Don't get me wrong, I respect Operation Moonfall and its efforts, I support it and I also want Majora's Mask 3D. Mainly because it would feel incomplete when there's only Ocarina of Time 3D on the 3DS, but not the follow-up. It would be like making a remake of Super Mario Galaxy, but not Super Mario Galaxy 2. Or having a remake of Metroid Prime, but not Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. Majora's Mask and Ocarina of Time belong together. That's just the way it is.
So... the game's really a no-brainer, a sure cash-in. Majora's Mask reused all of the assets from Ocarina of Time, which means with Ocarina of Time 3D half of the work already got done. Even if it doesn't sell half as much as the original, it still might be profitable. There's no real reason, why Nintendo shouldn't make this. Also, Aonuma already expressed his interest that the game on the 3DS would heavily profit from the Sleep Mode or maybe a new saving system. Because saving in the original N64 version didn't work so well. So, there's already a good reason for the remake that would improve the game - Nintendo likes to have to these reasons.
In my eyes Majora's Mask 3D is a sure thing. I bet that Grezzo, who recently finished their little StreetPass Garden game, is already working on Majora's Mask 3D right now, so it can be released next Summer.
So... I don't really believe that Operation Moonfall will make any difference. Majora's Mask 3D will be made with or without it. What it does is giving Nintendo a platform for being the "nice guy". Even though they might have already planned Majora's Mask 3D years ago, they can pretend like the remake only exists because of the fans. "We gave the fans, what they wanted!" "Majora's Mask 3D only exists because of the fans!" Yeah, right...
And this will give them the excuse for an absolute minimal remake, something that makes The Wind Waker HD look like it's rich of new features. I could imagine that with Majora's Mask 3D they will only update the graphics and won't add anything at all. No Master Quest, no Boss Battle Mode and of course no new dungeons, because that's obviously something Nintendo is not interested in doing. Just the same old game with new graphics. Look, the fans want this remake so badly! So, why bother and add any additional selling points? Well, maybe the Hero Mode, because that's not hard to implement... and a Sheikah Stone, so that the newcomers don't ragequit. But nothing else.
Of course there would be massive potential with Majora's Mask 3D. They could improve the Picto-Box to the Wind Waker's standard, maybe even add a figurine collection to Clocktown. That would be amazing. They could modify the dungeons in the same way they did in Master Quest. I would love to see this in Majora's Mask! They could add a new Skulltula House for the Shard of Agony. I loved the Skulltula Houses. But like I said... why bother? The fans wanted it the way it is! And if you complain about the missed opportunities, you will get flamed from all sides by the fanboys: "Stop whining, Nintendo made this for YOU! Just be grateful for what you got..." Blah, blah, blah, ...
The main reason, why I always get excited about these remakes / enchanced ports, is the potential for new features. What they did with Ocarina of Time 3D and The Wind Waker HD was nice, but the bare minimum and not really exciting. And with Majora's Mask 3D it will probably be same. But thanks to Operation Moonfall you won't be able to complain about it... You will get a lazy remake and everyone has to pretend like they're happy about it, because some fans on Facebook asked for it.
But I would be happy to be proven wrong about this... so, let's see next year, how the game will turn out.
Update (November 2014):
After the announcement of Majora's Mask 3D I remembered this article and I think, I got it completely wrong. While it's true that Majora's Mask 3D was happening anyway, in fact development started even before Operation Moonfall, the fan demand is what encouraged them to give their best with this remake. Right now it's not known, whether there will be additional content or no, but the fact that the remake has been in development for three years now speaks for itself.
I really blame Operation Rainfall for spoiling people and giving them the idea of a campaign. Here's the real thing: Development choices are very rarely an input from fans, it's always a business thing. It's the same reason why a television channel will never acquire X series, renew Y, or rerun Z because of fan request; in that case is merely a rating potential thing.
ReplyDeleteyou are right in theory and yet you lost all credibility for even /suggesting/ that /any part/ of majora's mask's three-day system is flawed... congratulations.
ReplyDeleteAnd where do I suggest that...?
ReplyDeleteInteresting article. It's possible. But I think it's also highly cynical. There is no logical reason to suggest that Nintendo would not implement at least the same features that were in Ocarina of Time (Boss Mode, Master Quest - completely mirrored, improved controls and gameplay changes). In fact, the very fact that Ocarina of Time exists means that they will have to at least meet this standard, or be open to easily comparable criticism. They are a business. Their central aim is to maximise profits. They'll grab the old fans purely by the remake alone. But how do you further extend the demographic? How about adding Master Quest for those who have played the game, but wouldn't normally play it again. There, you've grabbed another demographic. How about adding a Boss Mode for online comparison (A cheap feature, but it may contribute to people's decisions). Operation Moonfall's presence will not detract from this I feel. The reason you ask? Because Majora's Mask is already out on the Virtual Console? The so called cheapen rehash you refer too largely already exists right there. By implication, Operation Moonfall stands for a OoT 3DS style remake, and for no lesser standard. Obviously Nintendo would acknowledge this, "Hmmm there's already a VC MM, what could they then mean when they say remake?". Operation Moonfall was not constructed to aid in the development of the game. It accomplished its goal. It merely intended to raise awareness to Nintendo that a monetary basis existed for the remake to be justified. Believe it or not, this would probably help Nintendo make a decision. They are indeed a business first, but I think that enhances the remake, rather than hinders it.
ReplyDeleteAre we positive we want a Majora's Mask remake at all? I mean, if they remade it like you say or if they just improve it, OK, I want it. But if they remade it now, it would probably be dumb. Think about it, with modern Nintendo games, you can't really say you 'beat' it. Mario and Luigi Dream Team has a restart, Donkey Kong Returns 3D has a 'do it for me' setting, and a Link Between Worlds was to freakin easy! I really don't want them to destroy my all time favorite game, do you?
ReplyDeleteThey did a fine job with Ocarina of Time 3D. All I want them to do is giving Majora's Mask the same treatment.
ReplyDeleteWith the exception of two puzzles, nothing got dumbed down in OoT3D. Master Quest they made even harder.