Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity has definitely made headlines. Since its announcement, in fact, imagine the adventures of Link e Zelda fighting for the future of Hyrule in the form of musou has left fans stunned. While being able to renew itself in each generation, the number one legend of Nintendo an action adventure with RPG elements has always remained in her heart, walking along the path of experimentation only in secondary chapters of the brand. This Hyrule Warriors, however, powerfully presents itself as the origin of the wonderful epic inaugurated by Breath of the Wild, applying as a must-have for all players who have fallen in love with it, even for those unfamiliar with this particular genre.
On November 20, every type of gamer in possession of one Nintendo Switch he will have to seriously ask himself whether to buy the title. Fans of the Zelda saga first of all, because from the point of view of the lore Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity anticipates the events of Breath of the Wild and lays the groundwork for some possible plot twists that we will be able to rediscover in its sequel. The same goes for those who love musou, a genre so mistreated but which finds in this new incarnation a decidedly technical game, especially at higher difficulty levels. And why not, even for casual gamers, who will find a title that is beautiful to look at and fun to play; certainly not free from defects, but also full of merits.
The origins of the Calamity
Hyrule Warriors: The Age of Calamity begins at a pivotal moment in the history of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Zelda stands between Link and the calamity Ganon, just before it destroys the kingdom of Hyrule as we have come to know it. By giving all her powers to the end, the princess saves her knight by throwing him into that semi-eternal sleep from which we will awaken at the beginning of the main chapter. But something happens here that we were not aware of. In Zelda's room, at the castle, a mysterious little guardian comes out of a box and, through a portal generated by the battle that is taking place, travels back in time, well 100 years earlier of the events narrated. In the past, the little guardian will help our heroes to put together the group of 4 champions and their 4 sacred giants, so as to embark on the last desperate enterprise that can annihilate the calamity Ganon and save Hyrule. But will things really go as we know them?
Unlike other titles, in fact, the review of the new Hyrule Warriors cannot ignore the plot. Many high-level productions in recent years have strongly focused on the narrative system, while in others the lore is only a gimmick to carry on a dynamic and fun gameplay. For the Age of Calamity, the narrative becomes a pivotal element in a whole new way. As mentioned at the beginning, the lore of this title fits into the timeline of Breath of the Wild, telling its origins and inserting some elements and characters, which will perform actions that could have repercussions in the next chapter. Therefore, every Zelda fan, even if not a lover of the musou genre, will have to seriously consider this title to want to have a complete picture of the whole story.
A technical musou, but not at all levels
To tell you without beating about the bush, if you are not a lover of musou Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity will not make you change your mind. From a point of view of gameplay naked and raw, this takes with both hands from the cadine elements of the genre, but wisely manages to improve them and, above all, to put them at the service of The Legend of Zelda. As for what has been said about the plot, having the technical / narrative system of Breath of The Wild behind you will be a strong attraction for every fan of the brand. Unlike the previous chapter of Hyrule Warriors, this is his second incarnation powerfully exploits the technical side of Nintendo's triple A giant, both from a graphic point of view, both from the sound and atmosphere point of view. But let's go in order.
The game modes of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity are basically two. Starting from the game map menu, we will be able to choose two types of mission. The first is the mode Battle, which will allow us to continue in the main campaign, or to level up our protagonists and get new combos. At the beginning of each Battle, we will be able to choose the 3 members of our party, some times fixed, others selectable at our choice, together with the equipment and food to cook; each recipe will allow us to have different bonuses for the duration of the mission. The battles will take us to a different place in Hyrule that we have known in Breath of the Wild, through large maps that invite exploration to discover every secret. As in any good musou, we will find ourselves facing waves and waves of enemies, all from the main game, from the Grublins to the Lynels. Every playable hero, from Link and Zelda, through IMPA and the 4 champions, Daruk, Mipha, Urbosa e Revali, will have its own moveset and a peculiar equipment, as well as exploiting the powers of the Sheikah tablet. These remain unchanged: Glacior, Stasys, Kalamitron and Radio Controlled Bombs they return in all their glory, and since each hero will use them differently, the gameplay will prove surprisingly technical compared to the more classic musou. However - and it should be pointed out - this technicality only begins to reveal itself from the highest difficulty levels.
The second mode is the one called contribution. This offers a series of secondary missions for each area of the map, which serve to increase the bond with the inhabitants of the area (the contribution, in fact) by giving them the materials obtained as rewards from battles. Thanks to these commissions, you have the opportunity to unlock new bonuses and structures: training areas, armories, shops, stalls and cookbooks. The aforementioned allow you to get new weapons and upgrades, as well as being able to buy basic necessities and literally "buy" levels for Link and companions. The latter is a choice that frankly we did not understand, since it significantly decreases the longevity of the title, making repeating a mission only serves to improve our records and try new combinations of characters.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, an almost colossal title
Cross and delight of Hyrule Warriors: The Age of Calamity is precisely the Sacred colossi. The missions in which we will find ourselves at the helm of the 4 giants are in fact the flagship of the title, but also those in which we have damned ourselves the most. Piloting the giants is indeed damn fun: Moving aboard gigantic war machines capable of mastering the 4 elements and flying high in the skies is an experience definitely worth trying, especially with Switch's motion sensors active. The problem is the structure of these missions, which channel into long corridors in which hundreds and hundreds of enemies must be destroyed, where sometimes the sensors prove to be the main obstacle to be faced. The same goes for the two-player mode. Going through the entire campaign with a friend is a unique experience, especially when you decide to divide the objectives of a mission and come together to face the bosses, really well made and complex from the gameplay point of view. It will be necessary to perfectly master the skills of the Sheikah tablet and to dose our reflexes well, to destroy its shields and get the better of them. Also here, almost everything perfect. There is a reason though split screen has been abandoned: the split screen in half cuts many elements out of the frame, making the overall experience incomplete.
So what about this Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity? It is a title that satisfies the senses, visual and auditory. Graphically exceptional, especially during the cut scenes, which completely reflect the cel-shaded style of Breath of the Wild, as well as the soundtrack, which manages to transport us to the heart of the kingdom of Hyrule for mood and emotion. From a gameplay point of view, at higher difficulty levels it puts you in serious trouble, worrying about bringing out a truly complex technical side. The game modes, although different, could get tired in the long run: but he's a musou, so you know what you're up against. And the defects? There are. The missions on the giants are fun but they are not perfect, complicating themselves above all from the technical side, with the movement controls that should be made a little more precise. Sometimes it drops below 30 FPS and there are also some annoying pop-ups when playing in portability. But ultimately Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is a splendid game, which amuses and visually captivates, albeit with some defects that exist but do not undermine the gaming experience. Sharpen the Master Sword - the battle for Hyrule's salvation will be epic!
