Support NeoGAF

[amnesiac]

(Remakes, enhanced ports, whatever -- you get the point)

It's been almost exactly one year since Majora's Mask 3D was released, so I thought it would be a good time to hear some final thoughts on the 3DS remakes of the N64 Zelda games.

Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask are considered to be some of the best games ever created and were both remade on the 3DS. The games received a significant graphical update as well as some changes to the mechanics, with Majora's Mask 3D having the most changes.

Although the 3DS versions are highly regarded by most, some of the folks who are well acquainted with the originals are less impressed with the remakes. One criticism I commonly hear is that the upgraded graphics ruin the dark atmosphere that the N64 games had.

What are your thoughts? Are the 3DS games the definitive versions of Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask? Would anyone not recommend a new player to play the 3DS versions?

I really need to play through these games again.

 

[Aostia]

I really appreciated the 3DS remakes. Replaying OOT in particular was really a joy.

 

[Brazil]

I still haven't played through MM3D (despite having it), but handheld Ocarina of Time is one of the best things ever. The 1998 version of me would probably have a heart attack seeing it.

Game looks good as hell and the touch interface definitely improves the experience. I'd say it's the definitive version, yes.

 

[Peru]

OOT was such a joy to replay in the way you felt the game was supposed to be. It's the ultimate edition of that game and the only one I'll go back to.

 

[Plinko]

OoT remake was fantastic.

I tried so hard to get into Majora's Mask for the 4th time in my life and, yet again, it failed to hold my interest past the first two hours.

 

[eXistor]

Great! The definitive versions for sure, just a shame they can't be played on a TV by conventional means, but the actual remakes are fan-fucking-tastic.

 

[BY2K]

Ocarina of Time 3D improves on the original in every single point.
Majora's Mask 3D however has place for debates. Personally, I prefer the 3DS version, even with the changes to Zora Link.

 

[pizzacat]

MM still too weird for me.

 

[zigg]

Definitive versions, yes. It particularly helps that aiming was much-improved in both games, but also the first time fine aiming has really worked since the N64—emulated versions never got the stick characteristics right.

I know the Zora swimming in Majora's Mask was controversial, but I consider it a net improvement—the original game's implementation meant constantly banging into walls. Would've been nice if there were a way to still have magic-free fast swimming, though.

 

[Inferno313]

I think they're both the definitive versions. Fantastic ports that both only improve on the experience. The only thing I'd like to see is the superior camera controls of MM3D on N3DS patched into OOT3D.

 

[TheMoon]

Definitive versions in both cases. OoT especially since it comes with a flipped Master Quest right on the cart. Zero reason to ever touch the N64 version ever again. Same thing for Majora unless you're really hung up on the old swimming mechanics.

 

[Junahu]

Having to add extra colour to the game to render it visually readable, shows that the games don't totally work in handheld form. A few of the changes to MM are blatantly an attempt to make the experience work in shorter play sessions, despite the game being designed around playing in 2 hour chunks.

That said, they're otherwise exquisite ports, with measured improvements where they make sense.

Spoiler

Playing with the preserved glitches (and the newly added ones too) is rather engaging, and keeps me coming back to these games.

 

[Zalman]

I love them. OoT is the definitive version. I didn't play MM until this version, so I can't say anything about that. I really enjoyed both though.

 

[Ceadeus]

Perfect fit for me. Just plain awesome and I want more N64 remake. Castlevania, Banjo...whatever we could dream of.

 

[MrChocolate]

3DS Majora's Mask has a lot of improvements over the N64 version.

Steady framerate.
Improved graphics.
Controller nicely adapted to the 3DS.
Bottom screen item management. Which might be the best feature ever.

But, on the other hand, it suffers from a lot of handholding. If OG Majora's Mask had a difficulty level of 9 (without guides), 3DS Majora's Mask is a 4 at most. If something isn't being explained by the "clues" they added in this version, the game will surely give you hints until you get it, of course this is noted on the new casual friendly Bomber's Notebook.

So, an overall nice experience, if a little bit too dumbed down from the original.

 

[Nugg]

In the end, they're just remakes. They're neat, but I already played those games to death. I want new games.

 

[jon bones]

OoT was a treasure to play on my 3DS, for sure.

 

[Mihos]

They are awesome remakes, although they made me hate the 3DS as a platform. The whole time I missed the Vita screen and the Shield controls.

