Series-Best Combat Drives Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
The latest crossover combining Zelda and Musou gameplay relies heavily on fans' knowledge of Zelda lore, but at its core, it delivers some of the best Warriors combat in years. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is the third collaboration between The Legend of Zelda and Koei Tecmo's Warriors franchise.
Both partners have become highly skilled at crafting these games, which are familiar in their gameplay style. The original Hyrule Warriors stands out as one of the most compelling takes on the one-versus-many Musou genre. It used the classic Musou framework as a base while layering Zelda's themes and imagery on top.
This combination proved to be very effective, with Zelda elements fitting better into the Warriors formula than other franchises like Fire Emblem or One Piece. This synergy enhanced the straightforward, arcade-style hack-and-slash action.
The first game blended Zelda motifs from various eras, while 2020's Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity built on this by focusing solely on the perspective and setting of Breath of the Wild, presenting a non-canon alternate take on its story.
"For my money, the first Hyrule Warriors was one of the most interesting takes on the one-versus-many Musou genre."
"The Zelda trappings meshed better with Warriors than the likes of Fire Emblem or One Piece, ultimately serving to elevate the deliberately simplistic and junk foodian nature of the hack-and-slash battles."
"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 showcases the finest combat in the series, expertly blending Zelda lore with polished Warriors gameplay, though its Breath of the Wild focus may mark a farewell to this version of the universe.