Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Review - IGN
The best Hyrule Warriors gameplay to date redeems a notably weak story. While The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a masterpiece, it leaves many questions about a crucial event in its timeline—the Imprisoning War that trapped the Demon King Ganondorf.
You might expect a prequel such as Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment to explore this rich territory by following Princess Zelda back to Hyrule’s founding era. Unfortunately, for fans seeking deep lore, this game succeeds primarily as an over-the-top, fanservice-driven Warriors-style action experience rather than a detailed look into ancient Hyrule.
“Age of Imprisonment consistently prioritizes gameplay over story, and it’s my least favorite tale in Zelda’s Breath of the Wild quartet by a pretty significant margin.”
Despite the weak narrative, the game offers the best gameplay feel in the Hyrule Warriors series so far. It merges the world of The Legend of Zelda with the intense single-player combat of Dynasty Warriors.
The roughly 18-hour campaign is set across many familiar battlefields in ancient Hyrule, including dazzling golden Sky Islands and the eerie, Gloom-infested Depths.
Key Features
- Engages players with fast-paced and satisfying combat mechanics
- Explores multiple iconic locations from the ancient world of Tears of the Kingdom
- Focuses on fanservice elements typical of the Warriors series
- Delivers a robust gameplay experience despite a lacking story
Summary
While Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment falls short narratively, it delivers the most enjoyable and polished combat experience in the series to date.