Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Review
The best Hyrule Warriors action yet saves a very disappointing story. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a masterpiece, but it leaves many questions about the most important event in its timeline: the Imprisoning War that sealed away the Demon King Ganondorf.
You might expect Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment to be a prequel rich with exploration, following Princess Zelda back to the era when Hyrule was founded. However, for fans seeking deep answers, Age of Imprisonment falls short. It succeeds primarily as a super fun, over-the-top, fanservice-filled power trip typical of the Warriors series rather than an in-depth look at ancient Hyrule.
"Age of Imprisonment consistently prioritizes gameplay over story, making it my least favorite tale in Zelda’s Breath of the Wild quartet by a significant margin."
On the bright side, Age of Imprisonment offers the best gameplay experience Hyrule Warriors has ever delivered. The series merges The Legend of Zelda world with Dynasty Warriors’ intense 1 vs. 100 battles.
The campaign spans roughly 18 hours and features dozens of recognizable battlefields set in the ancient version of Tears of the Kingdom’s Hyrule. This includes skirmishes across the stunning golden Sky Islands and the eerie, Gloom-infested Depths.
Summary
Though the story disappoints, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment delivers outstanding combat and fanservice, making it the best gameplay experience in the series so far.