exploring clock town. Observing the citizens and their interactions makes the town feel like a real community.

[@MrDrBoi]

This is such a great point! I think I also fell in love with this game because when I got confused as to what to do in the main story I could always fall back on the content in Clock Town.

[@glenngriffon8032]

This is indeed the best quest in all of Zelda and the best game in franchise bar none. I played it in the mid to late 00's, somewhere around there, on the gamecube. I didn't have internet so i had to really put in some effort to work through the quest but i quite enjoyed it and to this day i hold MM in highest regard for making me feel for the people of clock town. Not just Anju and Kafei but for everyone. This town feels alive and real because everyone's lives are stitched together, this feels like a real place.

[@MrDrBoi]

Figuring all the parts out is part of what makes it so fun, glad you were able to figure it out!

[@majoraikana5893]

Finally a new analysis video of my favorite quest from my favorite game of all time. I cannot describe how important Majora's Mask is to me, but most of all how much I adore the people in Termina, and this quest encompasses this more than any other. Great job!

[@MrDrBoi]

Thank you!

[@derpmandurr]

😊

[@sweetoil2952]

The way Kafei is just speechless at you if Sakon sees you and flees 😭

[@MrDrBoi]

I wish he had unique dialogue for this outcome. I'd be pissed if I was him lol

[@jamesdoyle6914]

Really clever how Kafei is an adult who is turned into a kid by the Skull Kid. Coming off of being adult Link and having all the endgame power of OOT, it makes you really identify with him. Plus he's one of very few characters other than link to wear a mask and I can't think of a 3d Zelda where you control someone other than Link, or can't think of a moment offhand.

[@enistoja]

Cremia’s crush could be read as being on anju, making the mistaken belief all the more bitter. If you are into that kinda thing

[@synonym1196]

You made a good point about how easy it is to miss those small scenes and put together some of the clues. I've 100%ed Majora at least a dozen times in my life and somehow never put the pieces together that Anju's mom lied about her husband dying to protect Anju from the truth. This game was such a masterpiece in creating a fleshed out world, full of real people - people with fears, anxieties, struggles... Ugh, I want to play it again now!

[@MrDrBoi]

Finally realizing that was one of the reasons I wanted to make this video. Tbh there are so many other hidden scenes outside of this quest to that I have to wonder if everything in this game has been found sometimes.

[@synonym1196]

@@MrDrBoi I don't know if you've ever seen the KZbin channel Cirquet, they dig through the game to find unique interactions that not everyone has seen. I recommend them to anyone looking for cool little scenes like that!

[@WarrenValion]

I did a run of MM where in one three-day cycle, I beat all 4 dungeons (collecting all fairies), the Cremia/Romani side quest, and the Anju and Kafei side quest all before defeating Majora and it felt canon af

[@ShermTank7272]

Every time I play Majora's Mask, whenever I feel ready to take on Majora, I always go through a full 3-day cycle to complete (or re-complete) this questline before heading to the top of the clock tower. This quest feels so emotionally charged that it makes the struggle against Majora feel even more intense.

[@censzx]

I do the same, alongside the Romani and Cremia quest, defeating all the 4 bosses for the last time and recover again all the zora eggs

[@hedgehogsonic11]

I did this quest at one point while going for 100% masks, and after a few more cycles I was ready to face Majora but felt that it wouldn't be right if Anju and Kafei didn't receive their happy ending in the "canon" cycle, so even though I knew it made no difference, I did the whole quest a second time over before going to the moon

[@MrDrBoi]

In my mind that's always been the "true" ending, even though nothing actually changes in the end.

[@wavedog23]

I said it when the game first came out, and I've said it ever since (and this video obviously nailed it) - this side quest is so multi-faceted and in-depth and required such an interesting manipulation of times and events that it really just transcends any other "side quest" in the series. What an absolute thrill it was to finally see it through to the end for the very first time.

[@MrDrBoi]

I wish I could experience that final scene for the first time again!

