Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Review - Link To The Past
By Richard Wakeling on November 4, 2025 at 6:00 AM PST
Introduction
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment faces a few issues but represents a high point for the spin-off series, enhancing its chaotic hack-and-slash combat with greater depth and variety.
Background of the Series
Over the years, there has been a vast number of Dynasty Warriors spin-offs, including anime adaptations such as Gundam, Berserk, and One Piece, along with video game collaborations like Persona and Fire Emblem. Among these, the 2014 collaboration Hyrule Warriors and its sequel, Age of Calamity, are likely the most popular. They combine Omega Force's intense hack-and-slash gameplay with The Legend of Zelda’s famous characters, settings, and enemies.
Age of Imprisonment's Integration
With Age of Imprisonment, the collaboration between the two series is stronger than ever, making the game feel more like a fresh Zelda installment than just another musou spin-off. While it is not without flaws and unlikely to change the minds of those who dislike this gameplay style, it makes significant improvements compared to earlier entries.
Story and Gameplay Alignment
The most noticeable alignment of the two series is seen in the game's story.
"The game's story is the most obvious aspect where the two series are aligned."
Summary
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment skillfully deepens its combat and narrative, elevating the musou experience with the charm and lore of The Legend of Zelda.