The Bittersweet Comfort of Majora's Mask

After busting through the inaccessibility of a first playthrough, Majora's Mask is an endlessly rewarding video game that made me comfortable with finality.
Please visit checkpointorg.com/global/ for a list of mental health resources if you're struggling.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
2:29 I Don't Know What to Do
8:31 I Don't Know What to Say
35:12 I Don't Want to Die
48:37 But I'm Glad I Could Help
Thumbnail by HotCyder - / @hotcyder
Title coined by Kevin the Arcadologist - / arcadology
Featuring music by:
Marble Pawns - marblepawns.bandcamp.com/albu...
16 yr old ( / 16yrold ) x Eera ( / eera0 ) - ( • 16 yr old x Eera - Cle... )
The History of Cremia and Romani (Footage) - • The History Of Cremia ...
Johnny VS Majora’s Mask (Footage) - • Johnny vs. The Legend ...
Cremia hugs Link (Footage) - • Video
Jadusable (Ben Drowned) - / @jadusable
The full story - jadusable.withinhubris.com/Ha...
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Be sure to check out Last Life, a community and forum for thoughtful video game discussion! www.last-life.net
Intro by Pico: / icarotkd
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[@papapesky]

I would like to point out that the inspiration for the Anju/Kafei wedding was inspired by real life experiences. Someone on the dev team (I forget who) attended a wedding while there was the possibility of a missile strike looming. The analysis of 'moving forward even in the face of impending doom' is spot on.

[@cringekid07]

A missile? Is there an article on this? Sounds scary

[@connormclernon26]

@@cringekid07 they were in Korea

[@XCygnusX]

Source? if not, you made it up. Nice try though

[@RiccardoLulli]

@@XCygnusX It's not made up, DidYouKnowGaming reported the fact too in a recent video about Majora's Mask hidden details

[@rubub8455]

that’s terrifying but doing what you can before you die to some world ending threat is a beautiful concept

[@ColtonBCasey]

I love this game with all 4 pieces of my heart.

[@davidhunter6706]

Haha 😂

[@liammcnicholas918]

Good one

[@ZeranZeran]

The part where the dog says "I'm doing this for my wife and kids.. I have to win" - That was written by one of the game devs. How heartwarming. He did good. I bet his family is proud.

[@wigi1323]

I feel like most of this game was written by the game devs lol

[@rubub8455]

@@wigi1323 the npcs obviously have their own minds

[@Vinny_The_Fox]

I agree, he did very well and I bet they look back at this game with a smile every now and then.

[@mattbradshaw7007]

The best part is that he may still not win, he can come first, second, or third, which is a reflection of how we all should tackle issues. We don’t always need to win, but we can try our best.

[@MilestheDirtyMindedGoblin2099]

Amazing 🥹

[@Mswordx23]

Majora's Mask makes me feel more like a hero than any other Zelda game. You laid out beautifully why, with pointing out how it emphasizes "What can I do for you?" rather than "What can you do for me?"

[@MilestheDirtyMindedGoblin2099]

Very true. You really want to help the characters in the game since they are so likeable, and you know that the end is coming and you want to do everything you can for anyone to help them before their demise. You truly feel like a hero in MM because you saved characters from doom, and who feel like actual characters with personalities.

[@jenbraga9372]

EXACTLY

[@Rufus-vq4py]

@@MilestheDirtyMindedGoblin2099 Agree 100%, you saved them not to just get a cool item or power in return, but because saving them was the prize, and what mattered to the player in the first place. Truly special.

[@wintersong2266]

19:35 fun fact: you can use the blast mask without losing any hearts if you block with your shield, it doesn't make any sense and yet they still kept it in the 3DS remake.

[@been_rly_n2_paragliding_lately]

It still surprises me that so many people don't know about this! It totally does make sense though. I mean not "physically", but in terms of game mechanics.

[@mattmas6628]

Played this game 80 times, never knew that

[@groosegartcho5700]

I was about to comment the same thing! I wonder how many people don't know this.

[@devonm042690]

It's not an independent function of the mask. It happens because as long as a bomb explodes in front of Link, having the shield raised will protect him. That's why it's still in the 3DS remake, because bomb explosions work the same in that regard as they did in the original, instead of being made unblockable like they are in all versions of OoT.

[@blindlobster]

Doesn't make sense? You sound like you've never had a bomb explode on your face before.

[@youarelikepapa]

I’ve realized that each time I’m confronted with the loss of a loved one, I tend to want to play MM. I find it really helps work through the feelings of grief and sadness. It’s like free therapy.

[@malwads1836]

It's really helpful for coping with loved ones that have struggled with mental illness too in my opinion... Healing the little girl's ½ zombie dad to get the gibdo mask always gets me🥲.

[@artemisarrow179]

I love all these Majora’s Mask essays and that people 20 years later are still thinking about the game and not just me

[@1ThousandRoads]

I was thinking precisely the same thing. Love 'em.

[@a-terrible-fate532]

yes 20 years later we still think about majoras mask, it that much of an impact on many of us. If only I could get my little nephews to play classics like majoras mask or OOT, but that would require them to think a little and actually pay attention and you don't need those skills to play garbage like roblox, Minecraft etc.

