The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask by Gabe Durham – A Fantastic Read
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask by Gabe Durham is a wonderful read about one of the most infamous Zelda adventures out there. This is a written account of the development of the game, the trials and tribulations, the unique gameplay mechanics, the mature themes, and so much more.
So is The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask by Gabe Durham a worthwhile read? Let’s find out in the Nintendo Link book review!
Gabe Durham is the founding editor and publisher of Boss Fight Books, and he has also written one other previous Boss Fight book about Bible Adventures. He has also written a novel called Fun Camp, and his love for video games is beyond apparent in his writing within The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask by Gabe Durham.
The book is split between fourteen chapters ranging from the developmental process, an interview with North American localizer, Jason Leung, the style of gameplay, bold decisions made to differentiate the title from Ocarina of Time, and so much more. This is a rich book full of content about a Zelda game that is often forgotten when it comes to the thought of the greatest Zelda games of all time. The way Gabe Durham tells this story is in-depth, fascinating, and informative. It helps to shine a bright light on a dark game, and it genuinely reads beautifully.
Boss Fight Books specializes in great books about classic video games, and of course they were going to write and publish a book specifically about Majora’s Mask. This is one of the most ambitious and wild titles in Nintendo’s history, and in regards to Zelda lore and storytelling, this is one of the weirdest and creepiest entries to date. I remember being so afraid to play this one, not necessarily because it was too scary, but because of how drastically it changed the formula of a series I hold so dear.
One of the fascinating perspectives within The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask by Gabe Durham is his dissecting of the mechanic-leaning developers and the story-leaning developers, and the interesting thing about Majora’s Mask is that Shigeru Miyamoto is the mechanics guy and Eiji Aonuma and Yoshiaki Koizumi are the story guys. The way Durham paints the picture in regards to these three individuals and their roles within Majora’s Mask is astounding. The story of Aonuma never playing video games until he landed a role at Nintendo is awesome and shows how a blank slate of sorts can truly lead to fresher ideas.
The detailed accounts of conversations had between some of the top individuals within Nintendo and ones that were and still are directly connected to the Zelda series is worth the read alone. The span of time goes from A Link to the Past all the way to Majora’s Mask, which is roughly a ten year span between the development of the classic SNES title and the release of the N64 sequel of sorts. Knowing what Miyamoto, Aonuma, and Koizumi debated about between these titles, especially in regards to Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask, gives us a grander understanding of what happens during major game development.
Gabe Durham masterfully collected a lot of information from prominent figures, and the interview details from his time with Jason Leung is truly special. This book is so well written and easy to read that I blazed through it in a day with no problem at all. It does help that I am a huge Zelda fan, but The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask by Gabe Durham tickled my interest more than I expected. This account is chock full of important details, each of which are referenced, to give Zelda fans out there more insight and understanding into the series.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask by Gabe Durham is pure bliss for Zelda fans. The amount of focus and detail this books feeds into one of the most underrated and creepy Zelda titles deserves credit alone. The fact that it reads wonderfully and is referenced very well elevates the book even more, and for this reason and so much more, I cannot recommend this book enough.
These books from Boss Fight Books are an absolute joy, and this one on Majora’s Mask is one of my favorites yet. It you are looking for a special gift for someone who loves the Zelda series, this is something truly special and one that will bring joy to the millions of people out there that have found joy in one of the most influential and long-lasting video game series ever.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask by Gabe Durham Book Review provided by Nintendo Link
Book provided by Boss Fight Books
Publisher: Boss Fight Books
Release Date: October 26th, 2020
Price: $14.95
A fantastic account about a beloved Zelda title
Excellent references and storytelling
Wonderfully paced and easy to read
Stories about Miyamoto, Aonuma, & Koizumi
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