Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Now Part of Zelda Canon!

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Summary

  • Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is the first Hyrule Warriors game to be included in the official Legend of Zelda canon.
  • The game provides backstory on the Imprisoning War that sets up the events of Tears of the Kingdom.
  • This inclusion in the official canon suggests a growing trust between Nintendo and Koei Tecmo.

According to Nintendo, the game “Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment” will be recognized as an official part of the “Legend of Zelda” franchise’s storyline. This is the third installment in the spin-off series created by Koei Tecmo, but it’s the first one to significantly affect the main storyline of the original series.

Deviating from the standard action-adventure format that has been a staple of the Legend of Zelda series since its inception on the NES in the 1980s, the Hyrule Warriors spin-offs are fast-paced hack-and-slash games where characters from the mythical kingdom battle waves of enemies. These games are often praised as some of the best in Koei Tecmo’s Warriors spin-off series, which blend the gameplay mechanics of Dynasty Warriors with other franchises such as Gundam, Fire Emblem, and One Piece.

In contrast to most games based on other popular franchises, which primarily offer fans a chance to imagine their beloved characters battling hordes of weak enemies without significantly impacting the main stories, the upcoming game “Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment” is different. According to an official announcement, this game will actually contribute to the storyline by depicting the events of the Imprisoning War that lead up to the narrative presented in “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom”. Although the full roster of playable characters hasn’t been revealed yet, a recent trailer hinted at time-travel elements, suggesting that more contemporary characters might play significant roles. The press release also confirms that Princess Zelda and King Rauru will be key figures in the unfolding story.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Will be a Canon Story

If you’re not overly familiar with the storyline of the Zelda series, there have been two significant events in a timeline called the Imprisoning War. The first one can be traced back to the SNES game, “The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.” Both wars involve sealing Ganon following his conquest of Hyrule as he sought the Triforce’s power. The upcoming game, “Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment,” will offer insights into the war that transpires in the contemporary timeline of Zelda games, which reside at the end of the current timeline.

The addition of Hyrule Warriors into the official Zelda series might signal a strengthening of trust between Nintendo and Koei Tecmo. After the unsuccessful CD-i games produced by Philips Interactive Media for The Legend of Zelda in the 1990s, Nintendo has maintained tight control over Link and his companions. However, a report from June 2024 suggested that Nintendo was worried about how Hyrule Warriors could negatively impact the Zelda brand. Yet, after its successful spin-off series, Nintendo appears to have changed its view on this matter.

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2025-04-10 21:44