 

[nephilimdj]

OOT was weird for me, I enjoyed the graphic update but felt weird playing on a such a tiny screen on the OG 3DS. Squinting endlessly.

 

[Deleted member 125677]

I really, really enjoyed Ocarina of Time remake. It felt like a big visual upgrade from the original, and of course, the game is a hall of fame classic. It was also one of the first game I played on the system, so it sort of introduced me to the 3D effect which was neat.

I bought Majora's Mask with the New3DS, but because of Monster Hunter 4 (and generally being a bit busy with not too much time for games) I actually haven't played it properly yet. I will try to take it with me on my next trip or vacation and try to get through it!

 

[Atolm]

I can't go back to the sub-20fps N64 versions, simple as that.

 

[James Scott]

MM3D adds camera controls but it ruined swimming. OoT fixed the water temple and is in ever way better than the original.

In the end, they're just remakes. They're neat, but I already played those games to death. I want new games.

You got 2 on the 3DS

 

[Maniel]

I loved them to death, especially Majora's Mask. It was a remake that needed to happen because I've tried to play it on N64 and it was unplayable for me.

 

[NSESN]

OOT3D is incredible, MM3D has awful camera controls.

 

[JumpCancel]

Both fantastic and worthy en-devours. Only wish I could play them on a home system with a larger screen, and higher resolution.

 

[Shuggananas]

Definitive versions
MM has a few issues like swimming and shit but it's forgettable
I miss the glitches in OOT but it's no big deal, and it has new glitches too so it's cool

 

[SoulUnison]

I was so hyped for MM3D - Majora's Mask was one of my favorite Zelda's and the mysterious, dark world of Termina was such a breath of fresh air.

Waited years for it to be announced,held my breath up to the release day and bought it the second it was available...
Got to the Great Bay Temple and just...lost interest. No motivation.

Shit's weird, yo.

OOT3D I finished once and got to the Fire Temple in Hero Mode, but I'm missing...something, and I refuse to turn to a guide, so I've been sitting in the Fire Temple for, like... several years, now.

 

[Pinky]

Love OoT on 3DS. Very well done. I still need to pick up MM.

 

[TheMoon]

OOT3D is incredible, MM3D has awful camera controls.

This one's funny.
OoT3D has no camera controls. = incredible
MM3D has camera controls. = awful

OOT3D I finished once and got to the Fire Temple in Hero Mode, but I'm missing...something, and I refuse to turn to a guide, so I've been sitting in the Fire Temple for, like... several years, now.

You mean Master Quest. There's no Hero Mode in OoT.

 

[lucablight]

I hadn't played OoT or MM back in the N64 days so I played these for the first time on the 3DS. I thought they were incredibly overrated. Too much walking and I got stuck a few times and the game doesn't do a very good job at helping you. A link to the past is one of my favourite games ever and I enjoyed the fast paced A Link between worlds a lot more. There's way less walking empty fields and waiting for enemies to stop dancing until you can attack and you're always getting upgrades so it feels like you're actually doing something. I'm not sure if it's merely a case of me just preferring the top down Zeldas over the 3D iterations either because I really enjoyed Twilight princess. I think nostalgia must have a lot to do with how much love OoT and MM have received.

 

[entremet]

I only played a a bit OoT 3D but it seems like a competent remake.

I'm grateful it exist because it definitely needed a remake treatment.

 

[Baleoce]

The mere fact you can play games of that calibre on a handheld still boggles my mind.

 

[mantidor]

Definitive versions for sure.

OoT 3D has zero complains so I'll just go to the controversies of MM3D. I was only mildly bothered by the changes in swimming, at the end you can get infinite swimming with the lon lon milk anyway. Complains about difficulty were completely bizarre to me, the game removed most of the archaic and obtuse things about the sidequests and improved the notebook immensely, the game really never tells you anything, and I think that people are just looking at this in hindsight, its not "hand hold-y" at all. The only valid complain honestly is the ice arrow change.

 

[Morfeo]

Im glad a new generation got to experience these games, although personally, I prefer the originals.

 

[Nugg]

You got 2 on the 3DS

One, yes, sure. Two, well, you're being generous.

Zelda games released since Skyward Sword in 2011:

- Wind Waker (remake)
- A Link Between Worlds (amazing)
- Hyrule Warriors (nope)
- Majora's Mask (remake)
- Tri Force Heroes (nope)
- Hyrule Warriors Legends (nope)
- Twilight Princess (remake)

 

[SoulUnison]

You mean Master Quest. There's no Hero Mode in OoT.

