In a remarkable discovery, YouTuber Skawo has uncovered dormant voice control functions in the code of the Nintendo 64 classic, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. These controls were designed to use the N64's microphone accessory, allowing players to interact with the game through voice input. Planned features included taking photos with the Pictobox while saying Say Cheese and awakening Deku Scrubs.
Notably, these voice commands were programmed for the Japanese version of the game, requiring players to issue commands in Japanese. This feature appears to be an homage to the original Famicom Disk System from The Legend of Zelda, which incorporated microphone-based interactions – a feature absent in the Western version of the NES due to hardware differences.
Although Nintendo ultimately chose not to integrate these voice commands into the final version of Majora's Mask, their presence in the game's code highlights the innovative ideas considered during its development. This revelation highlights the enduring depth of classic games, whose hidden elements continue to surface decades after their initial release.
For enthusiasts wanting to explore this feature, it's important to note that commands must be spoken in Japanese, which matches the original programming. This discovery not only enriches the legacy of Majora's Mask, but also offers a fascinating insight into the experimental features its developers envisioned.
