24/01/2021
As gamers, we all have that one game that’s an enigma. The game that’s very essence just seems to confuse you, leaving you wondering if there was something wrong with the game...or maybe it’s you. That game for me, was The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask.
Now, I first played Majora’s mask on the N64 when I was around 7. I had already finished Link’s adventures in previous titles and ignored the warning that this game was different. It definitely was different, so different in fact that I couldn’t even finish the game. I just couldn’t understand the game. Why the need for the three day counter, why the emphasis on the masks and not the temples, why was everything so dark? So difficult we’re these questions that 7 year old me put down the game to play more digestible games, eventually forgetting Majora’s Mask.
Then, when I was 13, I got my hands on a copy of the collectors edition of The Legend of Zelda for the Game Cube. I rushed through all of the games, enjoying every minute of it. Finally though, I eventually got to that all familiar mask. I hesitated for a bit, should I really try to play this game again? I didn’t like it before, so what would make playing it now any different?
Finally, I took a deep breath, and took another trip to Terminus. This time though, it was a trip for the better.
I had grown up quite a bit in the 6 years between my first play through and my second, and the confusion I had when I first played slowly faded away. I understood the reasoning behind the decisions the developers had when making the game. That dark feeling, the emphasis on the masks, and the three day time limit made so much more sense. And as I got older and played more, I find myself getting a better appreciation for this game that I hated so much in the past.
This won’t be my only piece dealing with Majorca’s Mask and definitely won’t be my only piece involving the LoZ series. But mostly, this is a piece to start a dialogue.
What is your game that you used to hate but have found a new sense of appreciation for after playing again after some time? How often has this happened? And has it helped you, like me, realize that sometimes games deserve a second chance?
