Series-Best Combat in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
The latest crossover between Zelda and the Musou genre puts a strong emphasis on fans' investment in Zelda lore, but its core is the best Warriors gameplay in years. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment marks the third installment where The Legend of Zelda merges with Koei Tecmo's Warriors franchise.
These collaborations have become notably refined, delivering consistent experiences that align with the known Musou style. The original Hyrule Warriors stands out as one of the most intriguing interpretations of the one-versus-many Musou gameplay, using the series as a foundation while adding Zelda’s iconic elements to enhance the experience.
The Winning Formula of Zelda and Warriors
This combination formed a compelling formula, with Zelda's aesthetics fitting seamlessly into the Warriors framework, more so than other franchises like Fire Emblem or One Piece. This blend elevated the otherwise simple hack-and-slash battles into something more engaging and satisfying.
Evolution Through the Series
While the first game combined imagery from across Zelda's history, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (2020) focused exclusively on the world of Breath of the Wild, presenting a non-canon alternate reality version of its storyline.
“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.”
Despite the strong gameplay, the author suggests they might be finished with the Breath of the Wild universe within this Musou context.
Author’s Summary
This Zelda-Musou crossover delivers outstanding combat rooted in familiar lore, but the Breath of the Wild setting may no longer hold the same appeal to longtime fans.