Zelda fans rejoice as Majora’s Mask for the 3DS has hit shelves. There is some debate over the mechanical adjustments that have been made to the game; however, that subject is for another article. This article is about living in the past.
Appropriately fitting the theme of traveling back in time, the remake of Majora’s Mask perfectly encapsulates Nintendo’s current policy of cyclically revisiting the past. This is the second 3D Zelda game to be remade on the 3DS. Even A Link Between Worlds, the most original Zelda game since Skyward Sword, is a deeply connected to A Link to the Past in a nostalgia fueled way. One could make the argument that A Link Between Worlds is essentially a very elaborate remake. On Nintendo’s flagship system, the Wii U, there have been two Zelda titles: one being a remake and the other essentially a Dynasty Warriors mod. The Wii U is a system notorious for having a much smaller games library than: #1 it should and #2 it needs to profit. Out of that small library quite a few of those games are ports.
Ports aren’t inherently negative. The Virtua Console is a good concept and allows players access to previous Zelda titles (including Majora’s Mask) without having to buy previous systems. Some games (particularly older jrpg’s and grid based strategy) benefit greatly from being ported to handheld form. Majoras Mask on the 3DS is not a bad idea at all; in fact it’s great to have access to the game in that medium. Recycling old content is not the issue: recycling old content while not creating significant new content is the issue. Nintendo is deeply hesitant of making totally new Zelda games (and making them in a timely fashion).
Nintendo has access to an insane amount of fantastic IP’s that have proven to be very profitable in past ventures. Yet, the only ones that have been seriously used in recent years have been Zelda and Mario. Metroid, Star Fox, F-Zero, Golden Sun, Ice Climbers, and Nintendo Wars have been essentially untouched. Fire emblem, Kid Icarus, and Animal Crossing Haven’t seen any new titles since 2012. Even when the Zelda franchise is used there is stagnation in imagination and innovation (again two of those games had already been made). Majora’s Mask is one of the greatest examples of theming, world building, and innovative effective mechanics in gaming history and was created in one year. With the amount of notoriety, finances, and influence in the industry, there is no excuse for original Zelda games taking periods of 5+ years to arrive.
The irony of it all is that Majora’s Mask was an incredible risk and flew in the face of Zelda tradition. Instead of saving a princess you time travel until you can figure out how to stop the very moon from destroying the world. Remember the Master Sword, that tired plot device nigh every Zelda game feels the need to use? No master Sword in Majora’s Mask. It used familiarity in mechanics but also radically shifted and introduced new ideas. Now to repackage such an interesting work while not simultaneously releasing a game of equal innovation seems to miss the point entirely.
This is not to say Nintendo is some kind of black hole of gaming, not at all. Many excellent Mario games have come out on the Wii U and it appears to be the only “next
gen system” that actually seems to be designed around playing video games. The Wii U game pad offers incredibly unique gameplay mechanics and the advent of 8 player Smash Bros is a godsend. Nintendo has indeed made innovations additionally the price is significantly lower and the ability to play sans TV can be quite useful.
However, if you are running a race against two opponents who are running in circles, it doesn’t take a lot to be in first place. Yes Nintendo is doing well, but I seriously doubt they would be doing well if Microsoft and Sony were on top of their game. Nintendo isn’t doing bad, but they could do so much better. There are no risks with exploration into new territory. Instead of constant reminders of how great and imagination previous Nintendo games were, it would be nice to see new titles with equal imagination and staying power.
To close this argument up, I’ll throw out an analogy which uses an old Nintendo IP that has lay dormant since 2008: Nintendo Wars. Console gaming is currently in the last level of Advance Wars: Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo are all engaging a gigantic enemy force. Sony hasn’t even left it’s base and Microsoft has turned tail and retreated to the furthest corner of the map. Nintendo has moved up to the bottleneck, securing the first tactical position of advantage on the map. But instead of pressing forward, Nintendo is content to sit there and pat itself on the back.