Link is capable of many talents and abilities, but there’s never any doubt that he works hard and earns his status as a skilled warrior. He already saved Hyrule by the end of Ocarina of Time, but unfortunately for Link, that game had a sequel, and Majora’s Mask isn’t prepared to go easy on him. Say goodbye to your fairy and horse, and say hello to an impending apocalypse, Link.
Once again, Link already has a long to-do list, involving adventuring, fighting, dungeon crawling, transforming, collecting, and time-traveling. Had these two cutscenes made their way into the final version of Majora’s Mask, it seems that our hero would have had even more trials to overcome.
In the final version of Majora’s Mask, Link obtains the Magic Spin Attack the same way he obtains all of the Great Fairies’ upgrades: It is bestowed upon him through magic. Going by this first unused cutscene, however, it seems that the Great Fairy was originally going to make Link earn his gift through a tough workout routine.
The clip shows the fairy helping Link pose properly, and makes him practice the spin attack to her satisfaction. It then cuts to gameplay, where Link is fixed in place and the player must perform the Magic Spin Attack themselves. Once they have done so, the cutscene will resume, showing the Great Fairy applauding Link.
The Cutting Room Floor has translations of the Great Fairy’s dialogue in this scene, as follows:
- “Now, do as I say.”
- “Press B to build up your fighting spirit…”
- “Then, release it!”
- “Now, you try!”
- “Press B to build up your fighting spirit, then release it.”
- “That’s right, don’t forget how it feels…”
In this second unused cutscene, Link undergoes even more intense physical training, this time to earn Enhanced Defence. Link can be seen doing some intense sit-ups, press-ups, and jumps. The clip seems incomplete, as there is no audio during Link’s training montage. Despite this, it must be said that the animation of Link working out is very impressive for Nintendo 64 tech!
One rather striking aspect of both videos appears near the end of each clip after Link has gained his abilities. Upon returning to the Fairy Fountain, Link is in his Fierce Deity form. This may suggest that Fierce Deity Link was originally planned to have a larger role in the game, allowing the player to use the form more freely rather than waiting until the game’s final sequence.
While these Majora’s Mask cutscenes were removed from the game, it’s possible that they may have served as inspiration for a subsequent installment. The concept of Link being trained within a mysterious and empty realm reminds me of the Hero’s Shade sequences in Twilight Princess, wherein Link was also rewarded with new abilities for overcoming challenges within an ethereal plane.
That is, of course, assuming these Great Fairy sequences were testing Link physically. These scenes could instead be interpreted as psychological experiences for Link, rather than taking place literally. After all, as is to be expected of any Majora’s Mask content (cut or otherwise), nothing is straightforward in the world of Termina.
Be sure to check out the rest of our articles from Majora’s Month, our month-long celebration of Majora’s Mask’s 20th anniversary!
