“I didn’t think of them as scary at all” One of Zelda: Majora’s Mask lead designers must be braver than all of us, because he didn’t think the moon or titular mask were nightmare fuel in the slightest

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is known for its terrifying elements, but surprisingly, one of its lead developers didn’t find it scary during its creation.

Personally, I believe that Zelda shines when it delves into the realm of fear. The series’ theme of reincarnation already has a haunting undertone, so when the games explore the frightening aspects, they excel. Majora’s Mask, in particular, stands out with its looming moon and enigmatic titular mask, both contributing to its eerie atmosphere. However, the art director Takaya Imamura revealed that he didn’t perceive his designs for these elements as scary.

In an interview with Edge Magazine (via GamesRadar), Imamura mentioned, “Some key elements had already been decided, like the moon falling and the mask and that kind of thing. I needed to come up with a world that they would fit into and that would fit them in turn.” Despite his intentions for unique design, he was surprised when his team found the mask and moon to be genuinely scary. Imamura stated, “In terms of the design of the mask and the moon, personally I didn’t think of them as scary at all. I had in mind coming up with a unique design approach for them, but everybody told me how scary they were. People on the team were like ‘whoa!’. It’s just how it came out, I guess.”

While Imamura may have underestimated the fear factor, the impending doom of the falling moon in Majora’s Mask remains one of the most anxiety-inducing mechanics in gaming, adding to the game’s unique appeal.

For those who have yet to experience Majora’s Mask, the N64 version is accessible through Switch Online’s Expansion pack. It would be a welcome addition if Nintendo also ported the 3DS remaster/half-remake to the Switch platform.