Review: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

Review: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

If you appreciated Koei Tecmo’s earlier collaborations with Nintendo, this title will likely become a favorite. In Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, the studio once again applies its signature Musou “Warriors” gameplay formula to a Nintendo franchise, marking the third time it has expanded the world of The Legend of Zelda.

This entry feels like the most cohesive of Koei Tecmo’s adaptations. It demonstrates how well the developer has learned to balance intense, large-scale combat with a meaningful narrative experience.

Where once the narrative of a Warriors game was shared via short cut scenes that bookended an extended beat-em-up brawler, now there’s a much more integrated narrative, with key story battles integrating cut scenes, changes of character and perspective, and more into the flow of battle.

This evolution makes the pacing smoother, reducing the sense of playing through isolated “levels” and instead creating a continuous adventure. The story even expands the Zelda mythos in a meaningful way. Set during the same timeline as Tears of the Kingdom, it begins with Zelda falling into a mystical sinkhole and awakening at the dawn of Hyrule’s history, where she meets the first king and queen of the realm.

Author’s Summary

Koei Tecmo perfects its Musou style in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, blending epic action and story depth in a seamless addition to the Zelda saga.

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