Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

 Switch
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 659 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 490 out of 659
  2. Mixed: 93 out of 659
  3. Negative: 76 out of 659
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  1. Preston_Kei
    Dec 9, 2020
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The gameplay is fun at first, but after the millionth horde of enemies I had enough. "Why is this Lynel still alive!?" were my last words before shutting off the console. It takes a million years to kill anything in the game unless you grind and level up. What's worse, they copped out of telling a dark and tragic story by putting a shoe horned happy ending. Big disappointment.… Expand
  2. YoppaChanDesu
    Dec 17, 2020
    8
    Story doesn't make too much sense at all. It's an overall improvement from the original Hyrule Warriors with some more streamlined mechanics (powering up the character and getting bonuses is all from one map). The game is pretty repetitive if you aren't a fan of Dynasty Warriors-style gameplay, but it's fun if that's your jam. The characters play differently from each other. I'm halfStory doesn't make too much sense at all. It's an overall improvement from the original Hyrule Warriors with some more streamlined mechanics (powering up the character and getting bonuses is all from one map). The game is pretty repetitive if you aren't a fan of Dynasty Warriors-style gameplay, but it's fun if that's your jam. The characters play differently from each other. I'm half expecting DLC to come out to this game and add even more content.… Expand
  3. onw81
    Dec 16, 2020
    5
    I suspect I would enjoy it if not constant fps drops. It's 2020 and we getting a fast-paced action game running 20-25 fps most of the time. 90s Nintendo would refuse granting a "Seal of Quality" to this game...
  4. TheSpecialKExp
    Dec 15, 2020
    7
    Age of calamity was very fun at times but the game blinded tf outta me and my twitch chat with the effects, camera angles were awful especially the last 2 chapters of the game, the switch was bout to explode cause the framerate was melting away, and imo it felt like some story was missing. The music and gameplay were great though but the other things hold the game back a decent bit.
  5. Sunshadow87
    Dec 14, 2020
    8
    No soy fan de los "warriors", pero seguramente este el mejor juego de este genero, especialmente para los que no les atraiga mucho. Eso sí, merece la pena jugar al botw antes de jugar a esto. El juego esta lleno de guiños y detalles al botw, así que lo disfrutaras mucho más si has jugado previamente, y no me refiero solo a la historia principal, si no también las secundarias, siendo laNo soy fan de los "warriors", pero seguramente este el mejor juego de este genero, especialmente para los que no les atraiga mucho. Eso sí, merece la pena jugar al botw antes de jugar a esto. El juego esta lleno de guiños y detalles al botw, así que lo disfrutaras mucho más si has jugado previamente, y no me refiero solo a la historia principal, si no también las secundarias, siendo la práctica totalidad referencias a cosas que nos cuentan que sucedieron a diversos personajes.
    El gameplay es repetitivo, pero adictivo, absorbiendo horas sin darte cuenta.
    ¿La historia es una precuela? Sí y no... este es el punto que mas dividirá a los fans, pero francamente no se ha hecho con la historia nada que no se haya hecho anteriormente (ocarina of time, skyward sword...). Realmente podríamos decir que es al mismo tiempo una precuela y una secuela, y deja abierta la puerta a terminar de explicar lo que sucede aquí en botw2 (lo hagan o no). Lo que es innegable es que la historia esta bellamente contada para saber que ocurrió en el cataclismo al menos hasta el 75% del juego (y lo que falta meterle imaginación que no es tanto).
    En última instancia, si os gusta la demo os gustara (os decepcione u os guste la historia), si no no.    … Expand
  6. pichuscute
    Dec 13, 2020
    2
    Sold as a prequel, but was FALSELY ADVERTISED. It does not preceed Botw and is a standalone, non-canon spinoff just like the previous Hyrule Warriors, only using less characters. As such, I cannot give it a positive rating.

    If you understand that going forward, here's some other miscellaneous notes. - The gameplay is a bit faster paced than the first Hyrule Warriors, but this also    Sold as a prequel, but was FALSELY ADVERTISED. It does not preceed Botw and is a standalone, non-canon spinoff just like the previous Hyrule Warriors, only using less characters. As such, I cannot give it a positive rating.

    If you understand that going forward, here's some other miscellaneous notes.

    - The gameplay is a bit faster paced than the first Hyrule Warriors, but this also makes the game more confusing and overwhelming as a result (because they need to put more on-screen to compensate).
    - The framerate, pop-in, and resolution are seriously poor. The game does not run smoothly or look good in general gameplay. This is especially noticeable in handheld mode. This is very damning for an action game, especially a faster paced one.
    - The button layout is really awkward and differs from the previous Hyrule Warriors. Special moves are weirdly convoluted to pull off and dodging is on what I'd consider to be the wrong button. It makes everything feel needlessly clunky and not very fun.
    - The BotW mechanics feel very shoehorned, and in addition, dumb down the Musou gameplay rather than mesh with it. This means you're getting less Hyrule Warriors than before, which is a damn shame.

    That said, the characters, acting, and writing are still solid. The BotW charm is still there, even if there's no direct relation to that game. The music is better than a Musou has ever been. And you still get a portion of the appeal that any Musou would have. But it's not one I can particularly recommend and it's one Zelda fans should steer well clear of.

    If you are looking for a Musou of quality, I'd recommend Dragon Quest Heroes 2 or the first Hyrule Warriors instead.    … Expand
  7. David1991
    Dec 13, 2020
    10
    Incredible story, graphics and fun addictive gameplay. I love playing this game on Co-op.
  8. GlazeStelar
    Dec 12, 2020
    3
    Terrible mindless gameplay with a terrible frame rate. Sloppy character writing. The amazing characters from Breath of the Wild were reduced to 1 dimensional cardboard cutouts of their former selves. The story was abysmal. Why was this marketed as a prequel when the story is unrecognizable when compared to the original game. This is the worst game I've played all year. It's practically shovelware.
  9. timothy17
    Dec 12, 2020
    9
    First Warriors game I finished and I love it from start to finish. Technical issues aside, it's a fun-filled action game with colorful casts that you'll learn to love even more ever since meeting them in Breath of the Wild.
  10. spencerplewe
    Dec 11, 2020
    9
    A more-than-satisfying tie-over to “Breath of the Wild”’s sequel, this companion game sacrifices BOTW’s exploration for beefed up storytelling that challenges what a prequel could be, and the Warriors gameplay has been refined to fit the Zelda-style presentation and is an addicting experience.
  11. c_victor_hugo
    Dec 11, 2020
    10
    La historia del juego y su conexión al universo de Breath of the Wild, hacen de Age of Calamity una joya de la saga Zelda. Su jugabilidad es muy atrayente y queda perfecto con la temática que se vive en Hyrule en esa época.
  12. smith7ba
    Dec 11, 2020
    2
    I want to start this off by saying that BOTW was and IS one of my top 3 games I've ever played, so when Nintendo released this game that LOOKS like BOTW i was excited, maybe too exited...Just a few bullet points to highlight how bad this game is:

    -The game itself feels half-baked; this is a cheaply made hack-and-slash. -The story line from the get go is bad, and feels like a cheap    I want to start this off by saying that BOTW was and IS one of my top 3 games I've ever played, so when Nintendo released this game that LOOKS like BOTW i was excited, maybe too exited...Just a few bullet points to highlight how bad this game is:

    -The game itself feels half-baked; this is a cheaply made hack-and-slash.

    -The story line from the get go is bad, and feels like a cheap attempt to pander to the Star Wars universe by inserting a Hyrulian version of "R2D2" or "BB-8" and it clashes hard with the BOTW storyline feel.

    -The controls feel extremely clunky. For example when you press the stick forward, the character you are controlling begins a light jog then after a couple seconds the character breaks into an all-out Usain Bolt sprint that is difficult to control. Any slight input causes the character to violently turn in that direction causing the person playing to counteract and just end up in some wild zig-zag with the character.

    -Also since the game departs hard from the BOTW tact and fighting style, the combat controls become comically bad, one swipe of Links sword the entire group of 15 or so Bokoblins you are currently fighting go careening into the air. There is no skill required- B to dodge and keep spamming X or Y and any enemy is easily dealt with.

