Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment aims to deliver the definitive finale to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild saga, linking its story directly to Tears of the Kingdom. Unlike the previous Age of Calamity, this new Musou game officially explores the Imprisoning War, Princess Zelda’s time travel, and the founding of Hyrule. It offers thrilling hack-and-slash combat and impressive technical performance, though it sometimes falls short with repetitive mission design and a narrative that occasionally feels more like a history lesson than an epic adventure.
Smooth Performance on Nintendo Switch 2
A major highlight is the game’s stellar performance with the Nintendo Switch 2’s enhanced capabilities. While past Hyrule Warriors titles struggled with frame rates during large battles, Age of Imprisonment maintains a remarkably smooth 60 frames per second in docked mode. This rock-solid fluidity makes the core combat, with its satisfying Weak-Point Gauges and devastating special attacks, incredibly enjoyable and technically flawless.
Zonai Devices and Combat Flow
However, the combat encounters some friction with the integration of new Zonai Devices. These gadgets, inspired by Tears of the Kingdom, add fun elemental counters and strategic depth. Yet, the sheer number of them, combined with a lack of dedicated shortcuts, means too much time is spent navigating menus, breaking the fast-paced action. A positive addition is the introduction of Sync Strikes, spectacular team-up abilities that add variety and visual flair to the battlefield.
Deep Lore for Zelda Fans
From a narrative standpoint, Age of Imprisonment is a treat for dedicated Zelda fans. The game expands on characters like King Rauru and Mineru and introduces memorable new faces such as the Korok Calamo and a mysterious Zonai construct. While it successfully fills in historical gaps left by Tears of the Kingdom, the sheer volume of lore can sometimes make the story feel a bit burdened.
Massive Content, Repetitive Missions
The game is packed with content, with a map quickly filling up with icons for upgrades and side missions. However, this abundance is overshadowed by one of its biggest drawbacks: the mission and objective design. Most missions are linear and repetitive, largely sticking to classic Musou staples like liberating outposts and defeating named monsters. There’s little incentive for strategic unit command or extensive battlefield exploration, leading to a somewhat low level of challenge.
The Verdict: A Fitting Farewell?
Ultimately, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a fitting, if safe, conclusion to a beloved era of The Legend of Zelda. Despite its uneven story structure and uninspired mission design, the game’s superb performance and satisfying combat framework make it an engaging package that fans of Hyrule and the Musou genre will undoubtedly want to play. Get ready to hack and slash your way through Hyrule and experience this grand finale!
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a 7/10
