Series-Best Combat in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
The latest crossover between Zelda and Musou games heavily relies on your knowledge of Zelda lore but delivers some of the best Warriors gameplay in years. If you're familiar with Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, you already know what to expect.
A Proven Franchise Collaboration
This marks the third time The Legend of Zelda has blended with Koei Tecmo's Warriors series. Over time, the two creators have become highly skilled at producing these titles, which are inherently familiar to fans of the hack-and-slash genre.
Strong Foundations and Creative Integration
For many, the original Hyrule Warriors offered one of the most engaging takes on the one-versus-many Musou format. The game used the basic Musou mechanics as a solid base while adding Zelda elements as a unique and appealing overlay.
This formula was effective, with Zelda themes fitting better with Warriors than other franchises like Fire Emblem or One Piece, enhancing the otherwise straightforward hack-and-slash gameplay.
Evolution Through the Series
While the first game incorporated Zelda imagery from various decades, 2020’s Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity focused solely on the Breath of the Wild setting. It presented a non-canon alternate universe version of the events from that game, maintaining the same gameplay style.
Author's Summary
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment showcases the series' strongest combat yet, brilliantly melding Zelda lore with polished Musou gameplay, but signals a personal conclusion to this Breath of the Wild era of the franchise.