    -The FPS drops off QUICKLY in any sort of combat scenario and the game becomes very jittery and almost unplayable. After about 4 hours it was a HARD PASS, called Nintendo and was issued a refund.    … Expand
  13. pyosboss
    Dec 11, 2020
    6
    Addictive gameplay, vast variety of available characters, nice throwbacks to BotW, this is a very good game on its core. However, poor performance (especially in co-op mode) and questionable storyline for a game that was advertised as a BotW prequel makes the experience much more frustrating that it could have been.
  14. SileSixEcho
    Dec 9, 2020
    8
    Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is a suprisingly great game. Even if it doesn't add a lot to the already great story and lore of "Breath of the Wild", it packs gameplay that is fun in this great world and brings a credible and (in my opinion) well-written prologue story. Sure, the gameplay mechanics wear off after a while and the game could be "braver" in exploring that time before BOTW,Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is a suprisingly great game. Even if it doesn't add a lot to the already great story and lore of "Breath of the Wild", it packs gameplay that is fun in this great world and brings a credible and (in my opinion) well-written prologue story. Sure, the gameplay mechanics wear off after a while and the game could be "braver" in exploring that time before BOTW, but it is a fun and enjoyable experience through and through. If you are a fan, you can add 0.5-1 to the score.… Expand
  15. Yimro83
    Dec 7, 2020
    9
    A great game, I just would like to get an improvement on the FPS also the camera gets a little crazy some times but I think is the best mosou I have ever play
  16. Tsunowa
    Dec 7, 2020
    6
    I don't like musou game, so I just played this because of the storytelling and know that happens before BOTW. The combat is not good and the divine beats combate is horrible. Only recommend to a zelda fan that wants to know more about BOTW.
  17. Borisbell
    Dec 6, 2020
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Fan service game that disappoints all BOTW fans by spoiling the plot with the time travelling twist only for the sake of happy ending. And glitches and bugs just make it worse. Totally overpriced, get it secondhand or on sale or don't get it at all… Expand
  18. BlackFang
    Dec 6, 2020
    9
    I'm talking here about the gameplay itself, not including the storyline or lore. Obviously as a hack and slash type of game it has the basics like ultimate ability and attack combos, I was expecting that. Here's the positives. Each heroes feel unique with their own moves you can distinguish from others, the combo is smooth and animation are great. It feels so great to just play as one ofI'm talking here about the gameplay itself, not including the storyline or lore. Obviously as a hack and slash type of game it has the basics like ultimate ability and attack combos, I was expecting that. Here's the positives. Each heroes feel unique with their own moves you can distinguish from others, the combo is smooth and animation are great. It feels so great to just play as one of the beast, just to stop and crush your enemies like godzilla. The negative, you cannot command allies to move to an area with a different elevation. In the game, some areas have different terrain levels, like up a mountain, you cannot command an ally to move to a different level than what you already on. You also cannot give your allies specific commands, like go here to attack or defend, you can only order them to set location and the ai wil just chill around or attack nearby eneimes, that's it, and even after you take control and lets said move to a different area, the ai will still remember the pervious command even after completing the command. Something I think the Fire Emblem Warriors did better in. The game focus extremely on depleting your opponent's defense meter either by hitting them with a wand, using your runes or dodging, it makes combat easier but it gets repetitive real fast as its really the only way to kill strong enemies fast. I have play quite a few, this, Fire Emblem Warriors, One piece pirate Warrior 3 and 4, as well as many of the Dynasty warriors games. This game is pretty solid but needs work to improve mainly the map interaction with ai allies mostly.… Expand
  19. doodlerman
    Dec 5, 2020
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Is it canon? Yes, surprisingly. But it's not a prequel in the way you'd expect. It's more of a tangential narrative loosely explained enough to let you put the pieces together yourself, but still leaves lots of questions to be answered by the time it's finished. I'd love to see a DLC, because the elements that aren't explained so clearly are the backstory of this new villainous character Astor and his harbinger guardian (or Harbinger Ganon). Granted, this may be part of the base game to some degree - I've only beaten the main story, but have yet to complete all the side-missions that pop up after you beat the game. At first, I was a little disappointed that it wasn't the prequel we were expecting and rather or 'fix the past' sort of story, but the story they devised is genuinely moving as its own standalone narrative.

    The gameplay and the story seemed to be at odds with each other. For instance, Zelda broods about being unable to awaken her powers and being worthless despite literally wiping out thousands of enemies with her Sheikah Slate. However, I don't think the Warriors-style gameplay is necessarily canon to the story being told. It's not until later in the game when you get bombarded by powerful enemies that you actually feel overrun, though the narrative would suggest that the thousands of lizafos and bokoblins are a huge threat (when in reality you plow through them like pillows). Such said, if this were Breath of the Wild, the odds would truly be stacked against you in any of these scenarios.

    The gameplay itself is a massive improvement over the last Hyrule Warriors. The enemies are more responsive, there are quick button combos to select the right weapon to weaken your enemy (whereas the first HW would have you slowly scroll through all your items to find the right one for the moment), there's less scrambling to protect allied bases from falling while you're just trying to progress through the mayhem, and it just feels really good to play. What isn't fun are the Divine Beast segments. There's maybe some catharsis to decimating everything at first, but the damn things move so slowly that it's a slog getting through their segments. Revali's Van Medoh is especially grueling because it never stops moving, so if you miss a big group of monsters, you have to slowly turn around to get them. At least Urbosa's Vah Naboris has a running attack that can be spammed. The other broken aspect is playing as Teba; the camera goes bonkers whenever you attack with him so that you can't even tell what you or anything else is actually doing on screen. Fortunately, there are only a handful of side-missions where you have to play as him and no main missions where you're required to.

    I've only played this game on handheld mode, so I rarely noticed framerate drops (except when I did special attacks when three guardians and dozens of minor enemies were on screen at the same time). Granted, I hardly notice framerate issues. Ocarina of Time ran at 20 fps and that still runs as smooth as butter to my old man eyes.    … Expand
  20. Nintundo420
    Dec 5, 2020
    9
    Great gameplay and engaging story. Has some performance issues and the plot seems to be divisive, but I had a great time with it. Would recommend if you wanted to learn more about BOTW's world
  21. Terranewone
    Dec 5, 2020
    9
    The best musuo/warriors game Ive played, and a faithful BotW spinoff. Lot of unique and interesting characters. Only real problem I’ve had is some performance issues and the divine beast fights are kinda meh
  22. chemiclord
    Dec 4, 2020
    8
    Age of Calamity is, for good or for ill, an excellent musou style game. But it suffers from two flaws that keep it from a higher score.

    First, it isn't really what Nintendo and Koei-Tecmo advertised it to be, but I don't want to get too deep into spoiler territory. Secondly, oof... it does suffer from some pretty bad resolution and frame rate downgrades that show it was either not    Age of Calamity is, for good or for ill, an excellent musou style game. But it suffers from two flaws that keep it from a higher score.

    First, it isn't really what Nintendo and Koei-Tecmo advertised it to be, but I don't want to get too deep into spoiler territory.

    Secondly, oof... it does suffer from some pretty bad resolution and frame rate downgrades that show it was either not quite ready for launch or the Switch itself really isn't capable of handling it. If a patch cleans up the performance or a Switch revision allows it to perform to its fullest, it could be a review worth revisiting.    … Expand
  23. Raikou
    Dec 3, 2020
    10
    This game is really awesome, and I loved every bit of it, playing as the champions,Zelda, Link and many others!
  24. Megakrage
    Dec 3, 2020
    10
    The best warriors game ever made. which makes sense since nintendo helped with it. it is so much fun and detailed. it being zelda makes it that much better. i never really cared about the fps drops. only happens when a lot of things happen on screen at once and it really isn't an issue. just in general, great gameplay, great story and all around a great game.
  25. blalack
    Dec 3, 2020
    7
    Another 2020 mixed bag release.

    The gameplay is flashy and fun. There's tons of characters and you unlock a few combos for each as you go, so you shouldn't get too tired of any one character. Cutting through lots of enemies is fun, and is the meat of the gameplay. The loop itself, however, does wear on just a bit too long. Especially in the final missions, you can feel them pad out    Another 2020 mixed bag release.

    The gameplay is flashy and fun. There's tons of characters and you unlock a few combos for each as you go, so you shouldn't get too tired of any one character. Cutting through lots of enemies is fun, and is the meat of the gameplay.

    The loop itself, however, does wear on just a bit too long. Especially in the final missions, you can feel them pad out the length. Specifically, there's a mission chunk where you're tasked with defeating a few large enemies - As soon as you finish, they respawn and you're asked to do it again. It was tedious the first time, and it isn't any more fun the second time - This is classic quantity over quality. At that point I was just trying to get to the credits so I pushed through.