[@klaushammer8687]

Did anyone finish this without looking it up I feel even while looking it, everytime I play it btw, there's still stress and prompts a breath of fresh air

[@ashleyblack7419]

I think the Quest also is a life lesson. No matter how hard you try, you can't help everyone. Some sacrifices have to be made for the greater good. Majora's mask is such a great game whereever you look it's filled with cleverly thought out details. Nothing actually feels pointless when you really dive into it. It might had the shortest developement circle but the team created what might be the most inspiring game of all time. You really can live in that 72 hour world. You can trace every step these characters take, you can talk to them and they will give you more dialogue everytime you come around. The least characters are static and even the characters you first experience as "unlikeable" have moments that might turn your view upside down. The Gorman brothers for example. Rough guys who actually miss their brother. While their brother sees failure after failure and tries his best to maintain what he has, of course he's grumpy because of it but later in the milkbar you find out he's got a softspot after all. My personal favorite is the Ranch side quest line (like the entire ranch, from helping the cucco farm to rescuing the sister's from being abducted to delivering the milk) It's a lesser known thing that Romani returns on the 2nd day, past 6 I think not quite sure but a little bit later in the day. Most players who struggle a tad bit on their first playthrough as the game gives you little directions might find Romani on day 3 and become confused about her and feel sorry for her (at least I did) Aaaaah there's so many details, so many things that happen every day, the main quest in Majora's mask is great no doubt but there's just so much more, no pointless quest... every quest feels like it requires a hero to help it really is my favorite for everything

[@MrDrBoi]

Watching Romani stumble home after being abducted is one of those details they absolutely did not need to put in the game, but really adds so much emotion to the quest. Majora's Mask truly is the gift that keeps on giving!

[@sweetoil2952]

Wait wait, do you mean you can actually SEE her come back?? I hate not helping her with the aliens, because then she’s abducted and gets SOMETHING done to her that causes her to never be the same again…She loses her sunshine, has a blank stare the entire time, seems really out of it, occasionally clutches and shakes her head in agony or despair or SOMETHING…The aliens did something to that poor child and it was because you weren’t there…Even worse, Cremia blames herself for not believing Romani, and her little sister, possibly the only family she has left, paid the price 😭 I try to avoid going in the ranch if I didn’t fend off the aliens…

[@ashleyblack7419]

@@sweetoil2952 well she will spawn on the farm late evening near some grass but has only little to no dialogue, but yea she returns before day 3 it's not much but a lesser known piece of info ^^" The whole Farm quest is thought out to the very end every detail about it is brilliant and makes sense in the narrative. I prefer saving her too cause it leads to a hug with cremia... I've been told of that detail myself once xD I did check it out later though cause I was in disbelieve too. I mean the 2 are already living the saddest lives of termina. When I was young I spent the entire 3 day circle with the 2, I pretended to be part of their family. The 2 do a lot of different things in those days.

[@sweetoil2952]

@@ashleyblack7419 Ahhh, I see. I do think I didn’t know she comes back in the evening instead of in the morning, so that’s an interesting tip. Awww, hanging out in their family, how sweet! :>

[@MBulteau]

Very thorough! It could only be that one. I've had to make alterations to fit my own adaptation, but I hope to one day make it justice differently in a more faithful, intimate way. You've also made me realize that I didn't know the Mayor is likely aware of Kafei's whereabouts! I would like to add a little detail: When Romani talks about Cremia, she doesn't specify who it is that she likes, not even their gender: "My sister, Cremia, has >someone< in town she likes... But >that person< will get married the day of the carnival." And when Cremia opens up to Link, she lingers on Anju's name, not Kafei's. In fact, Kafei is never mentioned in what sounds like Cremia letting something off her chest: "In town...I have a friend. >Her< name's >AnjuAnjuher< wedding." The only time Cremia mentions Kafei is when you ask her directly with Kafei's Mask. She says "Kafei isn't here" with a face of bored exasperation at Madame Aroma's digging. Understandably, as you said, she doesn't want to be seen as a homewrecker, but that lack of emotion seems to indicate she has absolutely no interest in Kafei in the first place. Romani adds "It's hard for my sister... Going into town..." Would it be hard because Kafei is there, or is it because Anju is there? In the inn right next to the bar where Cremia delivers the milk? Even though Anju's mother assumes that Kafei may have run off with Cremia, and even if it were implied that Kafei might have had feelings for her in the past, when I hear it from Cremia herself I can't really shake the impression that this might be a situation of unrequited, probably even unconfessed feelings from Cremia towards Anju. It may very well not be the case, but the way the Romani sisters talk about it doesn't really fit well with everything else otherwise.

