Review: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
If you have enjoyed Koei Tecmo’s previous collaborations with Nintendo, this title will truly impress you. Koei Tecmo has now applied its Musou “Warriors” gameplay formula to Nintendo franchises five times — twice with Fire Emblem and three times with The Legend of Zelda, including Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment.
This installment is arguably the most cohesive and polished yet, demonstrating Koei Tecmo's refined balance between intense action and storytelling. Earlier Warriors games shared their narratives mainly through brief cutscenes framing extended beat-em-up levels, but this game integrates its story deeper into the gameplay.
- Key battles include cutscenes and character switches within the flow of combat.
- The perspective changes enhance the narrative's immersion.
- It feels less like a series of isolated arcade levels and more like a unified adventure.
The plot itself is a meaningful addition to the Zelda universe. It takes place during the same timeline as Tears of the Kingdom, starting with Zelda falling into a magical sinkhole. She then awakens at the dawn of Hyrule’s history, where she meets the kingdom’s very first king and queen.
“It sounds like a minor development, but it helps tie it all together, and it now feels less like you’re playing through a series of ‘levels,’ like you’re in an arcade.”
Overall, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment successfully blends storytelling and action, enriching both its gameplay and the Zelda lore.
Author's summary: This game marks Koei Tecmo’s best integration of story and action in the Warriors series, offering a compelling narrative deeply woven into dynamic gameplay within the Zelda universe.