Another Unofficial Majora’s Mask Native PC Port Now Available Online

Earlier this month, an unofficial native PC port of The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, titled Zelda64Recomp, made its way online, largely thanks to a new recompilation tool developed by modder Mr-Wiseguy. This tool, known as N64: Recompiled, streamlines the process of decompiling/recompiling Nintendo 64 code, wherein a game’s original code is translated into modern computer code so that it runs natively on PCs, no emulation needed. The Majora’s Mask port was the first demonstration of N64: Recompiled’s utility, but we expect the tool to result in many Nintendo 64 PC ports moving forward.

But for as quickly and easily N64: Recompiled makes the recompilation process, it’s not the only method by which the modding community is developing native PC ports of Nintendo 64 titles. A handful of dedicated development teams have actually spent years painstakingly decompiling the code of classic Nintendo 64 games through a process called reverse engineering, wherein code is picked apart piece by piece and then rewritten in modern computer code. Though considerably slower than N64: Recompiled, this process makes modding and adding custom features easier for developers.

Harbour Masters is one such decompilation group. Having developed a highly publicized native PC port of Ocarina of Time, known as Ship of Harkinian, back in 2022, the group just recently released their own port of Majora‘s Mask. This new port, titled 2Ship2Harkinian, supports higher framerates, widescreen options, and a bevy of quality-of-life improvements.

The Harbour Masters also plan to add the following features in the future:

  • Mirror mode
  • Built-in randomizer, like the one seen in Ship of Harkinian
  • Permanent Bunny Mask cheat and infinite Deku glide cheat
  • Time-saving enhancements, like quick swap, faster Deku Flower launching, and skipping song playback
  • Other challenge modes, like “Superhot” mode where time only progresses when you move, but goes much faster.

You can join Harbour Masters’ Discord server right here to learn more.

You can find 2Ship2Harkinian right here. As with many reverse-engineered Nintendo 64 PC ports, users will need to provide their own legally sourced ROM of Majora’s Mask, from which Nintendo-owned assets will be taken.

Because 2Ship2Harkinian contains only Harbour Masters’ original code — no Nintendo-owned assets like art, sounds, etc. — this port is shielded from copyright concerns. We have reported on several of these reverse-engineered N64 PC ports over the years, including ports of Ocarina of Time and A Link to the Past, and all are still available to download.

Beyond the efforts of Harbour Masters, the Zelda Reverse Engineering Team is currently helming their own Majora’s Mask decompilation project, as well as efforts to decompile The Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, and Breath of the Wild.

What do you think of all these Majora’s Mask PC ports? Have you tried out 2Ship2Harkinian or Zelda64Recomp? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Source: Harbour Masters (via DSOGaming)

Featured Artwork by ４４４おとこ

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