Review: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

If you enjoyed Koei Tecmo’s previous collaborations with Nintendo, you will likely appreciate this entry as well. Koei Tecmo has adapted its Musou “Warriors” formula for Nintendo franchises five times—twice with Fire Emblem and now thrice with The Legend of Zelda series. This latest installment might be the most unified and polished yet, demonstrating how Koei Tecmo has refined its ability to blend intense action with a compelling narrative.

Previously, Warriors games relied on brief cutscenes that framed extended beat-em-up gameplay. Now, the story is more seamlessly integrated into the battles, with key story moments featuring cutscenes, character switches, and shifts in perspective directly within the flow of combat. Though this may seem like a minor advancement, it significantly enhances the experience, making it feel less like progressing through arcade-style levels and more like living through an ongoing story.

The plot is solid and adds meaningful context to the Zelda universe. The game is set during the same timeline as Tears of the Kingdom, beginning with Zelda falling into a magical sinkhole. She awakens at the dawn of Hyrule’s history, where she encounters the very first king and queen of the kingdom.

"Where once the narrative of a Warriors game was shared via short cut scenes that bookended an extended beat-em-up brawler, now there’s a much more integrated narrative, with key story battles integrating cut scenes, changes of character and perspective, and more into the flow of battle."

This improved storytelling structure helps immerse players deeper into the world and enriches the overall gameplay experience.

Author’s summary: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment elevates Koei Tecmo’s Musou formula with integrated storytelling, delivering an engaging Zelda adventure woven into dynamic action battles.

Digitally Downloaded — 2025-11-06

Review: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

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