[@sourgreendolly7685]

@@a-terrible-fate532 Games that aren't your cup of tea aren't inherently bad. People that enjoy those have their reasons just like you do for your own preferences. I'm not a fan of FPS games or anything that has a major interaction with real people component, but that's just my asocial introvert nature, it says nothing about those games being good or not. Personally, there's something about exploring in Minecraft and finding interesting worldgen is fun and the mining? I can be meditative if you hit a rhythm, though lava will give you half a heart attack at some point because of that 😂 My point is - I enjoy open world, non-linear games and Minecraft is the most open-world and least linear game I've played. I have to think more about what I want to do and how to get the materials in Minecraft, but less creative people like don't have much interest in creating things like that- which is fine, they just prefer using different skillsets than coming up with their own goals and stories. Your comment was a year ago and you likely have grown out of this anyways but just in case- people liking things you don't like doesn't make them somehow less-than. At the end of the day, I don't see a lot if Minecrafters with a superiority complex over playing Minecraft 😂 They just have fun with their games, and you don't have to think of them at all to have fun with yours cuz they're not in your way.

[@RainbowMan9407]

I couldn't agree more.

[@rachelhendricks6886]

I am in my late 20s, and I remember the severe comfort this game gave me in third grade. I spent hours doing dog races and running around in the stock pot inn. I used to make ramen soup and pretend I was eating the soup Anju served in the inn. I hope to have children one day and watch them play this game.

[@JordanStar7]

This is so wholesome

[@SvintMvrcus]

Same

[@IDoABitOfTrollin]

My kids are playing these games on my childhood N64 for sure. And Majoras mythical mask earned a tattoo to remind me of accomplishments and the melancholy design of reality

[@chrisg1621]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that had such intimate experiences with this game. Countless hours were spent in Clock Town talking to everyone and playing with bending notes on the instruments with the shoulder buttons and joystick. Something about the night in this game is forever stuck in my mind and it's often the feeling I recall even today as I gaze into the infinite abyss of space in our own reality. Here's hoping this message finds you in the most kindred of ways 🌛

[@niahoad]

When i was partying and hung over, i imagined playing the song of double time, n64 version. Losing 12 hours rapidly

[@painuchiha2694]

This game is something truly special I’m not sure we’ll ever get a game like this ever again

[@xz3877]

It's my favorite game of all time.

[@DonkeyFilms]

Play Outer Wilds, it’s got Majoras Mask vibes but in space

[@megabyte01]

@@DonkeyFilms with an endorsement like that, I'll have to give Outer Wilds a look!

[@CassiusStelar]

I know it's not what you're looking for, but Breath of the Wild reminded me so much of Majora's Mask. A small, restrictive starting area. A looming disaster. Four main dungeons but tons of side content. And strict character schedules (specifically those fucking merchants)

[@dotXyore]

​@@CassiusStelar Unfortunately, that's a VERY far reach right there. Only the starting area being restrictive doesn't mean much. Most of the map is still fairly large and empty. Calamity Ganon is a threat to the characters, sure, but it's not some inevitable disaster. You're not on a time limit. Furthermore, Calamity Ganon is a joke of a boss. There are indeed 4 main dungeons here too, but they are the same in aesthetic, are much smaller, and get fairly repetitive with structure and enemies. (The only fun parts of those dungeons to me were getting to them.) I mean, yeah. Those are optional characters. 90% of the characters, however, stand absolutely still. There's no interaction, no time system, and no sense of urgency with the NPCs. I love BotW, don't get me wrong. But you can't compare it to Majora's Mask in that sense. It's just disingenuous.

[@Meowsonn]

The clock town theme plays in my head eternally

[@Aj-zr8dz]

Same here, every damn day for 20 years and I love it.

[@hankriseshill1898]

Same man, same

[@thatguydownthestreat]

technically all 3 versions are still the clock town theme....... lets not talk about the times the third day theme plays in one's head instead....

[@a-terrible-fate532]

its such a classic it has been my ringtone more than once.

[@dunjaasalmasi2017]

Back then I was so young, I didn't dare to leave the town. I had years of fun, in the town alone. It's like home, I know every inch of it, so I feel very nostalgic seeing and hearing clock town.

[@Practicalinvestments]

I remember playing this at a daycare when i was like 9 or 10, couldnt ever figure out how to leave the town lol but the atmosphere stuck with me so much so that even when I got it at 14 it instantly drew me in and gave me that innocent sense of discovery and dread, left a way bigger impact on me then oot did

[@a-terrible-fate532]

there is no town like clock town ❤

[@ChuckyMarks]

Man, I’m dying for a Zelda collection on switch

[@MahouShoujo-Studios]

God, I hope zelda gets the mario anniversary treatment, only it stays available

[@SwedePotato314]

I REALLY really wish all the Wii U games would come to Switch. I have my 3ds but I know a lot of people don't. I'm dying to play BotW. I just can't buy a Wii U, Switch and 3ds andal the games just to play LoZ. Every other single game I play on PC. Or with a PS controller on my PC. Why do I have to buy 3 different consoles after I built a $2k PC and kept my 3ds in good shape for years. Thats wild. I 1000000% agree and feel they could VERY easily port every single game over super easily.

[@MahouShoujo-Studios]

@@SwedePotato314 As a BOTW fan, you seriously need to get it. I don't care if you have to kill someone or sell your organs to the black market, you need to get your hands on a copy.

[@grantairemontparnasse-clar7793]

THIS AGED PERFECTLY

[@MahouShoujo-Studios]

@@grantairemontparnasse-clar7793 How so?

[@PearlBladeBeats]

The bunny hood guy is what made me really wanna 100% this game. Talking to him and having him tell you his dying wish and then being able to complete that for him and allow him to die happy and realizing and getting an amazing reward on top of that made it that much better. The amazing music in this game really brought the emotion into it

[@dicksherman284]

My biggest regret with this game is that I was so young when I played it. I still love the game and have immense nostalgia for it, but that first playthrough is something I cannot recall. I don’t know how I felt the first time I played the game, it’s literally been a part of my life for so long that it’s always been there

[@mattblom3990]

How old Dick? Just curious. I was 17 the first time I played it.

