With the recent 3D release of Majora’s Mask, gamers have been pointing out hidden messages or have been making symbolic connections in relation to other games in the series. Other fans have made metaphorical connections to certain portions of the game. A recent interview between Game Informer and Eiji Aonuma dives into one metaphor.
According to Game Informer, “Some fans speculate that Majora’s Mask is a metaphor for the stages of grief.” At first glance it may be hard to imagine how an entire Zelda game can be related to the stages of grief. For those that are not aware, the stages of grief include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Fans have taken the five stages and related them to key parts of Link’s quest. Game Informer mentions that, “The towns-folk are in denial of the moon falling; the Deku King is punishing the monkey out of anger; the ghost in the snow temple is bargaining for a return to the world of the living; Lulu in the Zora Temple is battling with depression; and the final temple could be considered acceptance as it wraps up Link’s journey.”
Aonuma agreed with Game Informer saying that there is indeed a different emotion felt within those sections of the quest, whether it is sadness or anger. He further stated that “each one of these episodes” does not have just one emotion that is being conveyed, but that there are other emotions that are being portrayed as well. It was done this way “to allow the player to experience that emotion – to give them a chance to hook into the emotional tone of this scene and react to it and feel like they want to accomplish something in the game as a result.”
If one thing is certain, the scenes and story are well calculated to make fans feel unique emotions on different levels. With those elements being strategically placed in this game, who knows what other hidden meanings may be within other Zelda titles?
Source: Game Informer
