|
|
|
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Platform: Nintendo 64 Publisher: Nintendo Developer: Nintendo Projected Release Date: Fall 2000
Zelda: Ocarina of Time really cleaned up when it was released (coming out just before Christmas didn't hurt either). Getting to control Link in a fully 3D world, using Z-targeting, and having a solid story, the game earned every accolade showered upon it. Now the game is getting somewhat of a sequel, as the game is slated to play more like a side story. Whatever the case, there's more Zelda high jinks ahead for fans of the series.
Majora's Mask takes place approximately three months after the events of Ocarina of Time, where Link is a kid again, and getting on with his life. Passing through a forest one day, Link encounters an old man named Stalkid who says he's stolen Link's horse, Epona. With that Stalkid escapes through a doorway so Link must go after him. After passing through the portal Link finds himself in a world that is strangely similar, yet different from his own. Before he has a chance to ponder his predicament, Link notices that the moon is looking awfully big in the sky. Luckily the locals are kind enough to inform him that the moon is plummeting towards the planet and will destroy all life on it within a few days.
While the game will control identically to Ocarina of Time, there are several new items that Link will have at his disposal which, in turn, will grant him new abilities. The most predominant set of items, as the game's title suggests, are masks. It has been suggested that there will be 20 masks available in the completed game, but at this time there are only a few that are known. One mask will enable Link to swim underwater, there is a Goron mask that allows for curling into a ball and rolling around as well as moving boulders, and there is a mask that allows Link to become a Deku Nut monster. Also, a vast majority of the weapons and items from the previous game are likely to return for Majora's Mask. Last, but not least, there will be a hang glider apparatus that has two huge flowers for wings, letting Link fly to otherwise unreachable areas.
Of particular interest is the comment Shigeru Miyamoto made saying that the game will pass in real time. With this in place players won't be lollygagging during their quest, because if they do the moon will hit and everyone and everything on it will be flattened like pancakes.
While the graphics haven't been drastically improved over its predecessor's, the game will require the Expansion Pack. It is necessary because it will allow more things to happen on-screen at once (like facing more monsters), and will be used to help power more advanced enemy AI.
While the story looks like it will provide some interesting "What if?" situations as Link travels this parallel world, the high point looks to be the action elements as players race against the clock to stop the moon. What's been shown so far is looking promising, now it looks like little more than a waiting game as gamers await its release.
Previewed by Kaspian May 15, 2000
|
|
|