[@minasthirith6314]

majora's mask was my second zelda game. I was 12 or something. Never had I been terrified by a game so much before.

[@dicksherman284]

@@mattblom3990 im 22

[@mattblom3990]

@@dicksherman284 Awesome buddy. You're 22 and still appreciative of the game when you've got 13 years on a 35 year old, old man like me :)

[@ryanchetwynd]

I was a 14-15 year old idiot who used a walkthrough for help like an idiot. When I say help I mean played the whole game along side it. Wish I solved everything for myself

[@smiles4u17]

Ughh just knowing the couples mask was coming up has me tearing up

[@takanuva114]

I remember as a kid, a teenage friend of mine giving this game to me as a gift, along with his n64 and the rest of his relatively small collection of games as a hand-me-down. I got ocarina at the same time but I just loved spending my after-school days exploring Termina in his completed file. It also gave me endless joys when I found something on my own. I would go to all the different areas and just use the masks on everything just trying to see what did what. I did eventually 100% the game on my own file, but I'll never forget those days. I wonder where that friend is now.

[@ray_9088]

Having a beautiful life

[@amirinho9]

I’m right here. Glad you enjoyed my gifts. Godspeed

[@DrDolan2000]

Maybe your friend is in a parallel world like Termina

[@Chiater]

I feel like that is the best way to play this game... messing around once all the main stuff is done and you have most of the items.

[@williewillikers9631]

We're grooving to stone-tower temple music.

[@brotbrotsen1100]

Best dungeon music in zelda. Probably even one of the best dungeons

[@chris1991]

Yesss

[@chris1991]

@@brotbrotsen1100 yes

[@eb_artz]

meanwhile I'm sitting in the corner having traumatic flashbacks from when I was six and Majora's mask scared the living sh*t out of me:

[@AnAdorableWombat]

Omg me too.

[@radretro3777]

One of the most comforting thoughts this game conveys to me is that there is more often than not a second chance to face our problems. When I think I'm at wits end with how things are going in life I think about how I felt when I first played the Song of time after that encounter with Skull kid. There is hope.

[@pluspiping]

This right here is so important and so easy to forget. In this game, you'd love to have another day, or even another couple hours, to get something done. In real life, you probably won't die tomorrow, so you DO have another day. There WILL be another day. Great comment, thanks for the reminder.

[@gamingnintendoworld1904]

Desperation and helpless-ness, But also hope in the face of despair The duality of feeling like its all over or having hope-fullness.

[@bryancross8068]

You must also remember and never forget: That 2nd chance appeared before Link, ONLY AFTER, he had done all he could with the cards he was dealt. And even then..., if Link had never GRABBED the Ocarina..., in those final moments of despair and hopelessness, evil would have won... My point being, Link had to do all he could, and when that wasn't enough, ONE FINAL CHANCE presented itself to the Hero, and had the Hero been lazy or despaired, such as other characters were in the final moments..., evil would have won. You have to be ready for that 2nd chance, and that 2nd chance will only come to you if you've done all you can, and even then, if you don't have the guts to GRAB that 2nd chance, then, you let evil win. So, don't let evil win;

[@kingbash6466]

Majora’s Mask kind of reminds me of the movie, Return to Oz. They’re both sequels to influential pieces in their respective mediums, have a darker tone that displays a sense of dread over them, and are considered cult classics long after their initial release.

[@Se7enDsinSGaming]

Through the looking glass does that as well

[@johngrotegut6454]

Eggs are poison to gnomes

[@thomaseubank1503]

Dorothy Gale DDDOOOORRRAAATTTHHHYYYY GAAALLLEEE!!!!! AHHHHH!!!!! That gave me nightmares as a kid

[@inphanta]

King Bash I've always thought this myself.

[@Htheorphanarian]

only return to oz had zero emotional impact.

[@kyle10590]

The message at the end was something I really needed to hear. Part of it was anyway. It's almost as if it was meant for me directly.

[@hylianyoshi9822]

I felt the same

[@have_a_good_day420]

You are at 1 *69* likes. No way am I gonna mess up your game by liking your comment. Yeah!!! 69!!! 🤜 🤛 👊

[@kyle10590]

@@have_a_good_day420 thanks a bunch man. I need realize show huge this comment got...

[@kyle10590]

@@hylianyoshi9822 I'm glad I am not alone :)

[@namechef7344]

Not even gunna lie, the couples mask park makes me teary eyed everytime.

[@TrueBlindGaming]

wow just found this video. I'm a totally blind gamer working through majora's mask, but listening to this explonation of the finer elements of the game and their meaning, gives me new fire to complete my quest of being the first blind person to beat majora's mask. thank Liamm for putting this together

[@Saben.C-Spoon]

I know I'm 2 years late but hell yeah man, I hope you do it or have already done it

[@KysEcstacy]

​@@user-ps8sl1zu7k theres accesability options for text to speech to read comments. Theres also accesabikity options that make it easier to type

[@michaelkaduck1915]

This game honestly helped prevent me from taking my own life. Even before this pandemic hit, life was pretty miserable. I was still unable to do my community service at a soup kitchen that I had wanted to do, and which I had done for the past 2 years. A friend of mine died from a drug overdose. My family was going through a crisis, I was rejected again from a relationship. It was awful. Then, just knowing I'm stuck in a comfortable home while thousands of people are dying made it worse. Also, the stuff i learned in school was traumatic. The cruelty, the barbarity, nastiness, it made me despair for this world. I was prepared to take my own life. This game helped give me back my faith in myself and humanity. It showed me even the smallest help for someone else can do so much, but that you can't help everyone. And that's okay. You're a human being and human beings are not machines that can do everything. You must put value in your ow life just as much as you should for others.