[@MrDrBoi]

That's an interesting theory!

[@grantmerrill8865]

This may be the best Zelda analysis video I've watched. I got Majora's Mask the day it came out in America, and I've played through at least 20-30 times since then. I always 100% the game, which means that I've done this sidequest twice for every playthrough. I went into the video thinking that I wouldn't learn anything, so I was shocked at just how much more there was to this. Most of the stuff with Anju's mother or Cremia, I had not seen. And I had certainly never seen the other outcome of Kafei returning to Clock Town. While I've always found parts of this sidequest tedious, I do think it qualifies as the best Zelda sidequest. Thanks for showing me something new!

[@MrDrBoi]

That makes me so happy to hear, glad I could show you something new! It's really amazing how much stuff they packed in not only this quest but this game in general.

[@LabTech41]

The moment I saw the title, I knew exactly which one you were referring to, because I still remember it, decades later. Completing it more or less demonstrates that you understand all the mechanics of the game and have already devoted a large amount of time into understanding the game and it's world.

[@conmanay4563]

One thing I always thought about was Link’s reaction to Kafei….maybe the hero of time jumped to help because he saw himself in Kafei. A man trapped in a child’s body, and how hard it is to live with secrets you can’t share….

[@vincentsterel6448]

Gorgeous and well-produced video!! Makes me want to play Majora's Mask again :P

[@MrDrBoi]

Thanks! And you should, it's so good!

[@W0lfMan26]

Ah, Majora's Mask, the game of side-quests. That's why I think this is the most Zelda "Zelda game."

[@nooner.k.1608]

I was always certain that the actual secret was Cremia actually had a crush on her best friend Anju and that's why she was so sad about her getting married to Kafei. In that cutscene on the evening of the second day when you take the milk to town with Cremia, she specifically says Anju's name when's she mentions the marriage that she's talking about so mournfully. I just think it's a lot more interesting of a twist that would add even more depth to the story, because then you have not only a "love triangle", but one that is completely misinterpreted by those around them, which just adds yet another layer to the story overall. I love this interpretation because there's no hard evidence that can disprove it, and leaving players to piece things together for themselves is part of what makes this game so great.

[@auxty]

don't think i've heard this theory before, and it adds yet another dimension of touching depth!! such joy from reading your comment lol thank you

[@BenTobitt]

No hard evidence that can disprove it... other than the fact of the game being made in Japan over 20 years ago. Come on now, I'm sure you're smarter than your comment suggests.

[@genegermanotta]

​@@BenTobitt pos moid

[@YamishiMizuandDracus]

All the sidequest NPCs being interconnected is also a reason I like Elden Ring so much. On the subject of this being the best Zelda sidequest I find it hard to disagree even if I tried to. Only other one that comes to mind is the trading quest from OoT but even then, while iconic, it doesn't measure up. This really is a master class in worldbuilding and character writing.

[@reginac3049]

Thank you for mentioning the cons to this side quest. I’ll never forget the first time Sakon saw me and I stayed there until the moon crashed because I was in straight denial that I really ruined the quest. 😭

[@MrDrBoi]

It's really one of the worst feelings.

[@Rhythmmical]

Glad you acknowledged how punishing this game can be. Needing to run through a large chunk of a quest all because of a tricky part isn't fun! When I was playing, I committed myself to 100% completion...and that meant the Goron race. Well, after a while, I finally beat it...and then found out at the forge that I was too late. That one detail that is seriously easy to forget meant I had to do the race again. Almost immediately, I started to wonder if I also had to do the whole second dungeon again too because I had to unfreeze the Goron region again. Thankfully, there was a way to transport to the final boss. But that still meant that I had to travel all the way to the dungeon from Clocktown, beat Goat, AND once again beat the Goron race. But in reality, I think, unless I had beaten the dungeon within a single game day, I would've had to do beat Goat again anyway. So, the game kind of punishes you for playing it right! It was wildly infuriating. If the story and theme of the game wasn't so freaking good, as well as fun of searching for things like heart pieces, this would be one of my least favourite Zelda games.

