Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Review - IGN
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a masterpiece, yet it leaves many questions about a pivotal event in its timeline: the Imprisoning War, which sealed away the Demon King Ganondorf. This sets the stage for Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, a prequel exploring this era by following Princess Zelda back to Hyrule's founding times.
However, fans looking for deep narrative answers might be disappointed. The game shines as a highly enjoyable, over-the-top fanservice experience typical of the Warriors series, focusing more on gameplay than on story development. It is, in fact, the least compelling tale among the Zelda: Breath of the Wild-related stories, but it makes up for this with exceptional gameplay.
The series blends The Legend of Zelda's world with the combat style of Dynasty Warriors. Age of Imprisonment features an approximately 18-hour campaign across numerous iconic battlefields in ancient Hyrule, including vibrant locations like the golden Sky Islands and the shadowy, Gloom-infested Depths.
"Age of Imprisonment is the best Hyrule Warriors has ever felt to play."
Despite its storytelling shortcomings, the game delivers the most refined Hyrule Warriors action to date, emphasizing thrilling combat across beautifully crafted environments.
Author’s summary: Though its story lacks depth, Age of Imprisonment offers the best and most exhilarating gameplay experience the Hyrule Warriors series has achieved so far.