Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Review - IGN
The best Hyrule Warriors action yet comes with a very disappointing story. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a masterpiece, but it raises many questions about the key event in its timeline: the Imprisoning War that sealed away Demon King Ganondorf.
You might expect Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, a prequel, to deeply explore this era by following Princess Zelda back to Hyrule’s founding. However, the game mainly succeeds as a thrilling, over-the-top fanservice-filled experience, known from the Warriors series, rather than a detailed look into ancient Hyrule.
Gameplay consistently takes priority over story, making this the least satisfying narrative in the Breath of the Wild saga by a significant margin. Still, Age of Imprisonment offers the best and most engaging gameplay the Hyrule Warriors franchise has seen.
The series combines the world of The Legend of Zelda with the Dynasty Warriors’ 1 vs. many combat style. Age of Imprisonment’s roughly 18-hour campaign spans dozens of familiar battlefields across ancient versions of Tears of the Kingdom’s Hyrule, including breathtaking fights on the golden Sky Islands and in the Gloom-infested Depths.
“Age of Imprisonment only succeeds as the super fun, over-the-top, fanservice-filled power trip the Warriors series is known for rather than the fleshed-out glimpse into what Hyrule was like thousands of years ago.”
The campaign offers a diverse range of skirmishes, delivering a rich action experience that outweighs its storytelling shortcomings.
Author's Summary
While the story falls short, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment delivers the most enjoyable and polished gameplay in the series, making it a must-play for action fans.
Would you prefer a more detailed critique or a focus on gameplay mechanics?