Zelda spin-off Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment is beauty vs beasts
You are sent back a thousand years to the Imprisoning War. Since this is a war, you must fight relentlessly. Hundreds of monsters fill the screen at once in Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment (Nintendo Switch, £58.99).
Verdict: War, war not jaw, jaw
The Zelda series originated from a desire to recapture the feeling of childhood adventure—exploring caves, forests, and riverbanks. Meanwhile, the Dynasty Warriors series was created for the thrill of defeating hundreds of enemies in combat. What results when these two come together?
The answer has been known since the launch of the Hyrule Warriors games, Zelda spin-offs that combine Nintendo’s fantasy kingdom with the intense, button-mashing combat of Dynasty Warriors. The first game arrived in 2014; Age Of Imprisonment is the third installment.
Princess Power
As Princess Zelda, you carve a path through countless foes in Age Of Imprisonment. This new entry feels familiar, acting as a prequel to the latest mainline Zelda game, 2023’s Tears Of The Kingdom.
In this story, you travel back a millennium to the Imprisoning War, a conflict briefly referenced in Tears of the Kingdom. Since it’s a war, combat is constant, and each weapon swing sends dozens of enemies flying.
"The Zelda series was born from a desire to recapture lost childhood, that sense of adventure from rootling around caves and forests and riverbanks. The Dynasty Warriors series was born from a desire to whack hundreds of baddies at once."
"Princess Zelda cuts a swathe through her enemies in Age Of Imprisonment."
Author's summary: Age Of Imprisonment blends Zelda’s enchanting world with fast-paced mass combat, delivering a fresh yet familiar prequel adventure filled with relentless battles and epic scale.