Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Review: Ultrahanding Out Beatdowns
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment offers a smart adaptation of Tears of the Kingdom mechanics, an engaging cast, and a strong campaign, making it a worthwhile spinoff.
Nintendo and Koei Tecmo have earned my loyalty through several Warriors collaborations over the past decade. What impresses me most is how Koei Tecmo doesn't just attach fan-favorite characters to the Musou formula. Instead, they enhance the gameplay by integrating mechanics from the original franchises.
This approach was evident in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity and Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, and it continues here with Age of Imprisonment. This time, they leverage the power of the Switch 2 to deliver a smoother, better-performing experience that honors the excellence of Tears of the Kingdom.
Story and Setting
Building on the events of Tears of the Kingdom, Age of Imprisonment explores untold stories, similar to Age of Calamity. This installment focuses on the war between the original King of Hyrule, Rauru, and the Gerudo chieftain turned Demon King, Ganondorf.
If you completed Tears of the Kingdom, you might know the outcome, but Age of Imprisonment delves deeper into the narrative, particularly Zelda's efforts to reunite with Link in the future.
"We get a lot of time with characters that were only in the periphery of Tears of the Kingdom."
Final Thoughts
The game successfully expands the Tears of the Kingdom universe, combining familiar mechanics with fresh storytelling and improved performance on the new hardware.
Author's summary: Age of Imprisonment enriches the Tears of the Kingdom saga with deeper characters, refined gameplay, and solid performance on the Switch 2, making it a standout spinoff.