Unused Scenes

This is a sub-page of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.

Much like Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask has a number of alternate scene setups, some of which are utilized by unused cutscenes.

fkualol found original filenames for the cutscenes in Majora's Mask 3D, lending a little extra context to these otherwise-mysterious movies.

Romani Ranch#

Setup 02#

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This unused cutscene starts with the camera facing towards Cremia as she pets the cow in the fields of Romani Ranch. It slowly begins zooming out as the minigame timer counts down 3, 2, 1. Two blank text boxes are displayed, empty of text in both the Japanese and English versions of the game. The Milk Bar music plays in the background (ID 0x56). After the cutscene passes frame 9999 (around 8 mins), the player regains control of Link. It is possible to gain control of Link quicker by setting the OPT in the Map Select to 1 or 2 before selecting the map.

Once the cutscene stops, the minigame timer and target icon will be displayed on the screen, and Link will have the bow equipped to B. This suggests that the scene once served as the preface to another target shooting game.

There are three ghost alien balloons positioned in a line in front of the stable, a configuration also seen in the game's ending sequence. However, there is also a small crate sitting on the roof of the ranch house, which is also present in the opening cutscene, and in the cutscene where Romani gets kidnapped by the aliens.

This cutscene is supposed to transition to the unused East Clock Town cutscene, as the cutscene list for this cutscene sets the exit index to 0xD202 (D2 = East Clock Town, 02 = Setup 01). However, no transition actually happens because the cutscene data lacks a "cutscene terminator" command (0x0000015E).
Adding (or replacing another command with) this command will make the transition occur. A quick way to do this is by going to address 0x270AB04 (decompressed JPN v1.0) and overwriting the values there with the following: 0000015E00000001000103E803E803E8. This will activate the transition at frame 1000 (0x03E8).

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Most curious is an event that can be triggered by modifying the game to remove the header cutscene or to add the actor for the 3-day timer back into the setup. Then, if one waits until the night falls on the First Day, enters the barn, and then returns to the field at Romani Ranch, the place becomes infested with Stalchildren. These enemies follow the same path as the aliens from the ranch's sidequest, however they cannot go through the stable's walls. (Visible at 6:08 in the video at right.)

taronbug1#

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This cutscene focuses on the entrance of Mama's House, and then shows a view of the entire ranch for a few seconds.

It is located at 0x020007FC in an uncompressed Japanese v1.0 ROM. This cutscene can be accessed by replacing the offset for one of the used cutscenes with this one (for example, replacing the 4 bytes in 0x270643C with 020007FC in an uncompressed Japanese v1.0 ROM will replace the intro cutscene with this one).

East Clock Town#

Setup 01#

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This unused cutscene consists of a slow pan across East Clock Town, the camera facing the Clock Tower. A handful of NPCs are captured in the frame: Cremia, the jugglers, and the scientist from the Marine Research Lab (though the scientist is difficult to see due to the camera angle). Similar to the unused cutscene in Romani Ranch setup 02, the Milk Bar music plays in the background (ID 0x56).

After the cutscene passes frame 3000 (around 2:38 mins), the player regains control of Link.

This cutscene is supposed to transition to the second Milk Bar ending cutscene, as the cutscene list for this cutscene sets the exit index to 0x2401 (24 = Milk Bar, 01 = Setup 00). However, no transition actually happens because the cutscene data lacks a "cutscene terminator" command (0x0000015E).
Adding (or replacing another command with) this command will make the transition occur. A quick way to do this is by going to address 0x2E80DB4 (decompressed JPN v1.0) and overwriting the values there with the following: 0000015E0000000100010BB80BB80BB8. This will activate the transition at frame 3000 (0x0BB8).

Fairy's Fountain#

Spin Attack#

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In this unused cutscene, the Great Fairy teaches Link the spin attack. The player is then asked to demonstrate this new technique to the Great Fairy's satisfaction. This cut concept was later used in Twilight Princess.

