Review: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
If you enjoyed Koei Tecmo’s previous collaborations with Nintendo, you will likely appreciate this latest release. Koei Tecmo has brought its Musou "Warriors" formula to Nintendo properties five times — twice with Fire Emblem and now three times with The Legend of Zelda, including Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment.
A More Cohesive Experience
This installment might be the most cohesive and polished yet. It demonstrates how Koei Tecmo has enhanced its skill in balancing large-scale, frantic action with a stronger narrative. Unlike earlier Warriors games, where the story was mostly relayed through brief cutscenes framing a long beat-em-up, this game integrates the narrative more deeply into gameplay.
- Key story battles include cutscenes and character perspective shifts
- The flow of battle now intertwines with story progression
- The game feels less like a traditional arcade level sequence
Storyline and Setting
The story is solid and adds to the Zelda universe. It is set during the same timeframe as Tears of the Kingdom. The plot begins with Zelda falling into a magical sinkhole and awakening at the dawn of Hyrule’s history, where she meets the kingdom’s first king and queen.
"Where once the narrative of a Warriors game was shared via short cut scenes that bookended an extended beat-em-up brawler, now there’s a much more integrated narrative, with key story battles integrating cut scenes, changes of character and perspective, and more into the flow of battle."
This integration makes the experience more immersive and ties the story and gameplay together effectively.
Author's Summary
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment impressively blends intense action with a smoothly integrated story, enriching the Zelda universe and offering a fresh take on the Warriors formula.