Review: Zelda setting elevates hack-and-slash gameplay of ‘Age of Imprisonment’

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TORONTO — The “Dynasty Warriors” series, and its many spinoffs, have come a long way in 25 years.

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The bones haven’t changed much since 2000, when “Dynasty Warriors 2” introduced the hack-and-slash gameplay that spawned a host of sequels. Koei Tecmo has refined its product, however, through collaborations with other developers.

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“Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment,” released Thursday for the Switch 2 system, is developed by Koei Tecmo’s AAA Games Studio and published by Nintendo. It’s the third game in the “Hyrule Warriors” series, which sees characters from Nintendo’s beloved “Legend of Zelda” franchise let loose in a series of battle royales against hordes of enemies.

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It’s more than just a mashup of styles, however. “Age of Imprisonment” also stands as an excellent companion piece to the 2023 smash hit “Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.” It deftly expands on the source material’s narrative and uses some of its trademark gameplay features to spice up the relentless combat.

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Anyone who has played a game in the “Dynasty Warriors” universe will be well-versed with the core gameplay in “Age of Imprisonment.” Players engage in a number of scenarios that are essentially the same: bulldoze through scores of inconsequential enemies before a tougher foe arrives. Emerging triumphant in three or four of these boss battles is usually enough to complete the stage.

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It’s a formula that can wear thin. Players will see the same enemies multiple times, and even tougher battles are fairly forgiving, making success seem like a given.

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“Age of Imprisonment” goes a long way in addressing these shortcoming by leaning heavily on the strengths of “Tears of the Kingdom.”

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That becomes immediately evident in the game’s narrative. “Age of Imprisonment” fleshes out the story of how Zelda is sent back in time to witness the rise of the archvillain Ganandorf, as originally seen in flashbacks in “Tears of the Kingdom.” The voice acting, music and production of cutscenes are at the same level of quality of recent games in the “Zelda” series.

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“Age of Imprisonment” also uses gameplay elements of “Tears of the Kingdom” in clever ways to spice up the combat. Flame throwers, time bombs and other high-tech gadgets are at the players’ disposal through the return of “Zonai devices.” The “fuse system” of combining weapons with parts from defeated monsters to get an offensive boost is also back. Cooking also makes its way into the game, allowing heroes to get a boost from crafting a meal at one of the camps sprinkled throughout the levels.

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The loose plot of the first “Hyrule Warriors” game allowed for a greatest-hits roster of characters from across the breadth of the franchise. “Age of Imprisonment” does not have that luxury due to its fidelity to the canon set out in “Tears of the Kingdom,” so the roster is padded out by introducing new heroes to help Zelda in her battle against Ganondorf’s army of monsters.

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Some of these characters are largely inconsequential to the narrative, but a few additions are memorable. The breakout star of “Age of Imprisonment” could be the tough-talking Calamo, a member of the diminutive tribe of forest sprites known as Koroks. While most Koroks are content with hiding and mischief-making, Calamo is more at home lobbing fire grenades and travelling with his companion, known as the “mysterious construct.” They become vital pieces of the game’s narrative as it progresses.