Review – Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

arrives on the Switch 2 showing that, when Nintendo decides to call the shots and Koei Tecmo comes along, fun is guaranteed, even more so now with technical ease worthy of the new generation. If before the franchise was remembered for fun experiments with traces of chaos, this time it delivers maturity, fluidity and a breathtaking visual spectacle, without straying from the raw emotion typical of .

The second game in this franchise expands the events of the Breath of the Wild universe, focusing on drama and emotional connection with the characters, all wrapped up in battles that are grander and impactful story sections. The feeling is of urgency, of inevitability, of the story being told to the sound of fighting happening in the background, and here lies something that really elevates the entire experience. Unlike the first game, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, this new chapter is canonically connected to the events of Tears of the Kingdom, transforming what was an interesting “what-if” into a genuine part of Hyrule’s mythology and complementing the franchise’s narrative immersion.

However, I cannot help but point out that the narrative is unable to explore the full potential of this premise, as Koei Tecmo chose to prioritize gameplay over narrative. When we thought we would finally know more about the story of Ganondorf’s invasion, which was briefly shown in the game The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, we realized that we were witnessing the filling of gaps. The Sages gain faces and names, and the Zonai mythology gains more space in the narrative, but after 15 hours of play, the feeling is that Nintendo plans to create almost an “Expanded Universe” to work this story around the crucial events, avoiding merging everything with the main plot.

For those who are long-time fans, like me, the expectation was that we would discover or play much more about this period. Perhaps it’s unfair to demand so much from a musou game, developed by an external studio and not Nintendo, expecting to receive the narrative depth of a main Zelda title. However, we have moments that are really great or that reinforce the importance of this game, such as, for example, the relationship between Rauru, Mineru and Zelda, about the interest in Zonai Technology, or how the Sages participate in the attempt to stop Ganon’s forces, and the participation of the new characters, Calamo, the noisy Korok, Lenalia, the King’s assistant, and the Mysterious Construct.

New generation, another level

If you played Hyrule Warriors on the original Switch and complained about the choking on the battlefield, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment shines on the Switch 2. The frames finally keep up with the pace of the horde of enemies, and loading times have decreased considerably. Nintendo’s new hardware manages to unleash the necessary potential for the chaos of battles to remain stable from start to finish, with a consistent 60 frames per second, even with hundreds of enemies on the screen simultaneously.

Hyrule Warriors benefits a lot from the new portable, bringing all the characteristics of a musou, but with good touches of Zelda. If on one side we are surrounded by hordes of enemies, on the other, there is room for strategic execution by switching characters at the right time, using runes intelligently and always looking for the best timing for special abilities, eliminating a large part of the field in seconds and taking advantage of the scenarios that already caused a good nostalgia and became reasons for us to return.

Koei Tecmo’s work surprises with the variety the game offers, especially as you progress through Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. At the beginning, you master basic combos, special attacks and the mechanics of synchronizing between characters. As you progress through the main campaign, new layers are added, in addition to introducing classic enemies from Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, such as Moblins and Boplins. Meanwhile, out of nowhere, the gameplay changes and you embark on Star Fox-style sessions, in which you need to pilot mysterious constructs, shoot enemies and use devices, in addition to relying on Zonai technology.

The developers also didn’t skimp on content, bringing more maps, new missions, challenges better suited to multiplayer and new characters for those who thought they had already done everything. The split-screen cooperative (with a drop in performance and below 60fps), since I was unable to test GameShare with two consoles, stopped being a promise and started to really work, with fluid, stable and fun sessions.

Gameplay that goes beyond pressing buttons

A pleasant difference in Hyrule Warriors has always been the ability to balance quantity and quality, with easy-to-fit combos, instinctive alternation between heroes and details in special powers to guarantee rhythm and satisfy even those who only came for the fights, but rewards those who seek to master absolutely all the mechanics. To achieve this, Age of Imprisonment relies on the visual spectacle of the special system with an impressive look to execute grandiose attacks, creating moments of satisfaction during battles.

Sync Strikes also return strengthened, allowing for unique combinations depending on which two characters you choose to fight together. Each combination offers a unique special attack that often reflects the relationship or synergy between the characters. Bosses return with the same weaknesses they had in Tears of the Kingdom, and each character has access to Zonai devices that can be used strategically against them, in addition to Unique Skills to interrupt certain indefensible attacks, requiring the ability to counterattack at the right time and be able to expose the enemy’s weak point to take him down.

Using Zonai devices to conjure rolling defenses of spikes and catapults is enjoyable and maintains what we saw in Tears of the Kingdom, bringing to the narrative the justification for there being new original characters, further expanding the playable cast. It is undeniable to say that Mineru, in particular, ends up being one of the favorites. Calamo the Korok offers charm and nostalgia for franchise veterans, and others will follow Zelda and Rauru during the Imprisoning War.

A continuation show

Visually, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment remains faithful to what we know in Breath of the Wild and gains a new layer in Tears of the Kingdom, but this time reaching an even higher level. Vibrant colors, refined textures and a use of lighting that transforms Hyrule into a spectacle to behold. Characters and monsters are more expressive, and each scenario feels whimsical and respects the legacy of the series. The scenes gain narrative weight because they are long, well produced and genuinely engaging, reinforcing the emotional connection with the events that are unfolding.

The soundtrack helps to stitch together this intense experience with remixes of classic themes taking place side by side with new compositions, always establishing that emotional bond between the player and the franchise’s universe. It’s impossible not to feel goosebumps on your skin when the music rises along with the tension of the battle.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a game that deserves to be played by anyone who has played through the last two chapters of the franchise, being one of the most pleasant surprises of this early generation. It is technically and mechanically one of the best games in the musou genre by offering fun, rewarding and constantly fresh combat thanks to its multiple layers of interconnected systems.

Even though there is still that feeling of “I want more” when we analyze the narrative, lacking if it is bolder, deeper and more interested in answering the questions that Tears of the Kingdom left open, you will still have genuine moments that reward your investment in this game.

If you are a fan of Zelda, musou or simply looking for an experience that combines unbridled action, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is not just a recommendation, but an obligation. And honestly, those who dismissed it as “just an ordinary hack-and-slash” need to rethink that opinion, as the spin-off franchise has grown, matured and become exactly what it should have been from the beginning, gaining a well-deserved space in the universe it inhabits.