[@MrDrBoi]

Those are some fair points and it's actually a big reason why I hate the Don gero piece of heart as well.

[@Tailstraw_xD]

Majora's Mask is, hands down, my favorite Zelda game. A strong contender for my favorite game, period. Even the minor side characters have a way of drawing you in, making you feel for them. No game has ever drawn me to complete it as organically as Majora's Mask did. I *wanted* everyone to have their happy ending.

[@JimiGosu]

The Anju & Kafei quest is the most beautiful story ever told in Zelda. When I first played Majora's Mask, I never thought I'd find myself bawling my eyes out over a love story IN A ZELDA GAME. I loved completing it. Seeing the story through was worth each and every bit of effort!

[@joshuaking3731]

What's truly amazing about this, is the time crunch the Majoras Mask team was under, yet they put so much thought and effort into the side characters and side quests. Tripple A games that have an excess amount of time dont even do that. (Asside from a select few, like Red Dead Redemption 2)

[@mevox]

Definitely my favorite sidequest. It makes full use of the game's clock system, and spaces out events accordingly. There is something to do all 3 days. I also like the detail of Cremia saying "Did a middle aged woman put you up to this?" like she knows Anju's mother has been spreading rumors about her. At the wedding scene in the credits, Cremia stands on Kafei's side and not Anju's side, even though she is Anju's friend. This may be due to some bitter feelings she has towards Anju's mother.

[@MrDrBoi]

That's a neat detail I never really noticed! I wonder if that was intentional on the designers part.

[@kevintrent7485]

Chateau Romani is a pretty solid quest reward if you ask me. On top of the extra storage, one of those drinks gives you infinite mana until you reset to day 1. That's pretty major to have going into the final boss if you don't acquire Fierce Deity's mask.

[@MrDrBoi]

It's not the worst reward, but if you don't beat the game in that same cycle, then it's kind of useless. And if you are beating the game, you don't really need the extra storage anyway.

[@CoachJohnMcGuirk]

It's just better than OOT. With the same engine they managed to do so much more. Branching storylines, butterfly effect timeline changes, massive side quests. The world really felt alive. People complain that there weren't as many dungeons but that's not what this game is about. Like breath of the wild, it's not about rushing to the spirit beasts and getting to Gannon, it's about exploring the world and seeing what is possible. Getting a sense of wonder at how cool it is when the systems of the game come together to make something you haven't seen in previous playthroughs.

[@MrDrBoi]

It's the one game where a tight time constraint in development worked to its benefit because they didn't have a chance to second guess all their creative ideas.

[@dinotaco4651]

This video made a really strong case for me to put Majora's Mask next on my list of Zelda games

[@RedPandaSmash]

Amazing video. Yeah, I can't think of sidequest I like better in zelda. I like helping Batreaux become human in SS, but it's not really a contest. MM is my favorite game because the writing is so good. The world feels more alive than in most games today, even though it's graphically outdated.

[@MrDrBoi]

Thanks! And I agree, it's so just cool that the characters live their own lives yet you can see them interact with one another!

[@mystrenula3911]

I also don't think it's a contest against the anju and kafei quest but I really like building Tarrey Town in botw

[@leargamma4912]

​@mystrenula3911 it is nice, but the ending is really stupid and ruins it. The stupid gorons are in on it like they understand the importance and freedom of naming CHILDREN. Imagine putting some stupid construction policy which is mostly illegal in all areas of the world, and putting that before the well being of your own wife and child.

[@TheGameCapsule]

The whole Bombers book made Majora's Mask. It was a sidequest full of sidequests that were as important as the main quest.

[@TayoEXE]

This quest is so important that it's literally a main story element of the Majora's Mask element and even ends with them reuniting at the clock tower just before the final battle. This quest hits me emotionally on a deep level and is one of the many reasons why Majora's Mask is my favorite Zelda. It just feels so nuanced and human, especially if you read between the lines such as Kafei's relationship with his mother and father, the hints of the love triangle with Cremia and Anju, and that final line "We'll greet the morning... together."

[@MrDrBoi]

I'm really curious at what stage in development this quest got created because I agree that it feels like the main story in a lot of ways.