    Side missions are just more of the same. Unless you're a completionist there's really no reason to do all of them. There's never anything new added to the loop. Like the campaign, go here, kill this, move on.

    The story is not good. 70% of the VA's just aren't really appealing (Zelda and Mipha are still awkward and out of place compared to Urbosa, for example.) and the writing is all fluff. Don't expect too much "real" story where anything happens. Let's be honest, it's all just a setup for the gameplay and combat to take place, which is fine. But don't expect to get any real lore on Breath of the Wild, it's not there. It's all, "Oh, go here, whoops, now there's Yiga people! FIght them." Rinse and repeat.

    The performance is pretty damn horrendous. The gameplay is decently fun, but I can't help but think if they pulled back on the particle effects even 10% the game could run at a decent, consistent frame rate. As it is now, the frame skips and dips are pretty inexcusable. If they roll out a performance patch, I'll update the score if it improves, but based on how much work needs to be done I don't see it happening.

    Buy it if you want some mindless fun, some filler content to keep you entertained while waiting for other releases. Don't get it if you're looking for some eye-opening take on BOTW, it was marketed as a "prequel" and it's really not. That's not a bad thing, but don't go in with lofty expectations. It's decent at best.    … Expand
  26. orukusaki
    Dec 3, 2020
    7
    If you like these types of "Dynasty Warriors" style of hack and slash games just with a Zelda/Link story line. You'll enjoy this. I would warn multi-player in docked mode slows the game down tremendously when trying to use special moves . I tried playing with a buddy but the game would essential freeze if one of us tried to use one of those moves. Other than that I've enjoyed it.
  27. XiaN22
    Dec 2, 2020
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. El juego es básico y repetitivo, aburre de lo repetitivo que es.
    Encima la historia no es canon y no termina como debería terminar... Todo muy Disney.
    Nadie muere, vencen a Ganon y todos son felices.
    No entiendo por qué hicieron esto    … Expand
  28. axelarator
    Dec 2, 2020
    6
    This game is not what we were promised, it's a what if scenario that severely disappointed me, gameplay if fun though keeps you engaged and entertained but frame rates drop like crazy sometimes which gets pretty annoying, honestly the only problem i have with this game is it's story, it's technically a prequel but like I said earlier it has a bunch of what if moments that just reallyThis game is not what we were promised, it's a what if scenario that severely disappointed me, gameplay if fun though keeps you engaged and entertained but frame rates drop like crazy sometimes which gets pretty annoying, honestly the only problem i have with this game is it's story, it's technically a prequel but like I said earlier it has a bunch of what if moments that just really brought me out of it, overall fun gameplay, likable characters, didn't like what they choose for the story.… Expand
  29. Montelomiguel
    Dec 1, 2020
    7
    La verdad tenia muchas expectativas del juego,
    tal vez por eso me senti un poco decepcionado, no es malo, pero siento que no aporta mucho, senti que en lugar de jugar un zelda estaba jugando un dynasty warriors, me parecio un poco repetitivo, sin embargo si eres fan de zelda te va encantar, pero no vayas con demaciadas expectativas.
  30. Blixri
    Dec 1, 2020
    9
    If you’ve ever played Hyrule Warriors, the 2014 game, it is a Zelda styled Dynasty Warriors game. Dynasty Warriors is a hack and slash series of games that had many different spin-offs in the last decade. Fire Emblem Warriors, Hyrule Warriors, of Course, and Persona 5 Scramble, which still hasn’t been localized yet. Hyrule Warriors has some very satisfying hacking and slashing going on,If you’ve ever played Hyrule Warriors, the 2014 game, it is a Zelda styled Dynasty Warriors game. Dynasty Warriors is a hack and slash series of games that had many different spin-offs in the last decade. Fire Emblem Warriors, Hyrule Warriors, of Course, and Persona 5 Scramble, which still hasn’t been localized yet. Hyrule Warriors has some very satisfying hacking and slashing going on, being able to wipe out hordes of enemies in mere minutes. I love Link’s Shield surf ability in this, and even though it went a little too fast to hit enemies with much accuracy, it was super fun. However, the bosses in this game are still pretty challenging, even if you don’t have Breath of the Wild’s difficulty and stuff. There are a lot of hard-core Breath of the Wild players out there, and it’s nice to see that Hyrule Warriors doesn’t compromise it’s difficulty even though you can cut down normal enemies with ease. You can select your difficulty as well, so it’s not the hard and harder difficulties in Breath of the Wild. If you came in expecting Breath of the Wild, you’re gonna be pretty disappointed, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have a similar feel to Breath of the Wild. You get different characters, special abilities, et cetera. If you really want to know, play the demo.

    So Age of Calamity’s style is visually the exact same as Breath of the Wild. Obviously many assets were re-used, but they made some different renders of new characters as well, which is quite shocking. Well, it’s shocking that they made new characters, not that they rendered them. Because of course you gotta render new characters. For example, look at Impa! She either looked like she wanted to slice your face off, or that she was going to fall over due to her massive head, but this render? She looks so young, so naive, and cute, and so freaking Naruto.

    Lastly, this story is nothing to scoff at. I won't spoil anything, but this thing plays such a huge role in the Zelda timeline, and it is such an awesome story. This story really hyped me up. It felt like waiting for Avengers: Endgame or Smash Ultimate. That's the hype level we're talking about here. There were some really empowering moments in there, and also a lot of sad moments. All of it paints a beautiful picture, no, a beautiful game. This is truly one of the best games to come out this year.    … Expand
  31. MaunzGenau
    Dec 1, 2020
    0
    Unfortunately, this game does not do the Zelda Franchise a favor. It seems like a Dynasty Warriors 3 got a new look, just that the performance is worse than in Dynasty Warriors 3. The enemies do nothing. The huge enemies are some kind of fun but too predictive and it is only an endurance test, the combat is not special or interesting. it doesn't matter if you use runes or bombs or justUnfortunately, this game does not do the Zelda Franchise a favor. It seems like a Dynasty Warriors 3 got a new look, just that the performance is worse than in Dynasty Warriors 3. The enemies do nothing. The huge enemies are some kind of fun but too predictive and it is only an endurance test, the combat is not special or interesting. it doesn't matter if you use runes or bombs or just press x. Maybe for some enemies you can use one rune or a bomb to counter them. The mission design is furthermore awkward (something hunts you along a path but it does not work, since all characters do not move together, bad design). The Warriors developers seem to use the same AI and basic code since Dynasty Warriors 3 just with Zelda graphics. I don't recommend this trash, although I like the characters and the story.… Expand
  32. rattata21
    Dec 1, 2020
    9
    ¡Me ha encantado! Aunque entiendo algunas quejas de los fans . El gameplay es divertidisimo,la banda sonora es soberbia,la historia tiene un ritmo espectacular,aunque es aqui donde hay gente que no le ha gustado pienso q es bastante buena y emocionante cuanto mas juegas.No se,creo que le ha llovido mucho jate innecesario simplemente por no ser un zelda clasivo pero la gente no se da cuenta¡Me ha encantado! Aunque entiendo algunas quejas de los fans . El gameplay es divertidisimo,la banda sonora es soberbia,la historia tiene un ritmo espectacular,aunque es aqui donde hay gente que no le ha gustado pienso q es bastante buena y emocionante cuanto mas juegas.No se,creo que le ha llovido mucho jate innecesario simplemente por no ser un zelda clasivo pero la gente no se da cuenta de que vamos a tener la secuela de botw en desarrolo.En definitiva si te gusta la saga zelda o simplemente quieres un, buen juego epico de aventuras ,no lo dudes… Expand
  33. F1Z2I3
    Dec 1, 2020
    8
    There isn't much to say that hasn't already been said, it's fun but can be repetitive, FPS drops when a bunch of enemies get on screen, some corners were cut in certain areas and if it's your first warriors game, you may get stuck and confused.
  34. Nate89
    Nov 30, 2020
    10
    I really do not understand this damn website. I legit created an account just to write this review which means a lot. I've been through hell to create this account to write this review. All the negative comments I've seen comes from ignorant people who either did not do their research nor played the demo. It clearly states it's called Hyrule Warriors Age of Calamity. If you didn't get theI really do not understand this damn website. I legit created an account just to write this review which means a lot. I've been through hell to create this account to write this review. All the negative comments I've seen comes from ignorant people who either did not do their research nor played the demo. It clearly states it's called Hyrule Warriors Age of Calamity. If you didn't get the memo then that's your fault. It clearly states that it's a Hyrule Warriors game if you do not like Warriors games don't buy it. Second of all why on earth would you compare this game to Breath of the wild. This is a musou game not an adventure game. So guys please do your research because most of the people here on Metacritic looks like they never did their research. Criticism aside this game is amazing. The gameplay is very wicked and it's worth a try. The story might be iffy for some people but it's great to me. I advise you to play the demo before playing the game which most of these negative reviewers never did do. It's a very good game and I'll recommend this to any Zelda fan or musou fan. The only complaint I have is the Divine beast gameplay which can get a tad repetitive but still feels amazing. I'm just going to point this out one last time the people who are comparing this game to Breath of the wild clearly never did their research.This game is not a Zelda game it's a Warriors game mixed with Breath of the wild and it the devs did it very well. My parting advice is just to play the demo and decide. It's an amazing game which should be played if you like the genre. Farewell… Expand
  35. MaximumD
    Nov 30, 2020
    7
    It's ok. Basically Dynasty Warriors, but with Zelda characters and story. The action gets a little repetitive after a while but at least you have some variety in how the different characters handle, and then there's some RPG lite elements to worry about. It might hold you over until BOTW2 comes out but honestly, I wish I had waited for a discount before splurging. Like I said, It ain'tIt's ok. Basically Dynasty Warriors, but with Zelda characters and story. The action gets a little repetitive after a while but at least you have some variety in how the different characters handle, and then there's some RPG lite elements to worry about. It might hold you over until BOTW2 comes out but honestly, I wish I had waited for a discount before splurging. Like I said, It ain't bad, it's alright.

