Zelda: Majora's Mask gameplay update

[04.13.00] » New moves, saving system, music abilities revealed.

   The latest issue of Weekly Famitsu has revealed a slew of new gameplay details regarding The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, the upcoming Nintendo 64 sequel to The Ocarina of Time. As frequently reported, an actual clock keeps track of game time now, counting down to the impending destruction of Hyrule. Though each Hylian week only consists of three days (christened 1st, 2nd, and Last), a scheduler will be added to help you keep track of what you're doing and when it needs to be attended to.

   Link and his various mask transformations also will be able to pick up some new moves. In his human form, Link will retain all the abilities his child form possessed in The Ocarina of Time, as well as a new long jump. (It's likely that some item will be needed to activate the long jump.) Many more new powers will be available when Link puts on a mask and changes form. For example, besides the previously revealed flower hang-glider, Deku Scrub Link can spit bubbles, skip across water, and wriggle through small holes. Each transformation also possesses its own musical instrument that it plays instead of an ocarina.

   Link will need these moves to compensate for the higher difficulty in Majora's Mask. Maps of overworld areas must now be collected in addition to dungeon maps, and, in a first for the Zelda series, you won't be able to save whenever you want. Instead, you must find traditional save points, at least early on -- later in the game, you'll acquire the ability to save at any point.

   Finally, one of the game's status screens has been revealed (see below). The Medallion and Sacred Stone displays have obviously disappeared; they've been replaced by a new set of four empty slots. The Skulltula counter and Stone of Agony and Gerudo membership cards slots have also disappeared; a single blank item space stands in their place. New are sword and shield icons in the lower-right corner; it's not clear whether the or if these pictures serve some other purpose.

   The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is due out April 27th in Japan, with a North American release to follow around the end of the year.