[@TayoEXE]

@@MrDrBoi Oops, auto-correct must have changed it, but I said it's the a main story element in the manga.

[@EntityXIII]

This side quest definitely fed into my reasons for loving MM so much. I've had people argue with me that the whole of Termina is too small, but this quests highlights the fact that, like the Yakuza games, you can turn a corner and see something happening with fair regularity, rather than walking or running for five minutes to reach an event that may or not only last about a minute. As you say in this video, the quest has layers and depth, with different outcomes and further detail beyond the singular narrative you go on. It takes an approach seen more in games like The Witcher III where you aren't simply running to points A and B and A again with a simple, sometimes time-consuming objective, but rather you start at A, and go on a journey through points B or C, D or E, and all the way to your conclusion. I wish more quests, not just in Zelda but in games in general, tried to give their quests more to do than your standard fetch or slay quests. I get wanting to make a game take longer because you made huge maps or the devs were told to make the game take as long as possible, but having quests like Kafei and Anju make the world feel more lived-in. It helps us care more about these characters or their plight. This quest alone made Clocktown seem bigger, fuller even, than some large-scale cities we see in RPGs or Adventure type games. Quests like this are my bread and butter. That is why Kafei and Anju will live on as my favorite Zelda quest.

[@tomrees82]

Majoras Mask & Breath of the Wild are the two games with the biggest difference between how little you can do in order to complete the game & how much there is to experience if you 100% it. BotW has some comparable side quests like the ones for the Ancient Cycle or the final memory, but even compared to them this sidequest is still my favourite to experience even though it doesn't yield my favourite rewards.

[@MrDrBoi]

That's a pretty interesting comparison I never really thought about!

[@YoShockwaver]

So glad my first playthrough of Majora's Mask was a 100% one, felt like I truly got to understand so much about the game and how it was made yet this video showed me things I still missed! MM is such a special game in so many wonderful ways and still brings me so many emotions despite being such an old game

[@MrDrBoi]

Glad you could learn something new!

[@juliandouglas4561]

I did this side quest in the cycle where I completed the game. When I saw Anju in her wedding dress stood outside clock town during the end credits.. I LOST it 🥺 she looked stunning

[@mattb6522]

Great analysis! When I was a kid and played Majora's Mask blind, I actually didn't care for it as it could get frustrating trying to figure out where to be and what to do in a given cycle while time constantly was ticking down. However, I've played it again a couple times over the past few years 100% and it is easily my favorite Zelda game due to the amount of depth that it has compared to other Zelda games. It was way ahead of its time on the N64. You really get a lot of emotional (and dark) moments and it is rewarding when you finally figure out what you need to do. It is one of the most unique Zelda experiences and I would love to see another Zelda game that has some of the same unique elements as Majora's Mask (just refined on modern hardware).

[@porkloin1826]

I'm a bit late, but this vid added a whole new layer of lore to this quest that I had no idea about despite having multiple playthroughs in majora's mask. This quest was already one of my favorites and now it slaps even harder

[@MrDrBoi]

Awesome, glad I could show you something new!

[@ashley-paul]

My favorite part of this quest is that you can literally stop it from happening by letting toilet hand wipe their butt with a letter.

[@alphax4785]

The character I connected to the most in MM was the Postman in that I think more than any of the other characters he's the most terrified of the Moon but is so rigidly bound to his duty he can't run away. It made completing his quest so he runs away care free the most satisfying.

[@MrDrBoi]

The Postman is so endearing! I love getting to watch trot away lol

[@paperluigi6132]

Was so good it was adapted into the official manga adaptation.

[@BenjaminSteber]

I remember an early playthrough running through Clock town on day two and passing Anju in the rain. It stuck with me a s a detail and the payoff of finding her in the laundry crying really pushed the sequence home for me. This game is so good.

[@cottonfluff1317]

Thank you for making this video. This is my favorite quest but I was always so nervous when making it because I never wanted to make mistakes. I didn't think of all of the possibilities. Majoras Mask is truly a detailed masterpiece.

[@MrDrBoi]

Glad you enjoyed, thanks!

