Happy Halloween!

In our opinion, Majora's Mask is the creepiest game in the Zelda series, so we thought it would be a fitting choice for our Halloween episode. We talk about some of the largest contributing factors to the game's eerie mood, as well as how you should spend your Halloween night…

One of the unsettling components of the game is the presence of death and deep, dark emotions. In fact, one of the most popular themes of the game is grief. There are strong ties between the five regions of Termina and the five stages of grief. Clock Town represents denial as most of the citizens won't acknowledge the falling moon. The swamp represents anger as King Deku is prepared to execute a monkey out of an irrational belief that the monkey kidnapped his daughter. The mountains represent bargaining as the ghost of Darmani begs Link to use magic to bring him back to life. The sea represents depression as Lulu isolates herself after the loss of her eggs. And finally, Ikana Valley represents acceptance after the undead King Igos du Ikana accepts that his kingdom has fallen into decay and ruin. It becomes Link's quest to bring peace to the grieving of these four regions.

Majora's Mask is filled with strange, creepy characters, some of whom were seen in Ocarina of Time. The first character you encounter in Ikana is the Poe Collector who always has a creepy thing to say or ask of you. There's also Sharp, the royal composer poe, who uses his music to suck out your life in his cave of skeletons. Even the humans in Ikana, Pamela and her nameless father (we'll just call him Patrick) have their own disturbing secret. Outside of Ikana, there's the introduction to the infamous hand in the toilet, a character who surprisingly makes a reappearance in Skyward Sword. This game also features a new lineup of strange and frightening enemies, mostly in its mini-bosses. You have to face off against the mostly harmless eyeball, Wart, the cackling Wizzrobe, and the terrifying grim-reaper, Gomess. Not to mention the Death Armos and Eyegore in the Stone Tower Temple.

So, how should you spend your Halloween? First, go to Romani Ranch at night, let the aliens abduct Romani, and return the next day to see how they fry her mind. Next, travel to Deku Palace and witness the king boil the captured monkey. Then, head over to Ikana Valley at night, complete the bottom of the well without the Stone Mask or Gibdo Mask, and if the undead don’t kill you, head to Sharp's cave and chill there with Sharp. Finally, go to Termina field on the final night, let the time run out, and watch the Moon obliterate the whole world, ending with those eerie words, "You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?"

References:

Aonuma on the 5 stages of grief fan theory in Zelda: Majora’s Mask | GameLuster

Game Theory: Is Link Dead in Majora's Mask?

The Mystery of Majora’s Mask’s “Aliens” (Legend of Zelda)

The G-Files: Zelda - Ben Drowned Creepypasta

This episode is rated Casual. Discussion topics are intended for those who have played the games and are familiar with the stories, gameplay, and lore. There’s will also likely be spoilers to those who haven’t played through the games. We recommend spending a couple hours playing the games from this episode before listening.

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In our first episode around Majora's Mask, we welcome our cousin, Andrew McCord as our guest on the show. Andrew and Timmi both are fanatics about this game, and they take this opportunity to prove why Majora's Mask is the best game in the series.

No matter your opinion about the game, it's hard to deny that this is the most unique of them all. We discuss how the time limit mechanic introduces a whole new way to tackle puzzles and manage quest progress. And even though this game recycles all of Ocarina of Time's assets and 3D engine due to its small production timeline, there's a unique spin put onto every returning character you meet in the game. The overall theme also made the game very distinct from its predecessor. Where Ocarina of Time is themed around magic and faith, Majora's Mask presented themes closer to science and technology.

The game also boasted a vibrant color palette with much more intricate artwork. This helped communicate the tone of the game, which could be summed up as beautiful on the outside but twisted on the inside. Andrew compared it to the Gilded Age of the United States when everyone was manufacturing cheap goods but gilding them in gold to make them appear beautiful. This game looks beautiful and inviting at the onset, but as soon as you take one step into the life of an NPC or the story of Termina itself, the surface corrodes away, and you are left with a deep and twisted conflict to unravel.

