Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment review: Ultrahanding out beatdowns

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Review

Smart Adaptation and Enjoyable Campaign

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment offers a smart adaptation of Tears of the Kingdom mechanics, featuring an enjoyable cast and a compelling campaign that makes it a worthwhile spinoff. Nintendo and Koei Tecmo have earned my loyalty through numerous Warriors collaborations over the past decade.

Unique Approach to the Musou Formula

Koei Tecmo doesn’t just insert fan-favorite characters into the Musou formula; instead, they enhance the gameplay by integrating mechanics from the original franchises. This approach was evident in previous titles like Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity and Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, and is successfully continued in Age of Imprisonment.

Improved Performance with New Hardware

Utilizing the power of the Switch 2, the game runs more smoothly, delivering a polished experience that stands as a worthy spinoff alongside the excellence of Tears of the Kingdom.

Story Focus and Exploration

Picking up after the events of Tears of the Kingdom, Age of Imprisonment explores previously teased but unexplored events. It centers on the war between Hyrule’s original King Rauru and the Gerudo chieftain turned Demon King, Ganondorf.

"If you played Tears of the Kingdom through, you probably know how this turns out, but Age of Imprisonment still tells us the in-depth story that saw Zelda strive to reunite with Link in the future."

The game also gives significant screen time to characters who were only peripheral in the original Tears of the Kingdom, enriching the overall narrative experience.

Author's Summary

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment cleverly adapts key mechanics and provides a deeper story, making it a smooth and engaging extension of the Tears of the Kingdom universe.

Shacknews — 2025-11-04