Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Review: Ultrahanding Out Beatdowns
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment smartly adapts mechanics from Tears of the Kingdom, features an enjoyable cast, and offers a compelling campaign, making it a worthy spinoff. Over the past decade, Nintendo and Koei Tecmo have gained my loyalty through various Warriors collaborations and spinoffs.
What sets Koei Tecmo apart is their approach to the Musou formula—not just attaching fan-favorite characters, but enhancing gameplay by blending mechanics from the original franchises. This philosophy continued with Age of Calamity and Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, and now with Age of Imprisonment.
Leveraging the Switch 2's power, this title delivers improved performance and stands as a strong spinoff following the success of Tears of the Kingdom.
Story and Setting
Age of Imprisonment builds on the events of Tears of the Kingdom, similarly to Age of Calamity, by exploring plotlines that were hinted at but not deeply explored before. The focus centers on the conflict between the original King of Hyrule, Rauru, and the Gerudo chieftain turned Demon King, Ganondorf.
Players familiar with Tears of the Kingdom will recognize the outcome, but Age of Imprisonment provides a deeper narrative, highlighting Zelda's efforts to reunite with Link in the future. The game gives significant attention to characters who were only briefly featured in the main title.
"Nintendo and Koei Tecmo have made a fairly loyal fan of me over the course of several Warriors collaborations and spinoffs this last decade and then some."
"Koei Tecmo has utilized the power of the Switch 2 to make an altogether better performing game and a worthy spinoff to the excellence that was Tears of the Kingdom."
"Age of Imprisonment still tells us the in-depth story that saw Zelda strive to reunite with Link in the future."
Summary
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment enhances familiar mechanics with powerful hardware and delivers a deeper story, enriching the Zelda universe with engaging characters and improved gameplay.