The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, direct sequel and spinoff from The Ocarina of Time, is fairly obscure for a Zelda game. It's weird, unconnected to the Triforce or other main themes, and was somewhat derided when it first came out. Of course, it was quite popular, but it's also been long-since overshadowed by Ocarina of Time and Wind Waker, which came out after. And yet, here we are with a Majora's Mask figure in the World of Nintendo line, and it's none other than Majora itself!
The Skull Kid is playing host to Majora, an ancient demonic entity trapped inside the titular mask. Although Majora drives most of the plot through the Skull Kid's body, it abandons it in time for the final battle - but the Skull Kid as Majora is one of the game's most emblematic designs, and so unique that it really deserved a figure before anything else from Majora's Mask. Yes, even Fierce Deity Link.
Although this character already has a 3" Mini Figure, World of Nintendo has him released as a 4" figure, too. How did they do? Let's find out!
PACKAGING: ****
The packaging is color-themed by game series, but otherwise identical. It shows off the Skull Kid perfectly well, and does what it needs to do.
SCULPT: ****
The Skull Kid is bright, colorful, frilly, and more than a little bit like the Kokopelli. But then, this fits - it's got the design as depicted in the game and in associated artwork matched to a T, with that strangely surreal, cheerfully nightmarish mood that Majora's Mask specializes in so well.
The Skull Kid matches the mini-figure so well that it's easy to mistake one for the other at a distance. This consistency is a great part of the line, though it's arguably a side effect of nintendo's slick brand recognition (and digital sculpting and resizing).
Interestingly, the figure's small size - just a mite taller than a GI Joe - completely fits, as it is the Skull kid. And thus, it's effective with a lot of larger figures as well.
PAINT: ****
Bright colors! Well, the Skull Kid is meant to be festive, and this figure accomplishes it with plastic in the appropriate colors as much as possible, using extr apaint only when needed. The effect is a paint job that doesn't look like "paint," but feels natural - and of course, clean lines that are not messed up.
It should be noted that the color scheme matches the mini-figure. This is a no-brainer, but you would be surprised how often such things are not consistent in toy lines.
ARTICULATION: ***1/2
The Skull Kid has a metric ton of articulation. Every time I think I've found evetything, there's another swivel waiting to be discovered. It's an extremely flexible, posable figure - as it should be, considering the Kokopelli-esque design behind it.
Some of the joints feel like they could be flimsy, but it's really grasping to say that. One thing to note, however, is that the hinged elbws and knees are all perfectly double-jointed - there is no "stopping" point so the Skull Kid tends to take wonky, limb-breaking poses by accident all the time. Just pay attention to limb rotation, and all should be well.
ACCESSORIES: ***
World of Nintendo figures used to come with two accessories (one of which was hidden!), but now they come with one. And the Skull Kid has just one item... Majora's Mask! Although it's technically part of the costume, it's the driving forcebehind the whole game. That mask is the game's main villain. We don't have a toy of its final boss form, but believe me - this is the only accessory it needs.
Wellllll, maybe a small enemy or game item would have helped, but they're not necessary. Anyway, the mask clips into the Skull Kid's head, which unfortunately gives it some rather unsightly peg holes in its face.
VALUE: ****
At about $10, this is a fairly decent deal. It's not mind-blowing, but the figure shouldn't put that big a dent in your wallet.
THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR:
Be careful about those joints - they might come loose, and they need to remain durable.
WHERE TO BUY:
You can find these at Toys R Us, Target, Wal-Mart, and... well, most places.
OVERALL: ***
World of Nintendo is a line that I've overlooked, but is honestly the kind of thing that I have needed my entire life. That we have all needed. The tradeoff is somewhat small, cheap-feeling figures, but you've got everything from Nintendo.
As for this figure, it hits a very specific bit of nostalgia, combined to one minor Zelda game. And yet, it works - Majora is a pretty toyetic design, and this is a great figure of the Skull Kid. It's amazing how such a figure can be made long afte rth egame is gone, but before nostalgia really has time to settle in, but there you have it.
And it's a good toy on its own merits, too. Even if you don't care about Majora's Mask, this is still a fascinating tribal... thing. It's a great figure, just itching for a spot somewhere on display.