[@alijahaskew4644]

Damn, that is very touching! I hope you feel better.

[@skeezicksz]

Thanks a lot for sharing. These exact feelings get me a lot. The constant advice that the answer to feeling crushed and insignificant by the world is to try to do things and be good to other people is good advice and consistently helps. But when it doesn’t or when I feel like I don’t have the capacity to just give it’s even more crushing. Having that balance and understanding between doing my small part in a crushing world and accepting my own insignificance is really hard. I really appreciate you sharing your own experiences here.

[@michaelkaduck1915]

I'm glad that it helps someone. I'm still struggle with that feeling of insignificance two years after I wrote this, especially being unable to stop stuff like the War in Ukraine, starvation in my own city, or even more recently...a horrific rape and murder on my college campus. But if small actions can help someone suffering, you all deserve a chance. Please guys, have faith in your own inherent goodness.

[@JameeloJameelo]

Couldn’t have said it better myself. Thanks

[@DrDolan2000]

That's a great message that everyone could get behind. You can't fix everything, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try

[@StriderZessei]

Majora's Mask is such a cathartic game. Seeing how these different characters address their own mortality in different ways, and the day cycle, the way hope seems to triumph in the face of despair, like the last flickers of a dying flame, is just... inspiring.

[@redfrench8968]

On par with KingK one of my favourite KZbinrs. Glad the algorithm is giving me things to subscribe to.

[@thebeast3448]

I love KingK

[@GameSimp]

I immediately knew what you meant by the title

[@ShadowKaiserin]

Majora's Mask is my favorite Zelda game. Mine has not been an easy life, and at my darkest point I picked up this game for the first time since I was a child. It helped me work through my emotions and was a means of catharsis. I still replay it once a year, just to refresh the message. Faith in the people I love, and the expression of that faith by forgiving failure, this is something I will keep in my heart always.

[@TheGGViking]

Im so glad you made this video. Youve summed up everything I love about this game beautifully. A good story is one that makes a person feel, you laugh, you cry, you get angry, and you are filled with both hope and dread. This game solidifies these emotions into an unforgettable experience that has stood the test of time, much like Link himself. This has and more than likely forever will be my favorite Zelda game of all time and im glad to know others see and feel it the same as I do. So thank you for seeing it as it should be and posting this to share with the world.

[@GelberStuhl]

Failing the last part of the Kaifai and Romani quest is the most brutal thing in video games

[@pyrrhickong]

I really wanna thank you for your take on games. It is so nice hearing analysis on games that find solace in the heart of a game's message and feeling. You emphasize directoral choices and gameplay expression as the feelings that the developers wish to instill or bring out in players, and do a really excellent job relating that to your own experience as a player, whilst keeping the conveyance of that message super broad and approachable to viewers. It's something you've been developing through all your vids, but I feel like this one absolutely nails it. The delicate emotional balance of the game unfolds so nicely as you're able to describe each dungeon and quest, somehow able to encapsulate it as an expansion or at least alteration of Ocarina of Time, then the Zelda series as a whole, and how it relates to both the series direction and the overall feeling of Majora's production. I feel emotionally complete watching this video, but still wanting to dive back into the game that brings out those feelings. You've done great work before. This one feels masterful. To me, at least. Absolutely well done.

[@ISerathI]

I played this game for the first time when I was seven, and I didin't even understand english at the time. Through the atmosphere, music and general tone of the game, I managed to vaguely grasp what it was trying to convey. Ten years later, I replayed, and it felt like I've traveled back through time and finally manage to put together all those confused feelings I had when I was a child playing the game. This is far from a perfect game, but it has so much meaning to me and to my life that it became my favourite game of all time, with my favourite music of all time. The melancoly of the song of healing reminds me of the process of creating a deep, personal art piece, not because of the technique or the method, but because you always project a part of yourself in the process. And life, in general, is a bittersweet melancolic piece of art that we are always retouching, repairing, sometimes making mistakes, sometimes putting in beautiful details. I wished this video would never end because of those strong emotions it made me feel, all over agian, twenty two years since I first played the game. Twenty two years since I first found a piece of art that ignited a spark whithin myself that acts like a compass for what I am today, and what I strive to be tomorrow, despite the ever present melancoly that encompasses life. I firmly believe that the time I spent with this game was a major factor that contributed to what I professionally do today (I'm a psychologist). When you've put the words "what can I do for you" in the screen , it all came together. In the end, we help people in the game, but we're but a spec in their overall lives. That, to me, is where lies the melancoly of life. To share those specs with people we love, people we want, and walk beside them while they live their lives. And when the end comes for us all, all that's left are those specs, the memories of what we meant to anyone.

[@SuperJollyRainbows]

This comment is beautiful and made me cry, thank you for sharing. ♡

[@ARandomBlackFox]

I clicked on the notification for this with the video being out for 18 seconds. I already love this and I adore this game. Forever thankful for your content

[@dedicatedgamer2500]

I have poignant memories of this game. I was a teenager when it launched and received it as an early Christmas present. I actually played this on an old black and white TV with the Chilli Peppers on loop in the background with my cat on my lap. Very happy memories. 20 years ago.

[@itz_premium]

How telling of the nature of these games... "Cant stop, addicted to the shin dig"

[@RCD97-hm5mv]

I visited a friend's house when I was really young and he always did that........

[@RCD97-hm5mv]

He got it on Christmas too

[@dedicatedgamer2500]

@@RCD97-hm5mv Well, it released just before Christmas, just like Ocarina. I remember the build up to Ocarina. Kept a load of magazine cuttings. Bear in mind I was pretty young!