Viewing this cutscene in the English version of the game will show some of the text boxes as empty. This is because their message IDs only contain text in the Japanese version of the game and were blanked out for the English version, rather than translated.

Double Defense#

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In this unused cutscene, Link undergoes intense physical training in order to receive double defense from the Great Fairy. For some reason, when the cutscene ends, Link will be in his Fierce Deity form.

Double Magic#

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In this unused cutscene, Link is simply shown standing in space with the Great Fairy as the size of his magic meter is increased. The uniqueness of the unused cutscenes for acquiring the Spin Attack and double defense suggest that more was planned for this short scene as well. After it's over, Link appears back at the Fairy Fountain in North Clock Town.

Great Fairy's Sword#

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In this unused cutscene, Link is simply shown standing in space with the Great Fairy as he receives the Great Fairy's Sword. The uniqueness of the unused cutscenes for acquiring the Spin Attack and double defense suggest that more was planned for this short scene as well. After it's over, Link appears back at the Fairy Fountain in North Clock Town.

Learning Magic#

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In this unused cutscene, Link is simply shown standing in space with the Great Fairy as he receives the magic meter. The uniqueness of the unused cutscenes for acquiring the Spin Attack and double defense suggest that more was planned for this short scene as well. After it's over, Link appears back at the Fairy Fountain in North Clock Town.

Great Fairy's Sword in Ikana Valley#

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The way Link behaves when receiving the Great Fairy's Sword at the Fairy's Fountain in Ikana Valley in this unused mini-cutscene differs slightly from what is seen in the final game. He opens his arms and receives the sword as if he's receiving a magic upgrade.

The data for this mini-cutscene is located at offset 0xFC8C in the Fairy's Fountain scene file.

Moon#

Intro Cutscenes#

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The moon has an unused intro cutscene, as do each of its trial dungeons.

The moon has a total of 12 actor cutscenes, the last of which being unused. In order to play the moon cutscene when loading the map for the first time, the "cutscene index" field for said actor has to be set from 0xFFFF to 0x0000. To do so, in a decompressed USA ROM, go to address 0x2D5A6CE and overwrite the 2 bytes there with 0000.

For each trial dungeon, their intro cutscenes are actually setup properly to play when loading the map for the first time. However, they don't because, when transitioning to the map after talking to the moon children, they set a specific load type of -2 (0xFFFFFFFE), which tells the game to not play the cutscene.

In order to play the cutscenes, the 4 bytes at RAM address 0x801F3320 (USA) must be set from 0xFFFFFFFE to 0x00000000 when transitioning to the trial dungeons. This can also be achieved by using the Gameshark code below (press L when the screen fades to white after talking to the moon children):

D03E6B3B 0020
811F3320 0000
D03E6B3B 0020
811F3322 0000

The intro cutscenes for the trial dungeons can also be played by accessing the maps with the aid of a cheat code or the Map Select to force the game to warp to said location. This avoids the load type being set to -2, as you don't actually access these maps via the moon children this way.

These dungeon cutscenes were repurposed for Majora's Mask 3D.

Cutscene Map#

Intro Cutscene#

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This cutscene is actually used: it's the opening scene that plays when the player starts a new file in Majora's Mask. The first part of the scene features a black screen with white writing, telling the legend of the boy who saved Hyrule. Then, the black background disappears and Link comes into view, riding Epona through the Lost Woods. By modifying the video plugin to disable the black background during the intro to this scene, some hidden camera movements are revealed.

This can also be viewed by changing the byte at 0x2E881ED to 00 in a decompressed USA version of the game. This modifies the "End frame" field of the black overlay used in the cutscene, allowing the player to see the hidden camera movements.

Animation Test#

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The cutscene in which Link falls through the void after playing the Song of Time hides a strange motion test that features animations for Link and Deku Link.

It's located at offset 0x9BA0 in scene 0x02F41000 (Cutscene Map in the uncompressed Japanese v1.0 version of the game). This cutscene can be accessed by replacing the offset for one of the used cutscenes with this one. For example, replacing the 4 bytes in 0x2F4AFD0 (uncompressed Japanese v1.0 ROM) with 02009BA0 will replace the intro cutscene with this one.