    I've got to admit though that it's probably the best Dynasty Warriors type game made up to this point, so credit to Nintendo for that.    … Expand
  36. Aapo
    Nov 30, 2020
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I live and hate this game so much, on a technical level it's a mess, story is at the same time **** terrible and really good, gameplay is so fun but some parts are so frustrating, not the game I was excepting… Expand
  37. Arfon
    Nov 30, 2020
    9
    Amazing game, addicting gameplay and an engaging story if you loved Breath of the Wild. This game has a lot of content that nevers feels repetitive due to the amount of fun you're having while killing hundreds of enemies. Completely worth it!
    And I suppose my Nintendo Switch is the most powerful Switch in the world, because my gameplay was never interrupted by low fps, this only happens    Amazing game, addicting gameplay and an engaging story if you loved Breath of the Wild. This game has a lot of content that nevers feels repetitive due to the amount of fun you're having while killing hundreds of enemies. Completely worth it!
    And I suppose my Nintendo Switch is the most powerful Switch in the world, because my gameplay was never interrupted by low fps, this only happens when you use a special attack(And you're standing still while doing this). But there are two boss fights in which the low fps happen while you're fighting(But it only happens when the boss executes an specific attack and that's it, the rest of the fight is completely playable). Don't let people convince you that the game is unplayable, you can't miss this game!    … Expand
  38. borathumfry
    Nov 30, 2020
    0
    Runs like **** and is absolutely broken. Being a Zelda fan this game isn’t good..or maybe I would be able to tell if I could play it in anything less than 9FPS.

    Don’t believe the drones here and save yourself the $60. Nintendo fanboys will try to sell you chocolate if it had Miyamoto’s face on it. They’re pretty insecure. They’re irrelevant so continue to make fun of them.
  39. Schnitti86
    Nov 30, 2020
    9
    A GREAT game for all Fans of Breath of the Wild! I dont like hack and slay Games, but THIS game is more than just run&kill. Its full of BOTW Stuff and its packed in a wonderful and exciting Story.
    Framerate is terrible, but it dont disturbs when the Fever packed you
  40. Tri9322
    Nov 29, 2020
    10
    This game is amazing! The story is amazing with tons of great twists and amazing characters. The gameplay is fun and is just an all around great game. Controlling the divine beasts is so fun. The music is amazing, and while the frame rate can dip sometimes, its usually pretty solid. Its an amazing game overall, really recommend it. The large crowds and populated world draw perfect contrastThis game is amazing! The story is amazing with tons of great twists and amazing characters. The gameplay is fun and is just an all around great game. Controlling the divine beasts is so fun. The music is amazing, and while the frame rate can dip sometimes, its usually pretty solid. Its an amazing game overall, really recommend it. The large crowds and populated world draw perfect contrast with Breath of the Wild, and it tells a great story and fleshes out great characters. Knowing what the world is like when you fail makes you feel all the more driven to win. One of the best releases lately, a true work of art.… Expand
  41. Matt2Critic
    Nov 29, 2020
    10
    This is one of my favorite games now. I have been playing it for a good amount of time, and I love the details they put into it. If you played Breath of the Wild and loved the story, and enjoy beat em up games, this is for you!
  42. mtkf
    Nov 29, 2020
    9
    This is not a tradition Zelda game, it's a Dynasty Warriors game. If you're a fan of both franchises you will probably love this game. If you loved BOTW and like hack and slash games you'll probably love this game. If you expect this to play like a traditional Zelda game, you're gonna have a bad time. I loved hyrule warriors and think this game is even better. Hope to see some cool DLC inThis is not a tradition Zelda game, it's a Dynasty Warriors game. If you're a fan of both franchises you will probably love this game. If you loved BOTW and like hack and slash games you'll probably love this game. If you expect this to play like a traditional Zelda game, you're gonna have a bad time. I loved hyrule warriors and think this game is even better. Hope to see some cool DLC in the future.… Expand
  43. JW_
    Nov 29, 2020
    9
    Actionpacked game with an incredible story, being a prequel to Breath of the Wild it had alot to live up to and it did that and more.
    It's definitely more a Legend of Zelda than a Dynasty warriors game, but the dynamic really works because the story makes the battles you wage much more personal.
  44. Kacak321
    Nov 21, 2020
    10
    Amazing game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ............... Mhujjgfggjhftu gcfrrghbvgvcxzzz, f
  45. Guehnterbomb
    Nov 29, 2020
    5
    By far the best part of the game is the story. The performance of the game is a bad joke for a 60€ game. In single-player mode, the framerate can just about keep up with 30fps, but if you dare to play the two-player mode the game struggles to keep the framerate in the two-digit range. The characters are beautifully designed, but Revali is a MASSIVE good-for-nothing who talks Link stupid inBy far the best part of the game is the story. The performance of the game is a bad joke for a 60€ game. In single-player mode, the framerate can just about keep up with 30fps, but if you dare to play the two-player mode the game struggles to keep the framerate in the two-digit range. The characters are beautifully designed, but Revali is a MASSIVE good-for-nothing who talks Link stupid in every cutscene or wants to make everyone believe that he is the best. The "side missions", if you can call them that, are the second bad joke. If you find it exciting to do the same thing again and again in every side mission: Destroying a mass of enemies in 4 minutes and killing a mini boss at the end, then you have a serious problem. I don't think the Metascore of 8.1 is justified at all, the Nintendo fanboys should also speak up if something in a game is not so good and not just buy and idolize everything brainlessly.… Expand
  46. Tr4wtek
    Nov 29, 2020
    9
    Hyrule warriors Age Of Calamity defines everything that was promised, it is an extremely intense story with very epic and memorable moments, without going into details with the story to avoid spoilers, it has a great variety of combos and characters of which you will little fond of by and by, a splendid setting with the best essence of breath of the wild, a story that you cannot miss,Hyrule warriors Age Of Calamity defines everything that was promised, it is an extremely intense story with very epic and memorable moments, without going into details with the story to avoid spoilers, it has a great variety of combos and characters of which you will little fond of by and by, a splendid setting with the best essence of breath of the wild, a story that you cannot miss, apart from the few fps drops, it is a game that as musou will meet all your expectations, especially if you are a fan of the zelda saga… Expand
  47. FeadX
    Nov 29, 2020
    9
    Es un muy bien juego, parte de la historia que se narra si tiene que ver con el breath of the wild.
    Aunque el único y pequeño problema son los bugs mínimos que tiene, cómo lo es el guardiancito
  48. Reed_Reviews
    Nov 28, 2020
    8
    Dynasty Warriors games continually focus on repetitive yet satisfying gameplay, rather than a compelling story. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity continues this tradition. While the trailers' cutscenes hinted at a stronger narrative presence, the game's story is light and insubstantial. This plot's lack of thematic elements, character development, compelling motivations, character depth,Dynasty Warriors games continually focus on repetitive yet satisfying gameplay, rather than a compelling story. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity continues this tradition. While the trailers' cutscenes hinted at a stronger narrative presence, the game's story is light and insubstantial. This plot's lack of thematic elements, character development, compelling motivations, character depth, etc. is particularly upsetting because Breath of the Wild's open-ended past offered boundless opportunities for any dutiful writing team. Instead, characters in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity are largely one-dimensional and the plot does not allow enough time to fully explain or justify its critical moments. And instead of capitalizing on dark topics of loss, failure, fear, and helplessness that Breath of the Wild alluded to, the game's plot often resembles more of a carefree fanfiction rather than a dutiful telling of the past.