[@Kaiser00Wilhelm]

I just replayed this game, and by god, this video made me cry. It's just so real. The game has such a sense of profound loneliness that eventually becomes joyous relief by the end. Even then, it's still bittersweet.

[@yungthunder2681]

The greatest game ever made A wonderful tribute

[@linkthepig4219]

Minecraft and Ocarina tho

[@linkthepig4219]

@Miss Leblanc You can literally make anything in minecraft, and play or do anything. Therefore minecraft is objectively better bcuz you could just recreate MM.

[@linkthepig4219]

@Miss Leblanc Well I mean Vanilla Minecraft maybe not but modded well I mean u could just do anything you could imagine.

[@linkthepig4219]

@Miss Leblanc Lol it is a great game, it just takes a while to get into

[@a-terrible-fate532]

amen !

[@EtraGames]

I never noticed that parallel with the player/link “dying” and leaving the game without regrets, like the citizens of Clocktown try to do. Fantastic analysis of a fantastic game. I always love when you can learn more from a piece of art no matter how many perspectives you hear of it.Thanks for doing what you can to continually bring joy to others.

[@ruolbu]

24:42 That sounds so weird to me. As someone who loves this game as much as you, who completes 100% it and is inspired by it, as someone who put hours into exploring it as a child, efficiency and planning was never a great deal to me. It was often actually the opposite, very chilled out and layed back. I might decide to work towards the next progression gate, i.e. do story quests until I got a transformation mask or a song or warp statue. Then, instead of working my ass of to fit the rest of the quest into the cycle I would just muck about, do some sidequests, or farm rupees from the big bird or what I mostly just did, stalk the townsfolk. Wasting time was always a core experience of my time with Majoras Mask. I can always return to the story on the next cycle. Often I would start a sidequest and do nothing in that cycle except for that one quest (like the deku flower challenge), i.e. skip time forward until the next step in that story. Or I might skip day 1 and 2 entirely and just check out what people in town do on day 3 because I less often make it to that time. Before entering a dungeon I usually return to the first day just to make sure I got all the time I need. And then to find the fairies I usually invest an entire cycle as well, if I did not find them the first time through. So yeah, your talk of efficiency being the core of the gameplay and your experience including discomfort really does not connect with me at all. But cool to see how different people experience the same game.

[@jorgeoquendo7514]

I agree, i see people on reddit always saying "i hate it because of the time mechanic" and i never understand why... there shouldn't be any time management anxiety at all, realistically you have unlimited time to do whatever you want. The "time limit" isn't a time limit, it's a **clock**. The point is to explore and learn about the npcs and their schedules. It's there for you to know what time it is so you can visit people on their schedules when you stumble upon an event while exploring. It works in tandem with the notebook.

[@ruolbu]

@@jorgeoquendo7514 I feel the same when people say that exact line. Thanks for the feedback. It's nice to see that some folks upvoted and agreed with my sentiment.

[@Kagomai15]

I was following along with him during that moment because that's been my experience with Majora's Mask for years, but until I read your comment I couldn't remember what it was like to play as a kid. I *did* waste so much time waiting for the clock to strike midnight on the third day, waiting for Kafei to show up, waiting for the aliens to show up, just waiting. Running around, exploring, talking to people, trying to figure out those stupid Sheikah stones that you gotta change colour, trying and failing and trying and failing to save the ranch because I never realized the aliens show up on your map (a game changer right there, poor kid me haha). The only time crunch was racing to get dungeons done and collect all the fairies before I ran out of time. The actual most stressful time was always in Sakon's hideout with Kafei because I didn't want to screw up *again* and have to warp out without him and do the whole three day sequence *again*. I never got all the masks until I was 13 (so like, 2007) and broke open that sealed section of the walkthrough book and hunted the masks down. Actually, I don't remember being very into the game until I used the walkthrough; my dad said it was cheating, but MM was such a jump in difficulty from OoT. (Not that playing it was hard, but that I wasn't very good at finding all the clues on these mask trails, or putting those clues together.) It's only as an adult who's played this game a million times that I try to do as many things during a cycle as efficiently as I can, because that's what makes it fun for me now, when there's no truly new discoveries to make lol I almost forgot about that entirely! Thank you for sharing your experience; it helped me remember mine! ♡ (Edited for spacing- I didn't realize how much a wall of text this was until after I published it lol)

[@quinnmarchese6313]

@@jorgeoquendo7514 for me, its not the clock that stresses me. The persona games stress me in the much the same way, its not "ok, how should i spend my time", the stress is actually more from "was what i did then going to help me now, later, or never".

[@jorgeoquendo7514]

@@quinnmarchese6313 Everything you do in MM helps at least once, all the masks do. It's never a waste of time to get one. Aside from that, exploration is it's own reward and often gives Heart Pieces or rupees to deposit besides. I don't view any of MM as padding, it's all worthwhile.

[@druffthewolf3830]

I first discovered MM during a time when my parents were having a divorce. During one particularly challenging time, I found the soundtrack for it at an import store, so I bought it. Keep in mind that this was before the game released in the states. It brought me comfort during that confusing and painful experience; 20 years later, I still find solace whenever I listen to it.

[@meaninglez100]

You brought up a lot of cool things that where changed or removed in the 3DS remake, I was actually expecting you to bring it up, but then you went ahead and hit me in the emotional spots

[@ArniesTech]

MM gave me the MOST bittersweet memories. The final hours and the people's reactions almost shattered me 😭😭😭

[@ph03nixflame]

Ah heck I wasn't expecting to tear up from a video about my favorite Zelda title, but did you ever do it Liam. You phrased many of my top reasons for loving Majora's Mask so very eloquently, it really brought me back to the emotions I felt while first playing it many years ago. I'm not sure if there will ever be another Zelda title that will ever push me in so many ways, but I'm sure glad that they were willing to put so much into a "sure to sell well" sequel. Thanks for making this video, it really made my night!