[@Arkenidae]

I always do this sidequest when I play the game. I set it so that I can grab the postman's hat on the first cycle that Link is back to hylian form and the chateau Romani right before going to the moon :) I love the tension it adds to the usual narrative, to do it alongside dungeons... knowing that you have to finish or be out of a dungeon at certain times just to catch timed events. It's also satisfying to collect so many masks during the first cycle you have as a hylian. I even use tricks like using bombs to get Goron Link past fences that can only be jumped over as Epona so I can collect all the regular transformation masks and the Stone mask too. It's really fun :D

[@MrDrBoi]

That first Hylian cycle is such a blast! Just recently learned about the Goron bomb tricks myself. Honestly it might be deserving of its own video one day.

[@Pearcinator]

How though? There are so many pre-reqs required to do the quest. Unless you use glitches it would be incredibly difficult to do this. Consider this; 1. Sakon's Hideout is in Ikana Valley. 2. You need Epona to get the Garo's mask so that the poe hunter lets you into Ikana Valley. 3. You also need the hookshot from the Pirates Fortress to latch onto the tree. 4. Epona's song can only be acquired on the 1st day, BEFORE nightfall. 5. You need to blow up the rock to Romani Ranch with a Powder Keg 6. You need fire arrows to talk to the guy that makes the powder kegs and do his challenge. So you'll need to, get to Woodfall, get the arrows, get to Snowhead, get the fire arrows, do the powder keg challenge and blow up the rock all before the night of the first day. Don't forget you need to get the Kafei mask and talk to Anju with it in the afternoon to start the quest. If you manage that, well, that's the hard part done! Then you need to use Epona to beat the Gorman brothers and get the Garo's mask, go to Great Bay, get the hookshot from the Pirate's fortress then you can access Ikana Valley and Sakon's Hideout. Don't forget to talk to Anju in the kitchen at midnight. It might be possible on N64 with the song of inverted time (3DS doesn't slow time down as much) but on that first day you have to speedrun like crazy!

[@mosabrahman4414]

This video is so timely as I'm currently playing through this side quest. I also agree that it is the best Zelda side quest! It's very interesting to understand all the character threads in this story

[@MrDrBoi]

Hope you're enjoying your playthrough!

[@VegasValentineMusic]

I JUST completed my copy on Nintendo Switch Online, and came to the internet to see if anyone else felt so emotional about this quest. Brilliant vid, I definitely missed a lot of these clues and context!

[@MrDrBoi]

Kind of jealous, I wish I could go back and experience it for the first time haha. Glad you enjoyed!!

[@VegasValentineMusic]

@@MrDrBoi me too. This was prob my 5th or 6th 100% run overall. But it's TRUE: you can only play a new game for the first time once. This quest had me tearing my hair out trying to figure it out when I was a kid.

[@iamthelamp]

Before watching the video: My personal favorite is the Gilded Sword followed by the Bomb Mask guy and his two options. Specifically the second where you blow him up.

[@MrDrBoi]

I do love the Gilded Sword quest as well, if for nothing else than the Goron Race them haha

[@iamthelamp]

@@MrDrBoi exactly😂 I remember trying that quest the first time and being mad because I did it on the Second Day rather than the first

[@Ironhead6340]

I got the game in english as a 7 or 8 years young spanish speaker, took me like 10 years to complete this quest all by myself just playing and trying things, worth it all. Amazing memories fr.

[@MrDrBoi]

Love to hear that!

[@DoodleDino123]