    The game's intrinsically satisfying gameplay carries its halfhearted fanfiction plot. Yes, it is quite repetitive to slay every main enemy in the same general pattern: chipping damage, dodging, making the enemy vulnerable, lowering the vulnerability gauge, triggering a finishing blow, and repeating. Despite this repetition, each map's sprawling maps and numerous enemies create an overpoweringly enjoyable hack and slash experience. Similarly to Smash Bros., each character fights with a generally consistent button layout, but has unique attacks and play styles to help keep combat fresh. If only with there were as much gameplay diversity with how to fight enemy units.

    Overall, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity offers an enjoyable rush. Its lackluster and insufficient story, however, ultimately make the game a missed opportunity.

    8/10    … Expand
  49. Tonyxxs
    Nov 23, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. No es precuela, mal optimizado, sin dificultad,poca duración,puedes acabarlo con el inventario básico.… Expand
  50. MatthewDavisMed
    Nov 28, 2020
    9
    Unlike HW, AOC feels more canon to the Zelda universe, it works both as a prequel, and a spin-off. I truly feel it's a love letter to Breath of the Wild with the mechanics it uses and way it's set up.
  51. Blueknight53
    Nov 28, 2020
    9
    As a huge zelda and hyrule warriors fan I am definitely pleased with this game. I played the first hyrule warriors so I knew I was gonna like this one. And as someone who played breath of the wild it is really cool to experience the story prior to the events. I have 30+ hours and I can hardly put it down. This is a must have for any zelda fan
  52. Samfreeful
    Nov 28, 2020
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. As much as I wish to give this a higher rating for it is still a good game, I feel like I'm lying if I don't say that I was originally angry halfway through the story... So much so that I watched a clip of the remaining cutscenes I hadn't seen out of frustration, and the only thing that personally redeemed it for me was Ganon himself. (Yeahhhh I love Ganon a lot and his appearance made me feel some excitement and so)

    I feel the main reason for me not feeling satisfied with AoC is because of the way it was promoted prior to its release; I can't deny that I actually just wanted to witness first hand the champions downfall, and KT and Nintendo could have been real creative with it but they just decided against the original story. This would be fine with me if they were honest in saying that it's not the exact events pre BotW, and I still could've found some excitement from that, bit the misleading advertisement on the game makes me only want to complete for the sake of completion... And so I can mess around as Ganon, of course!

    Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of respect for the work out into making it a fun game to play with some story spice, but the lead up to its release makes me wanna leave it on the shelf afterwards and go back to BotW before the sequel to that comes out.    … Expand
  53. BKChronos
    Nov 28, 2020
    6
    OK gameplay with some cool plot moments, but overall uninteresting/not developed new characters, predictable after some points and not faithful to many aspects of the established lore.

    Also runs like trash, but is Switch so whatever
  54. MartyMcFlyJr
    Nov 28, 2020
    10
    I had a lot of fun playing this game, especially because there is a local two player coop mode. I played the whole game and the only thing that's left is some collectables I need to find.
    If you need to have 60fps and get angry, if the frame rate drops, please do not buy, save us all some peaceful time =)
    It may be not a 10 for anybody, especially of the performance issues, but we had a    I had a lot of fun playing this game, especially because there is a local two player coop mode. I played the whole game and the only thing that's left is some collectables I need to find.
    If you need to have 60fps and get angry, if the frame rate drops, please do not buy, save us all some peaceful time =)
    It may be not a 10 for anybody, especially of the performance issues, but we had a great time and I'm hoping there will be some good dlcs adding more to this game    … Expand
  55. PedritoSpain
    Nov 28, 2020
    8
    This is an amazing game for Zelda fans! I've played for about 12 hours and am loving it and am so addicted. The game gives you that sense of greatness and epicness while defeating hundreds of enemies. Each time you pick up a new character feels so good. Totally recommended.
  56. garyw_81
    Nov 27, 2020
    9
    10/10 game.great gameplay, fantastic story.
    I would highly reccomend playing missions on hard mode at minimum otherwise it's a little too easy, even for me, and I play games on easy allot.
  57. rolo143
    Nov 27, 2020
    9
    I really love this game is really fun and entertaining. Is a must have if you loved Breath of the Wild, it's like a spinoff game, warriors style. You can say whatever you like about warriors games, but this one is really fun and also you can play as divine beasts. What I like about this game is that includes many things like parrying, dodging, etc. Also the way each character uses theI really love this game is really fun and entertaining. Is a must have if you loved Breath of the Wild, it's like a spinoff game, warriors style. You can say whatever you like about warriors games, but this one is really fun and also you can play as divine beasts. What I like about this game is that includes many things like parrying, dodging, etc. Also the way each character uses the runes is very unique. I'm not gonna spoil anything, but I really like what they did with the story and how the manage to put everything up here. Also... The music. The music is AMAZING. And I also love the cinematics. They're really good.… Expand
  58. MavekoX2
    Nov 26, 2020
    10
    Nunca imaginei que iria adorar um game Musou! Deu ate vontade de re-jogar o Breath of the Wild novamente :)
  59. Speedwagon_chan
    Nov 26, 2020
    3
    The story is alright the combat is atrocious and the fps is very inconsistent. It’s very overpriced as well. I would only recommend this game to people that are invested in the story of breath of the wild.
  60. Rollmop
    Nov 26, 2020
    10
    Great game, great story, great fights... I think I barely conquered 20 red areas in the whole game ! It's not about that anymore ! Hidemaro Fujibayashi, who directed Breath of The Wild appears in the credits of the game (not on Wikipedia) as the lead story artist, because well, that's just another Zelda game ! Breath of The Wild was about Courage, Hyrule Warriors is about Power. Now let'sGreat game, great story, great fights... I think I barely conquered 20 red areas in the whole game ! It's not about that anymore ! Hidemaro Fujibayashi, who directed Breath of The Wild appears in the credits of the game (not on Wikipedia) as the lead story artist, because well, that's just another Zelda game ! Breath of The Wild was about Courage, Hyrule Warriors is about Power. Now let's just wait for Wisdom, and we'll be fine !… Expand
  61. Zelda2111
    Nov 26, 2020
    10
    Geiles Spiel nur zu Empfehlen die 78 kappier ich nicht locker ne 85 verdient aufjedenfall empfehlenswert.
  62. Roberto738
    Nov 26, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Very repetitive, unoriginal, the combat system is trash, the fps are VERY unstable, the enemies have lots of glitches and errors as the story is very bad and it skips a lot of things, i wouldnt recommend anyone to buy this overpriced game, just terrible, also the death of king rhoam was easy to predict… Expand
  63. Lother
    Nov 26, 2020
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Absolutely loved it. Rather than replay the tragedy of what happens in BOTW's past, this time you can prevent it in epic last stand battles where the stakes are through the roof. It really makes you think how in BOTW they lost BADLY, the whole world practically in ruin. Here you fight to save it all.