[@zarnox3071]

The music during the last 6 hours instills a sense of hopelessness, that no matter what you do, you've already lost. It reminds me very much of Agnus Dei/Adagio for Strings, which was famously used in Homeworld when you find Kharak incinerated.

[@thebass4511]

Alright Liam lets see what you have for us this time.

[@yqafree]

Your impressions?

[@roachdogg1935]

Playing the gorgon lullaby to the cow circling around termina field will cause the crow to drop rupees

[@Kalashnikow42]

I really appreciate, that you use footage from the N64 in it's 4/3 aspect ratio. No stretching. No footage from the new DS version. Thank you :)

[@TheJanseBaenger]

im in tears right now. you rememberd my why i love this game so much, the storry of all side quests, the ambition, all of it plays a mayor roll and it is perfect. so thank you for remembering about it

[@MSDGAMEZ]

So glad i found this channel. Definitely my top 3 channels. He deserves hundreds of thousands of followers

[@matbro95]

Is there a limit to the 1 hour Majora's Mask videos I will watch? No. :)

[@devonm042690]

The only limit is the one of the number that exist.

[@kennypelesic]

Same 😂

[@mscarn1]

Maybe

[@mrminerduck6781]

This is even my 3rd documentation about mm

[@BigPanda096]

As a man who at 25, has lost 3 significant others to death, this game has brought me both crippling depression, and invigorating joy. The most recent of my loves who passed was a very big fan of the Song of Healing. We played it at her ash scattering, and every time I hear it I uncontrollably cry, yet also feel comfort that I can't explain. Kafei's quest is the one quest I can no longer do. No matter how hard I try I simply can't get through it. Be it because of my own emotions on the matter, being some that I don't think I can ever come to terms with and likely will never overcome, or it just hurts me because of that damage and I know it thus don't want to face it, I don't actually know. All I know, is despite how much emotiona damage I've endured this young, is that to this day [minus Kafeis quest] this game gives me comfort, and though I cry uncontrollably when I hear it, the Song of Healing does help in what I can only perceive as healing. If you love someone, tell them, show them, don't wait. You never know when the last time you'll see them will be, and you don't want regrets about saying something bad for that last time, trust me. It's hard. Have a good day everyone.

[@matth3760]

This is my all time favorite game, ever, and I still remember the vibes I got from first playing it were the same when I first played Banjo-Tooie after beating Banjo-Kazooie when I was like 6. Where BK and OoT were a bit more lighthearted and easier to slip into, BT and MM were absolute polar opposites and made me feel creeped out and gave me such dread. But I think that’s why I loved them so much more than their original counterparts and honestly still do.

[@ShadowSkyX]

What I like is how, to a child, OoT is seemingly light hearted - save for the bottom of the well and shadow temple being the outwardly darkest part - but the great deku tree's death sets the real tone of the game, and what he says beforehand conveys a constant about link; though his efforts were successful, everyone close to him still dies or forgets him.

[@koskk_]

This is absolutely beautifully put together. I didn't even realize this video was nearly an hour long until it was over. You've put to words something I've never been able to when trying to explain why this is one of my favorite games. I played this game extremely young and it always stuck to me b/c of all the surface(ish) level gimmicks and gameplay. But then when it got rereleased for 3DS, I realized the true beauty of the game. And it's exactly as you said. From it's well crafted game design to it's story and world. You aren't merely a hero on a quest, you're a person trying to do right and help those around you. Seeing all the characters and their struggles, how they deal with them and how they feel when they've found peace. It feels so real. They feel like someone you could meet in your everyday life. The person behind the counter at the store you go to. The grumpy regular at the restaurant you like. The friendly neighbor who always offers a smile. They all have their struggles that you might never know about. Compassion is a truly beautiful thing to learn is it not.

[@EzekielGoldbergII]

This is probably the best video on MM that I've ever seen. You actually go into what makes it special and what makes up the soul of this game. Something that a lot of other videos touch on but rarely ever really grasp. Thank you. I really wish games in this style still existed. Not the game mechanics, but the whole concept.

[@MisterTellius]

Hey someone else might’ve told you this already, but if you use your shield while you set off the bomb mask, you won’t take any damage.

[@TitansTracks]

I love the Astral Observatory music! So many memories with this game, and you pretty much explained how I feel looking back at this game 20 years later! 💎

[@AnAdorableWombat]

It sounds so peaceful and serene. I love that music too.

[@TitansTracks]

@@AnAdorableWombat Oh absolutely, by far one of the funnest tracks I've remixes from the Zelda series! 💎

[@RedHatGuyYT]

one evening when i was a kid, I was up to Woodfall. all of a sudden, the atmosphere of the entire game hit me all at once. I legit lost my fcking mind and was screaming for my parents. Not joking.

[@quinnmarchese6313]

to this day, the existentialism present in Majora's Mask prevents me from playing it. Its fucks with my depression

[@ShadowSkyX]

@@quinnmarchese6313 I used to go back to play oot if I played Majoras mask for too many hours. The game's mood was definitely different and even though I liked it, it brought my mood down. Playing oot made me feel better, came across to me as the more light hearted game, no constant reminders, clock or consequence for screwing around. Plus I knew the game like the back of my hand, there were still bits here and there that gave me a bit of trouble back then, but the difficulty was still there but manageable. I didn't realize until years later that oot was designed more to be friendly and had a childlike attitude. In hindsight it makes sense why I continually went back to that game, and preferred it over Majora's mask. Ocarina of time > Childhood fantasy. Majora's Mask > Adulthood reality. The reality of what happens when you go through a journey like oot. The likely ptsd, the guilt of not saving the people who needed it, but your job and age prevented you from doing more to help. along with the guilt, the anger, and feeling abandoned that you suffer alone and no one knows, no one understands or even asks.

