Out of all the games in the Legend of Zelda series, Majora's Mask is a large standout for many long-time fans. The game's unique mechanics, dark storyline, and interesting characters make it truly feel different from the other games in the series. Another key component that makes Majora's Mask a favorite for many is its often deep and cryptic dialogue, which fans have enjoyed analyzing ever since its release - while the Zelda series is never short on high-quality conversations with in-game characters, the lines delivered in Majora's Mask, in particular, feel especially noteworthy.
One of the most well-remembered lines in Majora's Mask is delivered by the Happy Mask Salesman, who inexplicably remembers Link and his Ocarina of Time heroism despite the game's timeline. The very first words the Happy Mask Salesman says to Link - who is in his Deku Scrub form at the time - are, "You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?" Since then, the line has been analyzed by many players for its true meaning, and even used in meme templates, but it turns out its origins are darker than once thought.
The Majora's Mask "Terrible Fate" Quote Is About Crunch
According to a video from DidYouKnowGaming?, many lines from Majora's Mask make reference to the tight development schedule the team was on, and how it affected them. Originally, Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto had tasked developers with making the game in only a year's time, a huge undertaking considering its scope. Developers detailed the long, hard hours they were working, and how ideas for the game consumed them even outside their time on the clock. So, the Majora's Mask quote - "You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?" is actually about crunch.
Other Lines In Majora's Mask Reference Its Quick Development
Though many video game companies have vocally opposed crunch time for their employees recently, Nintendo has never been one of them, and this is particularly true in the early days of the company. Alongside the Happy Mask Salesman's infamous quote in Majora's Mask, which references how Miyamoto imposed a horrible fate upon developers, there are other lines that reference things like all-nighters pulled by employees in the game as well. This includes characters like a carpenter saying, "Damn! I'll have to stay up again...I wonder if I'll finish this" and the Mayor saying, "Don't tell my wife," a line about work interfering with home life.
After so much analysis has gone into lines like that from the Happy Mask Salesman in Majora's Mask, it's quite a shock to learn their true origins. While of course the Happy Mask Salesman's words are also quite relevant to Link's situation at the time, and can possess more than one meaning, the original source is likely not one many fans could've predicted. It's no secret that crunch hurts both games and developers in the long run, and it's unfortunate that one of the most well-known Legend of Zelda quotes from Majora's Mask has such an ominous origin.
Source: DidYouKnowGaming?/YouTube