Majora's Mask is praised by many, but there is still a significant percentage of the fandom who dislike the game or underrate it. We discuss how the time mechanic of the game, as well as the fragmented nature of the story, turn people away. This is also the darkest game in the series, so many fans find it bleak and heavy, especially in contrast to games like Wind Waker that come after it. For us, this is one of the most fascinating aspects of Majora's Mask. It forces players to face difficult and complex emotions on screen, and it is all themed around closure, including for Link. As he is fighting to find his identity after the closing events of Ocarina of Time, this chapter in his adventure serves as a critical self-discovery that will eventually prepare him to return to Hyrule and leave his legacy as the Hero's Shade in Twilight Princess.

What are our favorite aspects of the game? Andrew loves how deep the game is (and riding around as a goron!), Timmi loves being able to get into the lives of every NPC in the game, and Tanner loves the model it created for how to create interesting sequels to successful Zelda titles.

All-in-all, this game is a landmark in Zelda history, and no matter how you feel about it, it's worth playing again and again because there will always be something new to find!

This episode is rated Casual. Discussion topics are intended for those who have played the games and are familiar with the stories, gameplay, and lore. There’s will also likely be spoilers to those who haven’t played through the games. We recommend spending a couple hours playing the games from this episode before listening.

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We've wrapped up our first round of episodes, which were dedicated to Ocarina of Time, and now we're moving our focus to the sequel, Majora's Mask. In this quick intro, Tanner gives some of the development background behind the game's production, and Timmi gives a brief rundown of the story. If you've played Majora's Mask, then skip right on to Episode 7.

This episode is rated Beginner. Discussion topics are broad and tailored to all levels of gamer, especially those who have never played Zelda. Spoilers for games are at a minimum.

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This episode wraps up our discussion of Ocarina of Time for a while, so we're going out strong with a reflection on all the best and most nostalgic aspects of the game. Tanner, Timmi, and Tyson discuss their most nostalgic locations, songs, boss fights, characters, cutscenes, and more. At the end of the day, this game was foundational for all of us, but there is much more to explore through all Zelda games.

References:

YouTube - Something About Zelda Ocarina of Time: The FIRE TEMPLE -      TerminalMontage

This episode is rated Casual. Discussion topics are intended for those who have played the games and are familiar with the stories, gameplay, and lore. There’s will also likely be spoilers to those who haven’t played through the games. We recommend spending a couple hours playing the games from this episode before listening.

Follow us on Instagram and YouTube! @shorts.on_line

What is Lore?

Lore is the collection of knowledge and traditions held by a group of people. In the fantasy genre, it's the building blocks of the world in which a story takes place. Lore plays a large role in the Legend of Zelda series because it connects the games to each other, and it drives the story elements in each game. It also provides fans like us to explore the games even deeper. Two excellent resources that Nintendo has released are Hyrule Historia and Zelda Encyclopedia, both of which are used frequently in this episode. Ocarina of Time has a straightforward lore structure, making it an ideal game to dig into for beginners and diehards alike. 

The lore centers around the Triforce, the supreme power left behind by the three goddesses. It can grant the deepest desire of anyone worthy who places their hand on it. However, anyone who touches it and is found to be imbalanced between the three virtues of power, wisdom, and courage causes the Triforce to separate into three pieces. It is kept in the Sacred Realm, which has roots back to the earliest age of Hyrule. In Skyward Sword, Link must endure three trials in a place called the Silent Realm, a reflection of the physical world. It can be speculated that the Silent Realm is in fact the early Sacred Realm. The Triforce is also protected by sages, individuals chosen by the goddesses to guard the Sacred Relam. The ancient sage, Rauru, built the Temple of Time to act as a door to the Sacred Realm. The sages also represent an element of existence: light, forest, fire, water, shadow, and spirit. In Ocarina of Time, Link must awaken each sage, who gives him a medallion signifying their alliance in fighting against Ganondorf. They also collectively have the power to open the doors to the Sacred Realm from the inside, and they must use this power to seal Ganondorf away with the Triforce of Power. 

