Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Review: Ultrahanding Out Beatdowns
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a smart adaptation of Tears of the Kingdom mechanics, featuring an enjoyable cast and a compelling campaign that make it a worthwhile spinoff.
Nintendo and Koei Tecmo have earned my loyalty over multiple Warriors collaborations and spinoffs during the past decade. What impresses me most is that Koei Tecmo doesn’t just apply the Musou formula to popular characters; it enhances the gameplay by integrating mechanics from the original franchises. This was true for Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity and Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, and it happens again in Age of Imprisonment.
Leveraging the power of the Switch 2, Koei Tecmo delivers a better performing game that stands as a worthy spinoff of the outstanding Tears of the Kingdom.
Plot and Setting
Taking place after the events of Tears of the Kingdom, Age of Imprisonment explores untold stories similar to Age of Calamity. This time, the focus is on the war between the original King of Hyrule, Rauru, and Ganondorf, the Gerudo chieftain turned Demon King.
Players familiar with Tears of the Kingdom know the outcome, but the game delves into the detailed narrative of Zelda's efforts to reunite with Link in the future.
Character Development
The game gives extended screen time to characters who were only briefly mentioned in Tears of the Kingdom, enriching their backstories and roles in the overarching conflict.
"Nintendo and Koei Tecmo have made a fairly loyal fan of me over the course of several Warriors collaborations and spinoffs this last decade and then some."
"Koei Tecmo has utilized the power of the Switch 2 to make an altogether better performing game and a worthy spinoff to the excellence that was Tears of the Kingdom."
"We get a lot of time with characters that were only in the periphery of Tears of the Kingdom."
Summary
Age of Imprisonment balances familiar gameplay with new story depth, making it a strong continuation and impressive spinoff in the Warriors series.
Author’s summary: This spinoff effectively enhances the Tears of the Kingdom experience by combining refined mechanics, deeper storytelling, and improved performance on Switch 2.