STACK #253 November 2025

FEATURE GAMING

• Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is out Nov 6

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (2020) Come 2020 it was time for a sequel, and Nintendo and Koei Tecmo took a different approach with this Switch exclusive. Rather than pulling once again from throughout the entire Zelda canon, this outing was set within the world of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild , and it acted as a prequel to the 2017 game. In Age of Calamity we explored the Great Calamity, a catastrophic event that was referenced in Breath of the Wild but never fully shown. Players could experience the fall of Hyrule firsthand, playing as the Champions – Mipha, Daruk, Revali, and Urbosa - as well as Link, Zelda, and even the likes of Hestu the Korok, and tiny robot Terrako. Going beyond the realm of being a direct prequel, the story took a turn with time-travel elements that introduced alternate timelines. As for gameplay, Age of Calamity delivered a more polished engine, tighter combat mechanics, and a broader selection of characters. Each hero had unique abilities and fighting styles that reflected their personalities – and in-game powers. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment (2025) Now, we get to step into the epic, untold saga of the Imprisoning War and defend Ancient Hyrule in a thrilling new addition to the series. Play as Princess Zelda, King Rauru, and other legendary heroes battling Ganondorf’s invading forces in the war that was hinted at in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom .

In 2014, a captivating collision of The Legend of Zelda and the Dynasty Warriors series hit the Wii U in Hyrule Warriors . A sequel followed in 2020. Now, this month sees a third instalment in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment . Let’s have a look back, as well as a look forward… Words Bec Summer WARRIORS, COME OUT TO PLAY! GENRE: Action MULTIPLAYER: Yes FORMAT:

Where do the Hyrule Warriors games fit in the timeline? Upon its arrival, Hyrule Warriors surprised fans by replacing the traditional Zelda formula with epic – some might say gloriously over-the-top - battles. It certainly showcased the versatility of the Zelda universe. While the now trio of games don’t form part of the official Zelda timeline, they do all celebrate the franchise's legacy in interesting ways. Longtime fans have gained new perspectives on familiar characters, while newcomers have been drawn into its world thanks to the exciting, action-drenched gameplay. The series also ably demonstrates Nintendo’s increasing openness to franchise mixing collaborations. By entrusting Zelda – one of its most popular properties - to Koei Tecmo, Nintendo signalled a willingness to experiment, while maintaining its treasured lore. Hyrule Warriors (2014) The original Hyrule Warriors launched in Australia on September 20, 2014 for the Wii U. It was developed by Koei Tecmo’s Omega Force and Team Ninja, in collaboration with Nintendo, and brought the one-versus-many “musou” styled gameplay of the Warriors games into Zelda’s fantasy world.

Unlike the classic explore-and-solve-puzzles gameplay of The Legend of Zelda , Hyrule Warriors concentrated on massive battlefield combat, with players cutting down swathes of hundreds of enemies at once, while also capturing outposts and completing other objectives.

While the story was original, it was deeply rooted in Zelda lore. It introduced us to a new villain in Cia, a corrupted sorceress obsessed with Link, who rips apart space and time to merge different Zelda eras. This conceit let characters and locations from multiple Zelda games – including Ocarina of Time, Skyward Sword, and Twilight Princess - coexist. Much loved characters such as Link, Zelda, Impa, and Midna, were playable, as were some more unexpected heroes like Darunia, Fi, and even everybody’s favourite bug-loving princess, Agitha. If you missed the original, it was re-released for Switch with all content from the Wii U and later 3DS versions, including all DLC, as Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition in 2018.

Team up with a friend in two-player local co-op – via split-screen or GameShare, with only one copy of the game needed - and join familiar allies such as Mineru and the Sages, as well as new warriors, combining powerful Zonai Devices with unique abilities to crush enemy hordes and massive bosses. Plus, unlock bonus items using any Zelda amiibo, and gain exclusive weapons if you have save data from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (a High Guard’s Sword) or Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (a High Guard’s Claymore).

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU’LL LOVE THESE:

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

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