Another mysterious lore piece in Zelda is the Sheikah tribe. In Ocarina of Time, Link learns of an inquisition conducted by the Sheikah tribe where enemies of the Royal Family were interrogated and tortured. Thus, the Shadow Temple stands as a taboo of Hyrule's dark and bloody history. The Sheikah are an ambiguous group of people whose purpose ranges from assassins to messengers to attendants to everything in between. 

And finally, there's the timeline split. At the end of the game, Zelda chooses to send Link back in time to reclaim his childhood. This creates a time paradox: Zelda continues to exist in her timeline, but Link goes back and starts a new timeline. This paradox creates a sticky situation with the Triforce. When Link goes back in time having wielded the Triforce of Courage, it is as if he had touched the still-complete Triforce of the past. Since he is imbalanced (dominantly courageous), the Triforce inadvertently splits again, giving an unsuspecting Ganondorf the Triforce of Power as he's being executed in Twilight Princess. In Zelda's timeline, the Triforce of Courage is left suspended without a wielder, so it shatters into eight pieces which the Royal Family collects and hides all over Hyrule for the Hero of Winds to find in Wind Waker. Both Hyrule Historia and Zelda Encyclopedia cover this timeline split in detail.

This episode is rated Diehard. Discussion topics are very specific around certain aspects of the game, and references may not be familiar even to those who have played the game. There are also spoilers for those who haven’t played through the games. We recommend playing through the games from this episode completely before listening.

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Hitchhiker Level: Casual.

The story of Ocarina of Time is one of the most powerful tools that the game uses to engage players and build its legacy. Timmi and Tanner dive into what elements contributed to the story being so riveting to so many people over the years. In film production, directors will use what's called the "director's palette." Similar to a palette that a painter uses, the director's palette are the different tools to create art through film, such as composition, lighting, sound/music, characters, plot, etc. Video game developers also use a similar palette to craft compelling stories like Ocarina of Time. 

Great stories are also built around the Hero's Journey which outlines the arc of a main character through their transformational experience. This model serves as the backbone of this episode. Act One is the separation which is seen as Link is called to adventure by the Great Deku Tree. He is thrust into the great wide world of Hyrule and sent to unite the various peoples throughout. Act Two is the supreme ordeal which Link faces throughout his journey. He experiences loss, failure, and devastation as he strives to unite the people against Ganondorf. The forging of these authentic relationships is known as Heiros Gamos and is critical to making the quest personal to the main character. One of these relationships is Sheik, the mysterious boy remnant of the Sheikah tribe. Throughout Link's quest as an adult, Sheik is the one constant through the turbulence and trial. He is the anchor that Link is tied to, and this makes it even more shocking and satisfying when it is revealed that Sheik is Zelda in disguise. The most powerful relationship is built between Link and Zelda as they work together to purify the temples of Hyrule and find the sages to awaken. This ultimate alliance culminates in the ultimate loss when Zelda is taken from Link after she reveals herself and is left vulnerable to Ganondorf's power. Act Three is the showdown between Link and Ganondorf, archnemeses made over the course of seven years. Upon his initial defeat, Ganondorf sinks into pure rage, and the battle ensues between pure good and pure evil. As Link emerges victorious, he enters the final stage of the Hero's Journey: unification. He must integrate with the mundane world he left behind, and this is really well-illustrated in Ocarina of Time because Zelda sends him back in time, literally returning him to the ordinary world of Hyrule that is free from Ganondorf's destruction. In this, Link becomes conflicted as a fully developed Hero of Time who has become a hero of the people; however, the people no longer need a hero. And so, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery to complete this cycle, which serves as the theme of Majora's Mask.

All-in-all, this story encapsulates numerous aspects of adventure and transformation that impact the players. History has proven time and time again that the Hero's Journey is a cycle upon which the most powerful stories are told. It is because of this that we believe the story of Ocarina of Time will withstand the tests of time and remain one of the greatest stories ever told!

This episode is rated Casual. Discussion topics are intended for those who have played the games and are familiar with the stories, gameplay, and lore. There’s will also likely be spoilers to those who haven’t played through the games. We recommend spending a couple hours playing the games from this episode before listening.

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube! @shorts.on_line