They don't make em' like they used to:

 The things today's game developers can learn from Legend of Zelda, Majora's Mask

Earlier this week I was discussing with a few friends, games we used to play when we were younger, One game we were all reminiscing about was the second title on N64 for Nintendo's classic series the Legend of Zelda, Majora's Mask. This game along with its predecessor, The Orcarina of Time were revolutionary in everything from gameplay to graphics, but especially story. I believe that game makers today can learn a lot from this game and the Zelda franchise.

Setting
Although limited by 64 bit graphics the developers of Majora's Mask utilized the graphics to their fullest potential to create a believable and immersive setting. The world of Termina, an alternate version of Hyrle which is the setting for the other games in the series, is a very rich environment with the different areas of the map having their own flair and character.


Gameplay
The gameplay in Majora's was unique in several ways. The game was one of the first to feature an open world with the ability to free roam. It was also one of the first to feature, for the most part, a non-linear storyline. The gameplay was limited to a three day span, about an hour of real time gameplay, where at the end the player would have to use a magic song to return to the first day. The progress in the game was recorded by completing certain tasks and meeting certain people but also collecting masks of power that were scattered throughout the game's world.

The masks granted different abilities to Link and several would transform him. Three of these transform him into one of the other principle races in the story, the Deku a small plant like people, the Goron a strong stone like people, and the Zora an aquatic race. Switching between races doesn't only change the way the character looks but gives him new abilities but also changed the way NPC's in the game would react to him.

Story

The Zelda series was one of Nintendo's first to feature a rich storyline. Although they are archetypal of the hero's journey they have all the elements that make up a great story. Link is always the hero and he is fighting to save the world and rescue the princess, however cliche it is still very entertaining. Majora's Mask was no exception, This time Link must stop the moon from crashing and destroying the land. Link must also make peace with the four major races in the land in order to stop this disaster.

Has hell frozen over? -A Duke Nukem Forever Release Date

Duke Nukem Forever

In the midst of the Supreme Court's deliberation of Schwarzenegger v the Entertainment Merchants Association which may be devastating to the gaming industry and mature games in particular, 2K Games and Gearbox Software have recently announced a 2011 release date for the much anticipated sequel to the highly controversial Duke Nukem 3D from 1996. Duke Nukem Forever has been listed as "in development" on and off for over a decade and has become a running internet joke and nerd meme for something that will never happen. The Escapist's Yahtzee, in 2009, even made a mock review of "Forever", you can check it out here. But this never to be released sequel has once again been green lit.

Duke Nukem 3D one of the first real first person shooters. It was similar to Doom but had more violence and adult themes. It was one of the first games to be heavily attacked by critics, and has become a poster child example of violent  and harmful video games despite the fact that the game is now a decade and a half old.


Aside from the ironic timing of the announcement of this game we shall all see if the game can possibly live up to over a decade of hype.