Review: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

If you enjoyed Koei Tecmo’s earlier collaborations with Nintendo, this title will impress you even more. Koei Tecmo has delivered its Musou "Warriors" formula to Nintendo franchises five times: twice with Fire Emblem and now three times with The Legend of Zelda series, including Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment.

This installment may be the most polished and coherent yet, demonstrating how well Koei Tecmo has refined its balance between intense action and storytelling. Previously, narratives in Warriors games were limited to brief cut scenes framing long beat-em-up gameplay. Now, the story is woven seamlessly into battles with key scenes, character switches, and shifting perspectives.

This change may seem small but significantly enhances the experience. It no longer feels like a sequence of isolated "levels" or an arcade-style game. Instead, the narrative flows with the action, creating a richer engagement.

It now feels less like you’re playing through a series of “levels,” like you’re in an arcade.

The story itself adds to the Zelda universe. Set during the same timeline as Tears of the Kingdom, the plot begins with Zelda falling into a magical sinkhole, waking up at Hyrule’s origins and meeting its very first king and queen.

Set during the same arc as Tears of the Kingdom, things kick off with Zelda falling into the magic sinkhole, only to wake up right at the beginning of Hyrule’s history, meeting the very first king and queen of the kingdom.

Overall, this game offers a well-integrated narrative combined with traditional Warriors action, enriching both the gameplay and the Zelda lore.

Author's summary: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment masterfully blends intense action with a seamlessly integrated story, deepening the Zelda universe through innovative gameplay and a compelling narrative.

Digitally Downloaded — 2025-11-06

Review: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

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