Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Review

The best Hyrule Warriors action so far comes in a game that unfortunately fails to deliver a satisfying story. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a masterpiece but leaves many questions about the pivotal Imprisoning War, which sealed away the Demon King Ganondorf.

While you might expect the prequel Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment to explore this era in depth by following Princess Zelda back to the founding of Hyrule, the game falls short in storytelling. Instead, it focuses on delivering the signature over-the-top, fanservice-rich gameplay the Warriors series is known for.

"Age of Imprisonment only succeeds as the super fun, over-the-top, fanservice-filled power trip the Warriors series is known for rather than the fleshed-out glimpse into what Hyrule was like thousands of years ago."

Gameplay consistently takes priority over narrative, making it my least favorite story in the Breath of the Wild series, though it offers a notably improved playing experience. The controls and flow are the best in the Hyrule Warriors franchise so far.

The game features approximately an 18-hour campaign across dozens of familiar battlegrounds set in an ancient version of Hyrule. Players engage in combat within stunning locales such as the golden Sky Islands and the dark, dangerous Depths.

Gameplay and Setting

The series blends the world of The Legend of Zelda with the fast-paced 1 vs. many combat of Dynasty Warriors. In Age of Imprisonment, this formula is refined to deliver its most enjoyable experience yet.

Players battle across a vast array of stages representing the ancient landscape of Tears of the Kingdom’s Hyrule, including visually striking environments that enhance the dynamic combat.

Summary

While Age of Imprisonment provides the most exciting Hyrule Warriors gameplay to date, its story pales in comparison, focusing more on fanservice than meaningful exploration of Hyrule’s ancient past.