Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Review

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Review - IGN

The best Hyrule Warriors action yet rescues a rather disappointing story. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a masterpiece, but it leaves many questions about a crucial event in its timeline: the Imprisoning War that trapped the Demon King Ganondorf.

You might expect a prequel like Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment to dive deep into this era as you follow Princess Zelda back to Hyrule's founding. However, the game mainly delivers the signature over-the-top, fanservice-filled gameplay the Warriors series is known for, rather than an in-depth look into Hyrule thousands of years ago.

Gameplay vs. Story

The game consistently favors gameplay over storytelling, making it my least favorite narrative in Zelda’s Breath of the Wild quartet by a significant margin. Yet, the upside is clear:

"Age of Imprisonment is the best Hyrule Warriors has ever felt to play."

The series blends the world of The Legend of Zelda with the 1 vs. many scale of Dynasty Warriors. This installment's roughly 18-hour campaign spans dozens of familiar battlefields within the ancient Hyrule seen in Tears of the Kingdom, including glorious skirmishes in the golden Sky Islands and the eerie, Gloom-infested Depths.

Summary

Age of Imprisonment offers thrilling gameplay and iconic locations but fails to provide the deep story exploration fans might hope for about Hyrule's ancient history.

Author's Conclusion

This game delivers the best Hyrule Warriors combat experience to date, though its story does not satisfy fans seeking meaningful lore expansion.

Would you like the tone to be more formal or casual?

IGN — 2025-11-06