Zelda Fan Spots Majora’s Mask Reference in Math Workbook

A Zelda fan has discovered a surprising reference to the games in their math workbook. The amusing nod to The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask has fellow fans a bit envious when they think back, comparing the dull textbooks they had to this subtle mention.

Textbook manufacturers and teachers often look for ways to make learning more exciting for students, which can sometimes lead to discoveries like these. Gamers have previously spotted textbook references to games like Final Fantasy 14, World of Warcraft, and even Stardew Valley.

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Now, Reddit user DarkLordFergus has shared their discovery of a Zelda: Majora’s Mask reference in their math workbook. The question is designed to teach students how interest rates on credit cards work, but the name of the bank and its logo are where the reference lie. The reader is supposed to solve a math problem involving the “Clocktown Bank,” which uses a Triforce as its logo. A closer examination reveals that the font used for the name of the bank also seems to be the same one used in Majora’s Mask. For those who need a refresher, Clock Town is the biggest city in Termina, the area Link finds himself dragged into in Majora’s Mask.

Zelda Fans Poke Fun at Majora’s Math Question

Many fans of the Nintendo franchise have been quick to envy those who get to learn math with this particular workbook. School can be dull for many, and something like this would help to give students a little bit of fun while solving an otherwise ordinary math question. However, players have also noted that the question is a bit silly, given the choice of Clock Town and Majora’s Mask for a reference. The problem is meant to teach students how annual interest can pile up over time if a credit card balance isn’t paid off in full. However, Majora’s Mask is set around a repeating three-day loop with the world ending, making an annual interest rate largely irrelevant.

While nods like this are appreciated by many, not every video game mention in a textbook goes off without a hitch. Some textbook authors have gotten confused and mixed up video games series with each other, which would likely elicit an eyeroll from any student who knows them well. Alternatively, sometimes images of games have shown up in textbooks that don’t seem to have been intentional references. One such example is an image of someone playing Stardew Valley in a textbook that was taken from a stock photo website.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask was the sequel to the iconic The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Majora’s Mask re-uses many character models from Ocarina of time, though the games are vastly different, with Majora’s Mask being by far the most bizarre entry in the Zelda franchise. 

The story sees Link stuck in a three-day cycle as he tries to stop a town from being destroyed by an angry-looking moon… a tale as old as time. 

Systems

Released

October 26, 2000

Developer(s)

Nintendo EAD

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Engine

Proprietary Engine

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Suggestive Themes

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