Series-Best Combat Drives Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
The latest Zelda and Musou crossover, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, relies heavily on your familiarity with Zelda lore but delivers the best warriors gameplay in years. This installment marks the third collaboration between The Legend of Zelda and Koei Tecmo's Warriors franchise.
These partnerships have become adept at creating games that, by nature, are familiar to players. The original Hyrule Warriors stood out as one of the most engaging variations of the one-versus-many Musou genre. It used the Musou framework as a base and layered Zelda’s iconic elements on top, resulting in a compelling experience.
"The first Hyrule Warriors was one of the most interesting takes on the one-versus-many Musou genre."
This combination meshed Zelda’s world better with Warriors gameplay than collaborations with franchises like Fire Emblem or One Piece. The Zelda elements elevated the straightforward, hack-and-slash combat, turning it into a tasty formula that was both familiar and fresh.
While the first game mixed Zelda imagery from various eras, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (2020) focused solely on the Breath of the Wild universe. It presented a non-canon alternative storyline based on that game's events.
"2020's Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity continued on the same path but channeled the worldview of a single entry, Breath of the Wild, offering a non-canon alternative universe take on that game's events."
Author’s Summary
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment delivers the sharpest combat in the series, skillfully blending Zelda lore with proven Musou gameplay, though the Breath of the Wild focus may feel final for fans.