Er, yeah. That's the one.

 

[Amalthea]

They both were good. Especially OoT. I'd still like MM camera controls patched into OoT as the idea of playing it with a free camera system sounds pretty interesting.

 

[Litri]

Yes to both, no 15-ish framerates anymore and with enough upgrades to boot.

 

[Green Mamba]

OOT3D is the definitive version, but they changed too much of MM3D for it to reach those same platitudes. There are some changes that are greatly appreciated and the graphics are an enormous improvement, but the needless change to the Zora swimming mechanics (on top of not rebalancing Great Bay at all around it), completely changing three of the four bosses and not one of them for the better, and some other niggling differences make for a worse over all experience.

 

[DNAbro]

MM3D would be perfect if they kept swimming the same.

 

[georly]

OoT is nothing but an improvement over the original, so I can't complain. MM3D is my preferred way to play, now, but I understand those who are upset over some of the design changes. Most of them are for the better, but the ice arrow and zora swimming ones understandably make the game lose some of its charm.

Absolutely adore both remakes - would be great if these got ported to NX somehow as it'd be a shame to see them die with the 3DS. So so good. I'll miss how the 3D made me feel when I first booted up OoT 3D. Made me feel like I was *in* hyrule at times :/

 

[Thornquist]

Although the 3DS versions are highly regarded by most, some of the folks who are well acquainted with the originals are less impressed with the remakes. One criticism I commonly hear is that the upgraded graphics ruin the dark atmosphere that the N64 games had.

What are your thoughts? Are the 3DS games the definitive versions of Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask? Would anyone not recommend a new player to play the 3DS versions?

This is basically my stand on the remakes.
For some reason I think the ingame character models is better on the N64 aswell. Less obvious anime.

 

[Spieler Eins]

MM is like the Star Wars special editions or Ninja Gaiden Sigma. Some improvements, some big fuckups. Definitely not definitive for any core fan of the game.

OoT was alright. Not that spectacular of a ,,remake" to be fullpriced though.

 

[Fireblend]

They're incredible. OoT just isn't a very good game nowadays, but it was a nice "update", and MM is still so damn good and the visual update was breath taking.

 

[Linkstrikesback]

A real shame mm3d had no hero mode. The only thing I don't understand is how the remake took nearly 4 years of being the only major title the studio worked on, when very little changed beyond the graphics and some general QOL changes. That the only real new content was the fishing was a real shame.

 

[balgajo]

Compared to Oot 1.0(my cartridge)

Cons
Ganondorf green blood
Inferior mirror shield design
Inferior fire temple music
No blood inside Bottow of the Well and Shadow Temple
Toned down the dark atmosphere
Strange hover boots animation
Sheikah stone bullshit(such an immersion breaker)
Small screen

Pros
Better graphics (model+textures+animations)
30fps (though it's strange after replaying OG OOT 40+ times)
3d(if you are using n3ds otherwise it's bad)

Not sure
Water temple wall signs

My veredict:
I still prefer OG. Though I think for someone new to the game I would recommend the 3ds version.

PS: If I could play Oot 3d on a higher resolution and with a tv maybe I could give it the credit of definitive version.

I'm yet to play MM3D.

 

[Vanille]

OoT 3D's oversaturated color palette will forever prevent it from being the definitive version.

 

[BGBW]

For some reason I think the ingame character models is better on the N64 aswell. Less obvious anime.

Ha ha what does this even mean?

 

[HeroOfTime]

To me they were very well made.
They both have something i love on a handheld, gyroscope aiming, i think it makes aiming a lot more responsive. Not that i'm complaining about analogs, but i do prefer that type of aiming.
The graphical overall of both games is amazing. OOT is very well done.
I just don't like that they changed things from places on MM. The song of double time being able to chose the hour, that is a good change.
Changing the bank from west clock town to behind the clock? Just to be near the save/teleport point? West clock town got a wall full of nothing, not nice...
Changing the stone mask

Spoiler

to be near one of the only place where it is needed?

nope.

But in the overall, they both look gorgeous, handle well and retell the epic adventures to the newer crowds.

Awesome games. Now just hope for a completely new remake on the NX successor full of graphical gorgeousness!

 

[Boney]

OoT 3D's oversaturated color palette will forever prevent it from being the definitive version.

obviously 20 fps is a much superior experience.

Not to mention awesome boot equipment experience