I really shouldn’t complain about Skull Kid, because I always find it so lame and boring that the main Zelda boss is almost always Ganon/Ganondorf. But I heavily disliked Skull Kid when I first played The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. There was a Skull Kid in Ocarina of Time, and I’m not really sure if it’s supposed to be the same character or just another member of that weird scarecrow-monster species.

At the very beginning of Majora’s Mask, we see him trying to rob Link. He manages to steal the Ocarina of Time and commandeer Epona. But when the horse refuses to obey him, he claims to have killed her—thankfully, he was just lying.

Then he horrifically turns Link into an unchangeable Deku Kid. I really hated that part of the game, especially during my first playthrough. It was so satisfying to finally get that mask off.

Afterward, you have a showdown with Skull Kid under the moon and recover the Ocarina of Time. I thought the scene was pretty epic, but you quickly realize that you have to relive the last three days over and over again until you beat all the dungeons. Until you confront Skull Kid again, you really shouldn’t face him until you’ve gotten every single mask in the game—which is no easy feat.

Once you beat all the bosses and have your final showdown, Majora’s Mask quickly sheds Skull Kid like a puppet, leaving him unconscious. I wasn’t expecting that, and I really wish there had been a proper Phase One where you fight Skull Kid in a traditional battle.

We later learn that Skull Kid was sort of a good guy, but his antics got him into trouble and made everyone dislike him—can’t imagine why. If you pay attention early in the game, it’s heavily implied that he was once friends with the Giants you’re supposed to save, but he did something to upset them.

Then he makes friends with two fairies and steals Majora’s Mask from the Happy Mask Salesman—accidentally causing the apocalypse. Just a happy little accident, LOL.

In the end, he manages to survive and is redeemed—maybe not as a hero, but at least as a free scarecrow-monster-thing. His former friends, the Giants, apparently like him again. But I sure don’t.