[@quinnmarchese6313]

@@ShadowSkyX majoras mask is the one game i can think of that when i beat it, i just felt empty. it was so well done, but the ending is just leaves you reeling. No thoughts, no words, it just leaves you in this state of hyper awareness of time. Its the one game that really feels like an existential nightmare, not mention the very real horror elements already present.

[@thendar823]

I teared up alot during the course of this video, all those beautiful moments in which you truly made a difference and helped the people of Termina. To me it always meant so much more to help those individuals in Majors Mask than "just" saving the world. You've done an absolutly amazing job with capturing the soul of this Game. I thank you for that!

[@nurk_barry]

Stoked to see a new long video from you, my night is booked... And dude, that part about having a younger brother yourself and being strong for him because it kills you to see him in pain or fear, yeah man, that was real right there. Made me cry during that part of the video, your thoughts on this game are so vivid and true. Great work sir.

[@froggoTV]

You put everything I always thought into words in this video! I agree with you on everything. This game really excels once you are able to manage and plan out the cycles. It is so rewarding making the most out of the 3 days. Great video man !!

[@FeltonDood]

I come back to this video every 4 months or so. I love Majora's Mask so much and the way you talk about it makes me like it even more.

[@DragonCraft07]

The ending brought a tear to my eye. Truly a great video and wonderful job.

[@jaymelicea7606]

Stellar work, my favorite video essays are the ones that get this type of deep

[@LukeTennisMofo]

Majora’s Mask is a tremendously discussed, dissected, and analyzed game - well deservedly so. This is absolutely one of the best works of analysis for the game. Outstanding work

[@Arjak2]

This series of videos continues to impress me with every entry. Your ability to analyze these games on a deeper level is astounding, bringing to light details I never considered before. Keep up the incredible work!

[@Bl00dyCh33rry]

You've hit every single nail of why I love this game so much and why it's so incredibly special to me. And heck, I'm glad I'm not the only one who sobs over Romani and Cremia for those exact reasons (in fact any time I think about them I cry, no matter where I am and what I'm doing). Majora's Mask is incredible in every way despite some of its gameplay flaws. I don't think we'll ever get another game like Majora's Mask, especially within the Zelda series, and I'm okay with that, because that's what makes MM truly special, beautiful, and most valuable out of every single game I've played and own(ed). Thank you so much for making this video.

[@ZHyruleFantasy]

Wow this an amazingly well written video, im doing retrospectives for each zelda game in order and when i get to MM idk how i could possibly create something as great as this, some parts made me tear up lol. Great job man.

[@zoeyamon935]

Incredible video, made me tear up and cry several times

[@chadtalbot8917]

I've been binge watching your Zelda videos the just few days and I've really been into them and getting your perspective. I'm excited for this 👍🏻

[@samjoyner998]

I can’t. This made me cry. Zelda has always been my favorite game series and majoras mask as my 2nd favorite (with twilight Princess as my 1st) and to hear you interpret this way was amazing! Great work! It reminded me why I love this series again!

[@JackKlompus13]

I like your message at the end. Very smart. Very thoughtful.

[@scrapsdesposel1233]

C'mon man, everytime I watch you're videos I start tearing up a bit, they're that good

[@Atomsk484]

Well worth the wait, sir. And you've encapsulated and embodied the message of this game perfectly. You make the world a better place through your work with videos such as this. Thank you.

[@jacocristoforo]

I think this is my favorite video on KZbin now. What an amazing analysis of what's always been my favorite game and the one whose lessons and messages I think about constantly. A masterpiece

[@BladeCrossEXE]

"I was conditioned to discomfort, and found pure bliss." Ah, so, Stockholm Syndrome.

[@phoebeglasscock7149]

When I first played this game I used to think the 3 day time limit made it impossible. Now it’s one of my favourite Zelda games because of the time limit

[@rutabayga]

Dude your content is incredible! I can't get enough of these in depth breakdowns of the various themes and narratives that make the Legend of Zelda games so great.

[@Osafune2]

As I got older I think this is my favourite Zelda game (though of course that can often change.) It’s got this weirdness to it that I think is lost on kids perhaps. It’s a bit Lovecraftian, there’s a desperation and quiet madness and the fact that it is condensed into a three day cycle makes everyone feel more authentic and alive. A mischievous imp uses dark magic to bring the grinning, wide-eyed moon crashing into the earth, but a young boy tricks time and uses the power of ancient masks to thwart him with the aid of giants. It sounds like a myth, or a piece of lore mentioned in the intro to a far broader game. But here you are taking part and playing it out

[@kyle10590]

Another majora's mask video. You're the greatest.

[@ShaneT5S]

This game is, and always will be, my favorite game of all time. I love the dark, yet cheery atmosphere. And considering how quickly it was developed, it feels so well put together. The music is great, the characters you help feel real. It truly is a masterpiece in my opinion. Unfortunately the changes in the 3DS version made that specific version lower on my list compared to the original. And despite it being newer and better running, framerate and resolution wise, I still will go back to the 64 version in a heartbeat

[@rodjerdankist1125]

Well Said!

[@Inogat]

best retrospective so far btw. Very good writing and editing and everything!

[@MasterOfNone2023]

Dude, this was amazing. Well put together, articulate, and you made some incredible points. Stirred up a lot of nostalgia and fond memories for me.

