Okay, I have said that I would do this blog for a long time, and now, rather than study for my chemstry test tomorrow, why not talk about it now that I feel like? :D
So, this blog will be dedicated to comparing what many consider the best game of all time, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (will be refered as OoT) and its sequel Majora's Mask (to be refered as MM), and why I think the latter is better. I will sort it out on categories, so it is more tidy. So, let's get started?
GRAPHICS:
While many can assume that since MM came after OoT, it would look better automaticaly, but that is not necessary. Sequels are suposed to be better on a technical level, but not always are in a artistic level. A prime example (pun intended) is Metroid Prime 2, which had worse visuals than its predecessor. It just looked more drab and dull. But I digress. But when it comes to this two games, MM did improve visualy on OoT already great graphics. The biggest change is in the intentionto detail. A main comparisson is Hyrule Field and Termina Field. Hyrule may be bigger, but Termina is much more colorful and detailed, making more fun to explore it. Also, there is more on one screen, such as more characters and a much better draw distance, which make MM more apealing to the eyes. Specially true in the busy and big Clock Town, compared to the smaller and more diverse Hyrule Castle Town (counting the castle).
SOUND:
This is something that I could not stress any further: it is purely my opinion. While many love OoT's soundtrack, I don't find anything but the ocarina songs to be memorable. Sure, Hyrule Castle Town is a fun theme, and the Gerudo Theives theme is pretty good, but there is nothing that invokes any emotion on melike, say, the Song of Healing on MM (the whole song, not just the ocarina song). Sure, the boss battles theme get your blood pumping and the final theme against Ganon is pretty epic, but not very memorable. When it comes to MM, there are songs that I listen to a regular basis, like the Stone Tower Temple theme and the aforementioned Song of Healing. The first is just incredibly catchy and matches the place greatly, and the second is beautiful, and gives more emotion to the scenes it plays.
Something to be mentioned is that OoT brought many cla$sic sounds to the next gen, such as the sound for opening a chest, which is just awesome, and I aplaud the game for doing that.
STORY:
Most people have a divided opinion on Ocarina's story. Some say it is an epic story about a hero, a princess and a villain, and it completes itself perfectly. Others say it is nothing special and that, besides the backstory, it dosen't hold your interest. I am somewhere in the middle: while I apreciate it for its epic feel, it is a very simple plot that doesn't try too much new. Though one thing it has going for it strongly are its memorable characters, who really get into you, and are a lot of fun to interact with, such as your big friend Saria, your fiancee Ruto and the goron king Darunia. They are all really awesome, and make the story of the game much more lively.
When it comes to Majora there is a basic consense that most people agree: it is better. This game wasn't afraid to go into weird teritories like posession, death and pain, and handled them beautifuly. Scenes where you heal a specifica character really get into you and make you glad to be playing the game. In general, Majora was just a good alternate villain to the tired Ganon, and its plan to destroy Termina was intricate. Also, it has a much bigger sense of urgency, since you knew Termina would be destroyed in 3 days, and it was up to you (and only you, since many characters didn't know what would happen) to save it, making you more attatched to the land.
Also, another thing that is agreed is that Majora has better character development. While OoT had great characters, they were few, and most NPCs did absoutely nothing. It isn't that big of a deal depending on the game, but it felt empty at times. Since Majora has more side stories and side quest, it is open to more deep characters, and some taht are reallly worth delving into, such as the famous Anju and Kafei sidequest, which is incredibly satisfying. It felt more complete.
It can all be summed up in: Ocarina is an epic journey, while Majora is an emotional one. All the areas of the game were poisoned in some way, and it was up to you to heal it, making you more attached to the world you were playing in.
GAMEPLAY:
When it comes to gameplay, there isn't much difference, since both games have the same basic structure. They both have amazing dungeons, thrilling boss battles and a bunch of stuff to do in between. However, it is known that the games go towards one specific route: Ocarina has more dungeons, and Majora more sidequests. This is something that imediately throws people of MM, but really shouldn't, since the side quests are never too intricate (expect one in particular, more onto that latter) and feel very rewarding, since you would either get a mask, a piece of heart or just make someone happy. They can range from growing a bunch of cuccos with the Bremen's Mask to getting Anju and Kafei together, which is the biggest sidequest in the game, and one you really have to bust your balls to get done, but feels really good to do it. They are also normaly very fun. It comes to liking. In compensation, MM has only 4 dungeons, while OoT has the double.
When it comes to the dungeons themselves, it is a big matter of preference, though most people consider the Majora ones to be harder, but the Ocarina ones more enjoyable. I really am in the middle of the fence here, because I loved the Forest and Spirit Temples, but hated the Fire and Water Temples. In MM, I love Stone Tower Temple, and dislike Great Bay Temple, though I don't hate it as much as I do with the Fire Temple. When it comes to the design of them, there aren't many differences, since they are centered in going in it, finding its item and preciding on areas you couldn't get before. They are the same in both games, but the Ocarina ones have a better layout in the sense that it is harder to get lost, as in what you have to do is not necessarily obvious but isn't downright impossible. Majora at times comes too close to that line with its aforementioned templess, which can have you wandering around for a long time before getting what you have to do. I don't know if I am masochistic or what, but I still like Majora's one, since I like the more vast, opened design more, but it is just preference.
And finaly, we have the bosses, and Ocarina is definitely better in this regard. Fighting Volvagia or the thing in Jabu-Jabu's Belly is just really fun, and (specially the first one) have a really epic feel to them. Some can be kind of monotonous, like King Dodongo, but they are all fun nonetheless. Well, except for Bongo-Bongo, which I have with a fiery passion. Majora, having fewer dungeons, has fewer bosses, but that isn't that bad of a thing anyway, sicne they are predictable and boring at times. While I love Oldowa, and like Goht, I absolutely hate the Great Bay Temple boss and Twinmold, which involves no strategy whatsoever. In compensation, the final boss of Majora is superior to the one in Ocarina. Not only because it has three fases, but it feels more varied and challenging, ultimately being more fun.
OVERALL:
As I have said a bunch of times, it comes down to preference, since both games are masterpieces, but I could ramble on and on about how much I love Majora's Mask. Its graphics, music and overall design are just fantastic. While the same can be said for Ocarina, I think they are of a lower level, since it paved the way for better games of its kind.
So, what is your favourite between the two? I'd like to know (wow that sounded corny), and in the long future, I will compare Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn and Path of Radiance, and why I like Radiant Dawn more. Till then, thuss (or however you write that)
Log in to comment