Odolwa's Lair#

Twinmold Battle#

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Odolwa's Lair features an unused scene and room setting that triggers the battle against Twinmold. It's possible that Odolwa's Lair was originally a test room. In this setup, the HUD is hidden, as it is during cutscenes. This setup is unreferenced by the Odolwa's Lair scene header, so it can't be accessed via codes or the Map Select.

When the boss battle isn't triggered, there's no music. Besides, there's no echo or fog effects, and time doesn't advance. Defeating one of the monsters will softlock the game.

The scene setting for this starts at 0x22FE7B0, and the room starts at 0x2304270 (decompressed JPN v1.0 ROM). In a decompressed JPN v1.1 ROM, the scene setting for this starts at 0x22FF7B0, and the room starts at 0x2305270.
One way to access this unused setup is to replace the header of both the used scene and room with the unused variants. To do this, in an decompressed JPN v1.0 ROM, go to address 0x22FE7B0, copy the 0x70 bytes from there, and overwrite the values at 0x022FE000 with the previously copied values. Then, go to address 0x2304270, copy the 0x40 bytes from there, and overwrite the values at 0x02304000 with the previously copied values.

This unused setup can only be found in both Japanese N64 versions. They were removed in subsequent revisions of the game.

North Clock Town#

Setup 01#

This alternate scene setup features different lighting and fog settings from the final game. The sky has a greenish tinge to it, similar to what can be seen in pre-release images. The sign and the grotto hole are positioned slightly differently. The actor pathing also differs, and freezing may occur when the Blast Mask event is triggered. There is no actor for the Clock Tower that's normally visible in the background.

Chamber of Giants#

This map features a whopping 11 unused cutscenes, though some are merely duplicates of each other. Each cutscene has its own scene and room header, but all of them feature a Giant positioned near the pillar upon which Link stands. The Giants in each unused cutscene seems to be using the animation where they struggle to hold the moon from crashing. The actor for this Giant uses variable 0xFE0F, instead of the regular 0xFE08. None of the scenes have background music.

Type 1: Setups 04, 05, 07, & 08#

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These cutscenes are located at offsets 0x509C, 0x563C, 0x617C, and 0x671C. Their message boxes are blank in both Japanese and English, as the text has been dummied out.

Type 2: Setup 07#

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This cutscene is located at offset 0x5BDC. Its text appears to be identical to setup 01, the used cutscene in which Link and Tatl encounter the Giants for the first time.

Type 3: Setup 10#

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This cutscene is located at offset 0x6CBC. Its text appears to be identical to setup 02, the used cutscene that plays after Link and Tatl save the third Giant.

Type 4: Setup 11#

To do: Is the location of the cutscene 0xBCCC or 0x725C?

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This setup is located at offset 0xBCCC, and features 5 cutscenes. Like setups 04, 05, 07, and 08, their text appears to be identical to setup 01, the used cutscene in which Link and Tatl encounter the Giants for the first time. Curiously, its filename is identical to said used cutscene as well.

Type 5: Setup 11#

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This cutscene is located at offset 0x7FBC. Its text appears to be identical to setup 02, the used cutscene that plays after Link and Tatl save the third Giant. Curiously, its filename is identical to said used cutscene as well.

Type 6: Setup 11#

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This cutscene is located at offset 0x8B3C. It appears to be identical to setup 03, the used cutscene that plays after Link and Tatl save the final Giant. Curiously, its filename is identical to said used cutscene as well.

Type 7: Setup 11#

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This cutscene is located at offset 0x9E9C. Its message boxes are blank in both Japanese and English, as the text has been dummied out.

Type 8: Setup 11#

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This cutscene is located at offset 0xA29C. Its text appears to be identical to the used cutscene in which Link learns the Oath to Order. Curiously, its filename is identical to said used cutscene as well.