Series-Best Combat in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
The latest Zelda and Musou crossover, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, builds heavily on Zelda lore but delivers the best Warriors gameplay seen in years. Fans likely recognize the formula by now, as this marks the third collaboration between The Legend of Zelda and Koei Tecmo's Warriors franchise.
These partnerships have become adept at crafting engaging titles that, while familiar, consistently refine the gameplay. The original Hyrule Warriors was a standout, creatively merging the one-versus-many Musou genre with Zelda's iconic elements.
A Successful Blend of Gameplay and Theme
The first game used the Musou structure as its backbone, adding Zelda's themes and concepts as a flavorful enhancement on top. This blend proved effective, as Zelda’s imagery meshed better with Warriors mechanics than other franchises like Fire Emblem or One Piece.
The formula "served to elevate the deliberately simplistic and junk foodian nature of the hack-and-slash battles."
Unlike the original, which incorporated Zelda elements from various eras, 2020’s Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity focused exclusively on the Breath of the Wild universe, presenting a non-canon alternate storyline within that game’s setting.
Final Thoughts
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment delivers refined combat and leverages Zelda lore effectively, representing a peak in the series' crossover gameplay.
Though the gameplay remains strong, this may signal a personal endpoint for fans invested in the Breath of the Wild interpretation of Zelda's world.
Author's Summary
While Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment showcases top-tier Warriors combat enriched by Zelda lore, it may mark the conclusion of exploring the Breath of the Wild Zelda universe through this style of game.