    I liked how this game felt like an extension of BOTW, everything from the music, fighting system, style, etc    … Expand
  64. ultraviper
    Nov 25, 2020
    3
    would be way better if it didn't run like a slide show. I loved the first one, and while it didn't run perfectly either, it was WAY smoother than this. gameplay should come before graphics. always.
  65. Animal34all
    Nov 25, 2020
    9
    This game isn't in the same timeline as breath of the wild, but that doesn't make it bad at all. This game, like the original Hyrule Warriors, was a celebration of zelda, Age of Calamity paying homeage to Breath of the Wild. It is something to look at and appreciate as being along side breath of the wild. I am upset that we didn't get the prequel we were asking for, but we already knewThis game isn't in the same timeline as breath of the wild, but that doesn't make it bad at all. This game, like the original Hyrule Warriors, was a celebration of zelda, Age of Calamity paying homeage to Breath of the Wild. It is something to look at and appreciate as being along side breath of the wild. I am upset that we didn't get the prequel we were asking for, but we already knew what would happen and so they gave us a new story. The FPS was my only complaint, but the reason that Hyrule Warriors runned well was because it didn't have that beautiful of a landscape. Here, we have that landscape, and the FPS doesn't bother me as much. Just generally gald for more zelda, and this game will stay in my heart as one of 2 games to play before Breath of the Wild 2. #AgeofCalamity… Expand
  66. Sdric
    Nov 25, 2020
    7
    7/10 Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity features a more interesting story than its predecessor, but suffers from a form-over-function interface, less fun to play characters and less content than the original title, as well as worsened performance. In its core this is a Warriors game and not a classic Zelda game. For gameplay & hours purchase the first part, purchase this one if you value story more.
  67. GewoonFerre
    Nov 25, 2020
    10
    Love it
    Realy good Story en good gamplay Fun characters and lots of side content
  68. SaturnTheCoyote
    Nov 25, 2020
    8
    When I played Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, I craved for the champions to be added to the game, eventhough deep down I knew no more DLC would be added. I then noticed more BotW themed news to be revealed on a video, so I tuned in for the video, and I screamed when I noticed I could finally play as the characters I've always wanted to play as.

    Each character has their own unique    When I played Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, I craved for the champions to be added to the game, eventhough deep down I knew no more DLC would be added. I then noticed more BotW themed news to be revealed on a video, so I tuned in for the video, and I screamed when I noticed I could finally play as the characters I've always wanted to play as.

    Each character has their own unique play style for you to find and play with. The music is absolutely beautiful. I love the Champions soundtracks on Chapter 2. Omg, they are just perfect! I have not completed the game yet so I'm unsure if this stays, but I'm up to Chapter 4 and personally, I really like the story. It's been slightly predictable due to knowing the history of BotW, but I'm loving the lore I'm getting out of this. Like I said, I've not completed the game, so I wonder if I'll still feel the same once I do.

    Now don't get me wrong, this game isn't perfect. The FPS isn't as smooth as I would want it to be. For example, on the first level, when I went to fight the Lizalfos, it started to lag quite a bit, though I was able to defeat the enemies without any problem. And the barriers. Them barriers are so annoying. When playing as Revali, you'd expect to be able to fly over the fences and even small rocks, it blocks you from flying over, which I guess is to make it fair for all characters, but considering he's a bird, you'd think he'd be able to fly over things. And personally, I don't think the graphics aren't as great as compared to BotW, which I expected but I wanted to be absolutely amazed.

    It's very similar to Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition. I know that if you like that game, you will find some fun in this. I'm missing the short maps where you had to go and play as a unique characters and you'd win characters and special rewards that'd help you to advance, but I still think it's a pretty decent game and I'd recommend waiting for the price to drop a little, but I still think you should pick it up if you're looking for BotW lore or are a Zelda/Dynasty Warriors fan in general.    … Expand
  69. Hij45g
    Nov 25, 2020
    10
    This is a zelda game I know people gonna say it has warriors GAMEPLAY in it but it's a Zelda game through and through don't compare it to btow compare it to previous Hyrule warriors games it was a really great game
  70. greninjaX
    Nov 25, 2020
    10
    hyrule warriors age of calamity is like the dark souls of warriors games, and it really makes you feel like batman.
  71. Marcos2
    Nov 24, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. La verdad ha sido un juego maravilloso, uno de los mejores si no el mejor musou que he jugado hasta el momento. La historia en si es equilibrada pero llega un momento que si se dificulta mucho, lo cual hace que te tengas que esforzar más. Los jefes me parecieron muy Buenos, sobre todo las irás de ganon rediseñadas. Y también ganon el cataclismo. La música es perfecta, que te da la sensación de estar en una guerra. Maravilloso juego… Expand
  72. Schroder
    Nov 24, 2020
    9
    Easily one of the best Switch games I've played in a long while. Every aspect of this game from the story to the gameplay absolutely deliver in terms of spectacle. A few framerate drops here and there, but nothing too bad to take me out of the experience. Only 2-3 of the playable characters were underwhelming and considering the sheer amount of options you're given, that's fine too. IEasily one of the best Switch games I've played in a long while. Every aspect of this game from the story to the gameplay absolutely deliver in terms of spectacle. A few framerate drops here and there, but nothing too bad to take me out of the experience. Only 2-3 of the playable characters were underwhelming and considering the sheer amount of options you're given, that's fine too. I don't want to spoil the game if you're on the fence, but this is a game you should buy for the holidays and savor until the new year. Nintendo really managed to undersell this one with the lack of advertising. The developers poured their heart and soul into this game and it shows.

    Overall, Age of Calamity is an incredibly charming package that can thrill and excite you with it's tragic story and refined 1 vs 100 gameplay. On top of that it has enough content to keep you hooked through more and more of an almost addictive gameplay loop.    … Expand
  73. Starfree
    Nov 24, 2020
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is not a successor to Hyrule Warriors. And unlike how it was advertised, it is not a prequel to breath of the wild either. The great story destroyer Time travel made sure of that. The modern day champions coming to save the the past day champions felt very cheap, and like we were scammed with that release day trailer. There’s plenty of tragedy in this game to make this a good story. But it wasn’t the story that we were promised. The gameplay is really good and very rewarding. But it’s not Warriors gameplay. It’s some kind of mix between Warriors and breath of the wild game play that really works, but I like Warriors gameplay more. Hyrule Warriors and Breath of the Wild are both better games then this. But Hyrule Warriors is still a good game that Zelda fans will have a fun time with.… Expand
  74. Yuri_Jack
    Nov 24, 2020
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I am saddened at the fact the game does not have a dark ending. This would’ve allowed for more replay value. The game also has sudden FPS drops when the effects or enemy count is too high for the system to handle. Another thing is the boss health, they feel a bit sponge like in nature. Other than this, the games is designed well and has great elements to it. Such as the characters. The well made cutscenes. The game also has reused assets from breath of the wild feeling more like Metal Gear Survive using the same assets from Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain.… Expand
  75. Radd11
    Nov 24, 2020
    9
    I am really enjoying this game. I you enjoyed BOTW and wanna know more of the characters then get this game. I haven't completed it yet, but I keep wanting to know what the next chapter will entail. Now the gameplay is hyrule warriors, but this game feels a lot more innovative than the past games. Also the cutscenes are way much better than in BOTW. This game is also a treat forI am really enjoying this game. I you enjoyed BOTW and wanna know more of the characters then get this game. I haven't completed it yet, but I keep wanting to know what the next chapter will entail. Now the gameplay is hyrule warriors, but this game feels a lot more innovative than the past games. Also the cutscenes are way much better than in BOTW. This game is also a treat for completionist because there is a lot to do in the game. Highly recommend the game even if you aren't a Hyrule warriors fan. I wasn't.… Expand
  76. Dj_Reviews
    Nov 24, 2020
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. As far as the gameplay goes, it's fun. There are a lot of side quests to do with varying objectives, and there are a lot of characters you get to play as. The gameplay can get repetitive, but also addicting too. The frame rate isn't great, and it's very noticeable as soon as you start, but once you get 10 minutes in, I find that my eyes just adapt to it and don't even notice it anymore. It really isn't as big an issue as some people make it out to be. If you enjoyed the first Hyrule Warriors then you'll definitely enjoy this one. It's not a bad game at all. It is a great fan service game, in fact. Characters I wouldn't have even imagined would be playable like The Great Fairies took me by surprise. If they had just advertised this as an alternate universe fan service game, my score would probably be a 10. I will get many more hours of fun playing this game.