[@Acecard-jl2py]

I find it hard to appreciate Majora's Mask. On my 6th birthday, it was one of the most frustrating games I have ever played due its oppressive nature. Even when I wised up with more years of experience under my belt, coming back to it to finish it still left an icky taste in my mouth. The abundance of side quests might be charming, but I never had fun with them in comparison to just simply exploring hyrule to find heart pieces or upgrades. Majora's side quests adds in an extra step that once completed I never want to do again. It's a game that has a great amount of atmosphere and charm but I can't seem to have much fun with it. I lean on the side that Ocarina of Time is the better game but I will not ignore Majora's strengths.

[@evdestroy5304]

This is how I felt for my first playthrough. I love Majora now, but I'll definitely agree any day that Ocarina is better

[@risupress6916]

I have this exact same feeling, and I think a lot of people who enjoy the game so much played it in a time where they had access to answers easily. I know very few people who actually finished the game completely blind without needing to look things up, and those people were young adults by the time it had released on N64. This game can become brutally grinding and annoying if you have no access to a guide of some sort, like many kids didn't during that time when the internet wasn't really around. That said, it is a beautiful game with some great story telling, but I didn't enjoy it until I went back to finish it as an adult. I still don't enjoy the minigames and collect-a-thons though.

[@evdestroy5304]

@@risupress6916 Majora was definitely made for those who had already mastered Ocarina. It has a very sharp difficulty curb that's only made sharper if you aren't good with the mechanics Ocarina already set in stone, as the best thing it has for a tutorial is like one sign at the beginning of the game and afterwards very little help.

[@ShadowSkyX]

Ocarina of time is more child-like in nature. The world design was more playful on purpose and for a long time i gravitated to oot more because of that (though this is hindsight talking). It was less oppressive and more light hearted in presentation overall. It conveyed the sense of innocent fun and having no overarching time limit allowed you to shirk responsibilities for as long as you wanted, and you could ignore it without consequence. MM doesn't allow you to do that. It is effectively the traumatic reality of being hero, of taking on responsibility. The enforced consequences for ignoring responsibilities too long is part of the narrative itself..and i believe now its actually characterizing link's sense of responsibility and the pressure to not fail those who need help. So is the notebook and the forced time limit. If you pay attention, you'll notice he was always too late in oot and the one time he wasn't, he led ganondorf to the triforce and ganondorf took over hyrule, un-opposed. Resetting back to the first day is a much more effective reminder you have things to do than Navi ever was.

[@cfdeers]

nice long form essay, or should I say, documentary!

[@Exalted-Beleth]

Liam, that ending touched my soul. I literally teared up. Thank you for putting so much effort into these videos and giving us life lessons. ❣️

[@albertogestosoarce2108]

Best video ever about Majora's Mask, and I have seen many all these years. Thanks for the amazing job

[@wozthescott2804]

Never even heard about this channel but I'm glad this video was in my recommended.

[@AT7outof10]

I also get that obsesive need to be as efficient as possible when replaying MM, when the 3DS remake came out I was plotting out routes in my head to be grossly over prepared for the first temple. Odolwa didn't see it coming. lol

[@briandenapoli3250]

One of the best narratives I have heard on KZbin. Truly remarkable Liam good job

[@seanmcilroy5106]

Thanks for the video as always! The effort and passion you put in is obvious, and its what makes these videos great. These are just the tonic for me to have on while im working, and Im always excited to see a new one pops up!

[@richmenace_9485]

When I was a kid, I always played the game during the first day. I loved going around pretending I was a town resident and exploring, etc. But as soon as the dawn of the second day loomed I always went back in time because I was too scared and didn’t want to watch everyone die. I would continuously push myself to see if I could make it to the final hours without turning the game off but as soon as I heard the final hours music I immediately ran up and hit the power button

[@aurk9956]

i got so excited when i got the notification for this lmao

[@aidyn6508]

I watch a lot of videos about The Legend Of Zelda, but yours speak to me on a different level. I don’t know if it’s because we played most of the same games growing up, but listening to your videos feels like talking to a friend about something we’ve both loved our whole lives. It gives me a feeling of comfort and happiness that I’ve barely felt out of playing the Zelda games themselves. So from me, and probably 100s of fans of yours like me, thank you, just for being you, and continuing to put all your effort into these amazing retrospectives for us. we appreciate it more than you’ll ever know.

[@itsJoshWashington]

This was beautifully written and deserves a sub. Thank you for this video. The ending was great.

[@samt3412]

Wait, the Blast Mask is an obscure reward? I thought most players would see the Blast Mask cutscene when playing as Deku Link on the first loop. By the time you're able to start the hide-and-seek mini game with the Bombers in North Clock Town, it would probably already be Night 1.

[@Ghost812many]

That....was.....powerful stuff man! Hands down the best breakdown of a game I have ever seen. Almost let my hooman side slip out for a few seconds, luckily the locks held...

[@cameronlodor6985]

I find myself coming back to this video alot. I think it’s the best retrospective about Majoras Mask on youtube, as well as one of the best videos you’ve made. You’ve come a long way man, great job.

[@veturwinter]

I doubt I'll ever see a majoras mask video as good as this, you managed to both give the gameplay aswell as the themes a great analysis that do justice to what they planned to achieve

[@eddoh2701]

Cremia make her little sister drunk with special "milk", so she doesn't feel a thing when the moon falls.

[@ktpreciouscolors4118]

...well now I feel dumb.

[@seandowney5739]

God that last 10 minutes. I don’t wanna feel this much my man.

[@rickrhone8420]

so glad i found your videos dude, you talk about zelda with so much respect and love

[@aminkajtaz4531]

Kindness is the sincerest form of strength...thats the lesson majoras mask really spoke to me and the fact your reward for being the kindest person you can be is basically a cheat code really drives it home for me. Great video man, keep it up!