21:38 "Honestly you don't know pain until you've failed to retrieve the Sun's Mask, or, even worse, if Sakon sees you outside his hideout and flees because you didn't realize you weren't fully hidden." Here's a third one: I was (stupidly) doing this sidequest alongside the sidequest to acquire Romani's Mask alongside the Great Bay Temple questline, in a run to see how much I could get done in as few cycles as possible (tip: if you talk to Anju in the kitchen on the Night of the First Day, drop the letter in the nearest mailbox, then warp to Milk Road and run like a bat outta hell to Romani Ranch, you can get there in time for the ghosts). I had just finished collecting all the Zora eggs from Pinnacle Rock on the evening of the Second Day, and I only realized what time it was after I'd reunited the seahorses: around 4pm. I had to swim straight to wherever the closest land was so I could stand on dry land to pull out my guitar and warp to Milk Road: 5:50pm. Right as I got to Milk Road, it turned night, 6pm, and the gate across the road appeared in front of me, forcing me to switch to Goron Link and roll through the Gorman Brothers' Track to get around it: 6:30pm. I got into Romani Ranch, rolled to where Cremia was waiting in her wagon, took off the Goron Mask: 6:50pm. As I was walking up to her, I hit the A button too early and rolled instead of talking to her, and before I could get up and try to talk to her again, it turned to 7pm *AND SHE LEFT.* I chased her all the way to the gate trying to talk to her the whole way but you apparently can't, I was Z-targeting her but never got the Talk prompt, and as soon as we went through the warpzone to Milk Road, she was fucking gone. I finished the rest of the Great Bay Temple questline, met with the Curiosity Shop Guy to get the Priority Mail and the Keaton Mask, restored the Great Bay Great Fairy, did the dress rehearsal with the Indigo-Gos, and I was still able to squeeze in giving the Priority Mail to the Postman to get the Postman's Hat (but I wasn't able to go in and see the cutscene/read the dialogue because I didn't have Romani's Mask). I had to do the ghost questline aaallll over again in the next cycle with a new run of the Anju/Kafei questline

[@samuelcarlson1102]

anju and kaifes quest always felt inaccessible to me as a kid. I never knew how to get into kaifes house when he would run in and close the door, and i was always curious to get the keaton mask he was wearing. When I found out that I had to connect it with his mother and anju before finally getting to see what happens next in the questline, it immediately gave me a feeling of depth to anju and kaifes characters that made them feel almost real within the world to me. I had to become very personally involved before even finding out at all what was going on, yet I was watching it happen in front of me from the moment I played the game for the first time. So, so interesting how it feels like its locked behind a door, but waving itself in your face until you finally figure it out. As a kid this always made the questline feel so rich and I always wanted to know more about it.

[@ginpachi1]

The mailman is probably my favorite part of the quest, so glad you put him in the thumbnail 🥰

[@MrDrBoi]

Mine too!

[@endane]

This has always been my most favorite side quest, Majoras Mask is my favorite game, and I love that I love this quest so much I already knew basically every detail mentioned in this video lol

[@MrDrBoi]

That's awesome! I feel like I always think I know everything and then I wind up discovering something I hadn't seen before.

[@spartanrabbit]

Thanks so much for this video. Wish i could see or read 100%all interactions and dialogue of everyone involved. Loved the vid, made me shed a tear. Thanks again.

[@MrDrBoi]

Glad you enjoyed!!

[@lukeyami]

This quest is my victory lap of the game after completing everything else, then drinking the chateaux Romani and then putting on 'that' mask. Such a great main story going along side link's side quest to stop the moon falling.

[@MrDrBoi]

It's such a great feeling to help everyone and then basically become invinsible for the final fight.

[@KorriTimigan]

It's so dynamic! What an incredible interpretation, I love this!

[@MrDrBoi]

Agreed, it's such a good quest!

[@ShadowWizard224]

The quest itself is definitely a grind but it’s the most satisfying to complete. Seeing them reunite together just 1 minute before the end of the world was really emotional. “We shall greet the morning together.” - Anju 😢

[@tobycat5799]

My first playthrough. I had no idea what was going in. Took me many multiple cycles to get to salons cave. Then.. I had no idea what I was doing.. and i was on a timer I figured it out too late. Nothing has scarred me so hard. Love it

[@Goooober12]

The Anju and Kafei quest is troublesome because it can drag on, but I really appreciate how it fully engages the entirety of the time loop mechanic of the game. The loop has a lot of gameplay implications, but this quest has among the strongest narrative implications. The fact that the second best quest involving multiple days is the Romani Ranch quest which has substantial overlap with the Anju and Kafei quest.

[@ll.5147]

Love the multiple stories and the many different ways it can go based on how you interact with the characters

[@MrDrBoi]

Agreed, I'm really hoping there's some great side quests like it in Tears of the Kingdom!

[@Lunaticusius]

I got everything in this game shortly after the game came out. I myself was a kid at that time and I had to much time. But now it feels like I didn't get the 100% completion as I missed many of these textboxes. I need to play again and try to get the true 100% now. Thank you for this eye opening moment :)

[@MrDrBoi]

Glad to give another reason to go back to this classic!