    As for the story....yeah no. As soon as I saw Sidon jump through a portal I turned it off. Of course, I still plan to keep playing the game, but this was marketed as a game that showed the events leading up to BOTW, not a spin off where everyone is saved through Deus Ex Machina Time Travel. If you consider this canon then it essentially takes away any impact BOTW had. Oh the champions died? Who cares? Hyrule has been destroyed? No big deal! Well just use magic to pretend it never happened. You didn't even need to take link to the shrine of resurrection. You could have just let him die, and left Zelda alone to die as well. None of it matters, some little robot that was never even in original story will just jump through a time portal and invalidate anything BOTW did. If BOTW2's story is a sequel to this story, rather than the original, then why even bother? Any mistake is reversible with time travel done in this fashion, and therefore meaningless. Time travel was a good mechanic that the story revolved around in OoT and MM. And it was done right in those games. In this game it's forced in where it doesn't belong to retcon established events. Why not make a sequel to MM next where Link travels back in time and stops Skull Kid from even stealing Majora's mask and the events of Termina never even happen? It's bad writing, and I can't possibly give it a better score because of it.    … Expand
  77. IsaacP97
    Nov 24, 2020
    0
    They completely destroyed a wonderful game by BREAKING the timeline. Unnecessary changes, unnecessary characters, Nintendo must leave the fan Service behind and stop delivering happy endings, Age of Calamity could be a great canon game
  78. Ersal0
    Nov 24, 2020
    10
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  79. Trustmeitsucks
    Nov 24, 2020
    0
    Bad framerates game is impossble to play with the frame rates and if your looking for a zelda breath of the wild prequel this i NOT it this games sucks
  80. Darvie
    Nov 24, 2020
    10
    Really good game with a great story and fun gameplay i enjoyed the soundtrack
  81. Vatsugt
    Nov 24, 2020
    10
    I have been paying this game for a couple of days and I wish to become a saga!
  82. UmAlguem
    Nov 24, 2020
    10
    I love this game, please do a murasame castle reboot next!!!! (10/10 a system seller)
  83. Jovahkiin
    Nov 24, 2020
    8
    My hype for the game was pretty low, I didn't get Warrior games... till now. The characters are all so unique like Smash characters are, and it's so fun unlocking and performing combos. The game delivers a lot more story than in Breath of the Wild and is the main reason why I bought this game, the music is also fantastic.
  84. Chupan
    Nov 24, 2020
    10
    No entiendo tanto lloriqueo por unas simples caídas de frames, entendiendo que son en momentos puntuales donde obviamente hay muchísimos enemigos y los ataques especiales requieren de un alto uso de recursos. Por lo demás todo es increíble, la historia, los personajes, la jugabilidad. Las personas de hoy se centran en puras tonteras como la resolución ultra hd 500 k y los 5000 fps cuandoNo entiendo tanto lloriqueo por unas simples caídas de frames, entendiendo que son en momentos puntuales donde obviamente hay muchísimos enemigos y los ataques especiales requieren de un alto uso de recursos. Por lo demás todo es increíble, la historia, los personajes, la jugabilidad. Las personas de hoy se centran en puras tonteras como la resolución ultra hd 500 k y los 5000 fps cuando lo importante es que el juego te entretenga y, como es normal en nintendo, te entregue algo más, esa magia que hace que enganches con cada una de sus entregas.… Expand
  85. Igorchagas
    Nov 22, 2020
    1
    just because i am a fan of zelda, i am not obliged to accept any bad game, just to please nintendo. the game is bad, nintendo only released these games at the end of the year like a shut up, for us zelda fans, but the game didn't please. contains several performance problems on the switch, an erased story and a style of play that it should abolish.
  86. suasto
    Nov 24, 2020
    10
    YAya a hi ju gatyn no van requerimnk ksma Great game!
    I had doubt about how good it could be, once pass through a prequel of breath of the wild. The gameplay is good, sounds great and so many things to do that make it a must buy game.
  87. Rigbo
    Nov 24, 2020
    9
    Great story, excellent soundtrack, good characters, addictive gameplay, tons of content, overall an amazing game. Only complaint is the fps, but it never dropped in important situations, only during special moves, so it didn’t really matter for me
  88. sonicpulsar
    Nov 24, 2020
    10
    The demo was already good but playing through the story is simply magical. The art style is beautiful and based on BOTW’s Hyrule, voice acting is well performed, the music is outstanding and the combat, that could have become a bit repetitive since it’s a musou, is actually refreshing with constant new moves and attacks being delivered. 10/10. Excellent addition to the Zelda series.
  89. SilverClock
    Nov 24, 2020
    9
    I was genuinely surprised by how much I liked this game. Not quite a 9, but an 8.7 for me. This may come off as a side game. But for how intimately the game portrays the pre-BOTW events, I feel it is a requirement to play this before BOTW2 comes out. The framerate isn't NEARLY as big of a deal for me personally. Co-op is where the issue is in that regard. Even then, it's not my main issueI was genuinely surprised by how much I liked this game. Not quite a 9, but an 8.7 for me. This may come off as a side game. But for how intimately the game portrays the pre-BOTW events, I feel it is a requirement to play this before BOTW2 comes out. The framerate isn't NEARLY as big of a deal for me personally. Co-op is where the issue is in that regard. Even then, it's not my main issue with co-op. There is no online play, so player 2 will make no progress in their own game. That's my hang up. But everyone is different.

    This should be a given, but you will enjoy this game more if you are a Zelda fan who enjoyed BOTW and played it to its completion. This game draws heavily from BOTW. From the map and its locations, the equipment and the menus, to the characters and side quests (even random NPCs.)

    This game is almost entirely combat, so it's a good thing it's well handled. Out of any Zelda game I've played, this one is the most enjoyable for me in terms of combat. Granted, Zelda games don't have very nuanced combat to begin with. But what is here is enjoyable. The animations are a spectacle to behold for a Zelda game, and Link has never felt more powerful. Skill and proper timing is rewarded. If you find it too easy, there are higher difficulty options that provide a challenge and encourage you to use every option available to you. My main complaint with combat is with the camera. Indoors, when you're up against a wall, don't even bother. You have to reposition yourself to see anything.

    The story and the cutscenes that portray it are of a higher quality than you would expect from Zelda games. The end of the story had an actual emotional impact on me. The music that plays during important moments drives home the sense of despair, the intensity of the war, and the hope of victory. The timing and placement of it is just spot on.

    I beat the first Hyrule Warriors, and I didn't get nearly as much enjoyment from it as I did this game. The gameplay is more fine tuned. I actually have a vested interest in the story, setting, and characters this time. If you got any enjoyment out of Hyrule Warriors and you enjoyed BOTW, it's a buy. If you enjoyed BOTW and don't get enjoyment from Dynasty Warrior type games, it's a borrow/rent/wait for sale.    … Expand
  90. JokerPilot
    Nov 23, 2020
    10
    As a fan of Hyrule warriors, I was excited for another chapter in the blossoming series and when I learned it was taking place 100 years prior to botw, I was beyond excited! While the game may have it's moments dipping down in fps(I'm looking at you Urbosa's special) it doesn't detract from the fun. The dips that happen are very few and last only mere seconds that it's very easy to ignore,As a fan of Hyrule warriors, I was excited for another chapter in the blossoming series and when I learned it was taking place 100 years prior to botw, I was beyond excited! While the game may have it's moments dipping down in fps(I'm looking at you Urbosa's special) it doesn't detract from the fun. The dips that happen are very few and last only mere seconds that it's very easy to ignore, especially when you're busy trying to finish your tasks before the time limit expires. The story is really good and the voice acting is absolutely amazing. It made the journey around Hyrule memorable. Truthfully I think i prefered the bosses in AoC over Botw. I hope everyone will give this a chance so they too can experience the journey.… Expand
  91. lmenchia
    Nov 23, 2020
    0
    If you don't care about art, if you skip the story, don't listen to music, and only care about repetitive button mashing for subtle and immediate gratification, maybe (and just maybe) you can give it a shot.
    I was personally looking forward to 2 players, which was a great idea until I realized how bad the game was. No climbing, No exploring, No immersion, No beauty, Linear progression,    If you don't care about art, if you skip the story, don't listen to music, and only care about repetitive button mashing for subtle and immediate gratification, maybe (and just maybe) you can give it a shot.
    I was personally looking forward to 2 players, which was a great idea until I realized how bad the game was. No climbing, No exploring, No immersion, No beauty, Linear progression, Bad music, Bad cinematics, No suspence. I felt more scared while facing 2 enemies in the previous game than 100 in this one.
    To me this game felt like a cheap anime with a budget done as quickly as possible, without any kind of love or passion whatsoever. The opposite of what made BOTW so great. I suggest you don't waste your time and money on this one.    … Expand
  92. Lolipopbling
    Nov 23, 2020
    0
    It’s horrible. Gameplay, technical performance, and esp story. What were they thinking about the story?

