The good versus evil battle, already started among Switch 2 users, is on the list of topics that Nintendo talked about with the launch of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, a new game for the Nintendo Switch. It is through this game that you can team-up not only with current heroes but also with new ones on Hyrule’s rescue mission from the Demon King, and gamers have already started a lot of online discussion about it. The truth is? The reactions are rather mixed but, at least, there are lots of hype in general.
What is the new Zelda warriors game about exactly? The game is a hack-and-slash musou-styled title developed by Koei Tecmo, the same company that had developed Dynasty Warriors. So, you will be playing fast combat, spectacular moves, and chaos on the screen. The game is at 60 frames per second, very smooth and with the same stunning art style as Tears of the Kingdom (which is also a significant plus in terms of graphics). One player, with the name of NintenGOD, just could not contain his excitement and stated that the combat was “DOPE”, the story was really intriguing and the characters were cool. They have been playing non-stop which says a lot.
Not all players are totally in favor of the game though. Some gamers are voicing some objections regarding some of the decisions that were made, one of them being that, Ganondorf is not one of the characters you can play. So you are fighting the Demon King but you cannot be him? That’s pretty disappointing. Another player, Ray Gaming, pointed out the $70 price tag along with the non-existence of Ganondorf as a playable character, thus making his critique totally legitimate. And then there is a never-ending argument about whether the Zelda team is just being lazy in reusing concepts. A user by the name of Emily described it as “regurgitating the same thing” but less interesting, while others joined in to support the game’s complexity and new lore.
First of all, it is necessary to mention that Age of Imprisonment is canonical, which is immensely beneficial for Zelda fans. It offers more dimensionality to those characters and more time with them. In addition, the story is tightly interconnected with the events of Tears of the Kingdom, thus, it becomes a must-play for the timeline invested. Gamers are already speedrunning through the game—one person finished it in just three days with 29 hours of playing time and felt like Ganondorf at the start of TotK. That is a serious dedication.
Players are of the opinion that the gameplay has become more complex and involved as compared to the prior Warriors titles. It is no longer a simple case of button smashing; the use of good tactics and a high level of skill are the requirements for fighting, and this is an upgrade that is very well received. Switch 2 performance is notably smooth, one player even remarked that occasionally the game’s graphics during gameplay surpass those of the cutscenes, which is quite unusual for a musou game. A player, Mitchell V. Slan, claimed that the current installment doesn’t entice them but they would like earlier Zelda warrior games to be reworked with the same tech because they are already aware of how great it is.
Community demands are coming in without delay. Players are voicing their wishes, which range from the restoration of Ganondorf as a playable character to the inclusion of Sonia in the roster. A call for Nintendo Switch 2 specific achievements has even been made, which would be an excellent addition for the completionists. Meanwhile, amidst all the serious discussion, there are some lighthearted moments like one player offering to add friends and then asking for co-op or sharing hype GIFs that mirror the energy of the game.
While there are still a mixture of opinions, the feelings people express are mostly positive. A lot of players are calling it “peak fiction” and are thanking Koei Tecmo for the wonderful experience. The game has the ability to combine intense fighting with an engrossing story while impressively illuminating it with the new hardware’s light. Therefore, if you are a Zelda series fan or a player of chaotic hack-and-slash games, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a definite try. It is out on the Nintendo Switch 2, and given the buzz, it will be a while before gamers are done with it. Just don’t forget to wish for a Ganondorf DLC down the road, because that would be super cool.
For those interested in other platforms, you can also find similar gaming experiences on PlayStation and Xbox.