[@lowlywisp7953]

It's hard to top the feeling of being a covert agent despite the nature of the quest being so personal and playing the role of a child just trying to help folks. That, and the trial and error it takes to solve the puzzle over multiple cycles is just incredible. Returning to the game recently, I accidentally borked a run by saving the bomb lady, because I either never knew that mattered or I simply forgot.

[@MrDrBoi]

I've definitely made that mistake before and been like wtf is going on lol

[@chanimalice3874]

I've always had a theory that Anju's father and Cremia's mother had an affair and ran off together. That's why Anju's mother is so bitter and suspicious of Cremia.

[@MrDrBoi]

The plot thickens haha

[@drascia]

​@@MrDrBoi the Stock Plot Inn

[@Itsa_Me_Jay]

yo i love your videos man. just found the channel today on my homepage, love the zelda content always. also agree that this is the greatest zelda sidequest in history. i love majora's mask

[@MrDrBoi]

Thanks for the kind words, glad you've enjoyed the content!

[@YamatoFukkatsu]

I'm sure the entire script to this game has been dumped somewhere or other. What I wanna know is whether or not anyone has catagorized where you're able to find every piece of dialogue (obvious exceptions to any that've been dummied out). This would be especially helpful to know given the sheer amount of variables you could get out of characters reacting to your different masks.

[@ScrambledAndBenedict]

What you're talking about in this video, is the same reason I always loved the Circus Leader's Mask even though it's completely useless. Well, it DOES have a use, but it can only be used in an event you need to have already beaten to get it, but to me that means it has no actual use. It's only purpose is to give a little bit of depth to the Gorman Brothers. You have these three rude, obnoxious jerks, and that's all they are, until you get that mask. You learn one of them was once inspired to go into show-business because he heard a song as a kid, was inspired, and wanted to meet the people who sang it, and has long-since forgotten that because his life has been hard. Then you have his two brothers, who you learn actually love their middle sibling very much, miss him, feel bad that his life is going hard, envy how he went into show business, and even deep down regret how they've wasted their lives being nothing more than thieves and thugs. It's a really nice little bit of humanization for them.

[@Eagle-rv3iy]

I can definitely relate to having my face impaled by an umbrella 3:53 those days are the worst 🌂

[@MrDrBoi]

LOL

[@chaudspieler]

This side quest felt so great to complete!! Majora's Mask is also my favorite Zelda 3D game easily!! This game is also the last game my Grandma watched me playthrough 100% not long before she passed away. She even taught me how to memorize the songs and thanks to her I do that with every game I play

[@SaumonMalicieux]

I learnt so much about this quest, despite it's my favorite game and I already 100% it twice ! Thanks a lot, this amazing story deserves honour !

[@MrDrBoi]

Awesome!

[@CorbinsChickenCafe]

Thank you for the amazing breakdown! I had no idea this side quest had so many branching paths that led to so much more info to build up the finale!

[@MrDrBoi]

It's awesome how much stuff is hidden! Glad you enjoyed!

[@redstonewarrior0152]

I would have to say that the only other zelda sidequest that comes anywhere near close to the level of Anju and Kafei would be the "From the Ground up" sidequest in BotW. You bring so many people together and help raise a whole town, from the ground up. You have such a permanent and tangible positive impact on the world and upon the lives of the people you have brought together. Many of the people you have brought together were searching for more meaning in their lives, and by introducing them to Tarry town, you gave them that purpose many of them were looking for. And much like with Anju and Kafei, from the ground up ends with you bringing a couple together and helping with their wedding. The sidequest even plays into one of the themes of BotW, that of rebuilding and thriving in a shattered world. But of course, "From the Ground up" does not have the benefit of a 3 day cycle to enhance its sidequests and the stories within. The game allows for great depth within its sidequests, but the lack of a failure state, the ease by which each leg of the quest is completed, and the lack of dark themes within the sidequest holds it back from holding the same monumental degree of impact as what Anju and Kafei had in their sidequest.

[@TrevorCopter]

How messed up is it that the most beautiful emotional moment of this story is predicated on an old lady’s suffering 😂😂😂😂😂

[@MrDrBoi]

She's the true hero of this quest lol