Awesome Majora's Mask Material

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is one of my favorite video games of all time, and arguably the Zelda series' highest achievement. The game stars series protagonist, Link, as he undertakes a strange adventure in the land of Termina. Majora's Mask was initially given the afterthought stigma, labelled as a quick cash grab by Nintendo after the runaway success of all-time great, Ocarina of Time, which was released just two years prior. The last 18-years have proven that Majora's Mask is no quick toss-off, but a force to be reckoned with, staying in player's hearts and minds perhaps even more strongly than its storied predecessor has. Majora's Mask is able to perform things on an emotional and psychological level that few games Nintendo has published can match. From the looming, moon-based apocalypse, which gives an incredible sense of urgency, to the ability to travel back in time, necessary because of Link's continual failure in preventing the destruction of the world, to the interpersonal relationships Link forms with the people of Termina, people he continuously fails to save, to the crushing existential plight of the game's sympathetic villain, who brings down the moon out of sheer loneliness (and evil influence).
There are plenty of enjoyable video game music remixes on the web, but I've recently come across something on an entirely different level. Most video game remixes are merely composed of synth work, but Theophany's incredible remix of Majora's Mask's soundtrack, featuring live instruments, live vocals, strings, and electronics, blows them out of the water. It's a staggering work in the genre, and one from which I hope more artists take a page.


I also discovered the below short film, showing the Majora's Mask's villain's backstory. It is the best video game dramatization I've seen (not much competition there, though!), even though it is only four minutes long.

I haven't yet had the chance to review Majora's Mask for The Nintendo 64 Museum or Classic Video Game Reviews, but this post makes me feel better in the meantime. If you don't have a Nintendo 64, Majora's Mask is available on the 3DS, and likely on the upcoming 64 classic. You couldn't meet a less terrible fate.

P.S. Here's the awesome original commercial made for the game, which actually aired in one of my local movie theaters. I've been pretty hyperbolic here, but has there been a better game commercial than this? One that more aptly gave the feel of its game in a modern setting?

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