    I’m praying the lord and jesus that this has nothing to do with BOTW2. Stay far far far far away as possible.
  93. TCVGN
    Nov 23, 2020
    9
    This game is super addicting. If you liked the original hyrule warriors, you will like this game a lot. The only problem that this game has is the frame rate that coud be better, The story is good, it's cool to see the world of hyrule before the great calamity. The voice acting is better than in Breath of the wild, the actors are better with their characters and it shows. Each characterThis game is super addicting. If you liked the original hyrule warriors, you will like this game a lot. The only problem that this game has is the frame rate that coud be better, The story is good, it's cool to see the world of hyrule before the great calamity. The voice acting is better than in Breath of the wild, the actors are better with their characters and it shows. Each character are good and balance. The original hyrule warriors had 29 characters in total, now it's somewhere around 17. The fact that there is less character makes each of them more unique and balance, everyone is usefull.… Expand
  94. bernardtullassa
    Nov 23, 2020
    10
    Exactly what Botw needed to flesh out its characters and story. Excellent animation with ghibliesque flourishes. Superb evolution of botws soundtrack.

    Combat felt more like Ff7 remake to me than the og hyrule warriors due to its focus on switching characters, reactive use of ruins and flurry rush. Much more I could say but this was exactly what I wanted from this game.
  95. EnigmaXtreme
    Nov 23, 2020
    8
    I remember when Nintendo originally announced the first Hyrule Warriors back in 2013, back then it was an absolute gamechanger seeing Nintendo doing a crossover with one of its biggest franchises with a third party series like Dynasty Warriors. Many people, including yours truly were incredibly excited, I vaguely remember seeing Jim Sterling verbally blow his load at least a few times onI remember when Nintendo originally announced the first Hyrule Warriors back in 2013, back then it was an absolute gamechanger seeing Nintendo doing a crossover with one of its biggest franchises with a third party series like Dynasty Warriors. Many people, including yours truly were incredibly excited, I vaguely remember seeing Jim Sterling verbally blow his load at least a few times on Twitter when the game was first announced. When the game was released in 2014, it didn’t set the world on fire but it was a great new spin on the Zelda franchise and the landmark collaboration was enough to consider it for our Game of the Year in 2014.

    Six years on and Hyrule Warriors is back but this time it is an even bigger deal, why the original game as almost like a greatest hits compilation featuring characters and settings from the entire history of the Zelda series, this new iteration, Age of Calamity is set up as a prequel to Breath of the Wild, set 100 years in the past before Link went into his century long sleep, only this time we are introduced to a brand new character in essentially an Ancient version of BB8.

    This adorable little robot appears in Zelda’s room right when things turn to absolute **** in Hyrule, only for him to open a portal and travel into the past essentially giving us a whole new split timeline theory…..greaaattttt. Like most Warriors game you aren’t just playing as one character but you are able to select from a whole range including Impa, Zelda and the four champions Mipha, Urbosa, Revali and Datuk. While it stings seeing all these characters knowing what eventually falls them all, every character has a distinct fighting style with Mipha’s water style and Zelda primarily using ancient technology. Also, despite appearing as a youngling, it seems we have some more time travel occurring as everyone’s favourite fishboy, Sidon, is playable.

    Age of Calamity seemingly fixes all those niggling little qualms that people had with Breath of the Wild, first and foremost there is no weapon degradation. It was without a doubt one of the most frustrating parts of the game, constantly having to find a new sword halfway through a battle. While you still collect numerous items, food and weaponry in Age of Calamity you really only address that between missions where you can sell or even fuse loose weapons together. Even frustrating enemies from the original game like Lynels have been essentially neutered here to the point that you can easily defeat them,a lot of aspects from Breath of the Wild have been brought over here including Flurry Rush, Paraglider, even the freaking Koroks.

    Another return is the map of Hyrule which is where you select the levels, but there is so much more including little side missions and services that help upgrade all aspects of your characters. There has clearly been a lot of love and detail put into what is essentially a Breath of the Wild prequel, even small things like being able to play with Japanese audio. No offence to Patricia Summerset but her attempt at a Faux English accent is just as cringey this time around as it was in the original.

    While combat is fairly standard for a Warriors game, Normal Attack, Heavy Attack combos and Special Moves, lock on has been placed on pushing down the R-Stick and there really can’t be any more of a complicated or out of place button then that. You can have up to 4 characters in your party during battles and are able to seamlessly switch between them at any time, this helps in traversing the map quicker. We also see the Ancient mechanics make a return, bombs make a comeback with even explosive barrels all over the place which make for a satisfying clearing of areas. But the other three just may as well not be there, the Ice really just amounts to creating a platform to paraglide off, the magnet just picks up blocks to wack enemies with and stasis is pretty much nothing, you were able to send trees flying in Breath of the Wild, now good luck with Stasis can even take care of a big Moblin.

    But any issues are completely washed away when you pilot the Divine Beasts, I will just repeat that for the people in the back You. Pilot. DIVINE. BEASTS! I could have started and ended my review right there and called it a day, there are segments where you get to pilot all four divine beasts with the Champions, where you can shoot, trample, rain destruction where ever you go and send killer death beams that annihilate everything in its path. I mean, what else do I need to say? these segments alone are worth picking up this sequel.

    Hyrule Warriors 2 isn’t Breath of the Wild 2, but it is a damn fine morsel that could tie you over just a little while you wait.    … Expand
  96. Chomper4
    Nov 23, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Very fun. To be honest I did not expect a timeline split again, but things happen and I am glad they did.… Expand
  97. Banacan
    Nov 23, 2020
    9
    If you are a fan breath of the wild, Hyrule warriors or hack and slashes. You’ll love this game
  98. LGM3-6-9
    Nov 23, 2020
    10
    Muy buen juego mu emotivo se ve perfecto gran historia si les gusta Zelda este es imprescindible
  99. Jaller47
    Nov 21, 2020
    5
    The gameplay is very fun and satisfying but the story ruins the game and spit on the legacy of Breath of the Wild. This is not the prequel they promised us. I felt cheated by Nintendo
  100. Minandreas
    Nov 23, 2020
    4
    The game would be a 9/10 for me personally, but is going down as a 4 for how poorly the game runs. I don't care how great your game could be in theory if it can't flipping run. When there is as much going on on the screen as there is in this game, and it encourages you to react to things very quickly (Flurry rush), having the framerate consistently dumpster itself is simply unacceptable.The game would be a 9/10 for me personally, but is going down as a 4 for how poorly the game runs. I don't care how great your game could be in theory if it can't flipping run. When there is as much going on on the screen as there is in this game, and it encourages you to react to things very quickly (Flurry rush), having the framerate consistently dumpster itself is simply unacceptable. And the key word there is consistently. I am happy to accept rare framerate dips in exchange for a nicer looking game. But in multiplayer particularly, any time there is a lot of action on screen, IE the times where you most need a clear idea of what is going on, the framerate completely tanks. This is unacceptable and Nintendo should be ashamed of themselves. For a company that traditionally has had such finely polished games, this is a huge black mark. You know your own consoles capabilities better than anyone. There is no excuse for this.

    However, if you are someone that intends to the play the game entirely solo and that's what you care about, I would rate this at a solid 7. Because the framerate is substantially more stable in single player. It's still far from perfect. But it doesn't get laughable dumpster fire low. And if in the future there is a release of this game on more powerful hardware that can actually run the game smoothly 100% of the time, I'd give it a 9. It's got a lot of really great mechanics for a warriors game that shake up the genre and make it less spammy than ever. Lots of different ways to mix up combos and actions that make it feel like more like... I don't want to say Nioh because that invokes the wrong expectations. But an action combat system that has a lot more to it than simply mashing light attack and heavy attack. Story is very dragged out and not the best written it could be, but for a warriors title its absolutely next level. Lots of great fan service in there for Zelda fans.

    Overall I am having a great time with it in single player, and if they had just made the concessions required in the graphics department for the game to actually run smoothly, I'd call Hyrule Warriors Age of Calamity a homerun. So if tanking to 10FPS anytime the action gets heavy in multiplayer is acceptable to you, or you never plan on doing multiplayer at all, I would recommend this game to a warriors fan, and also a Zelda fan so long as the core formula that makes up a warriors game isn't a turn off for you.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

87
#87 Best Switch Game of 2020
6
#6 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2020

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 113 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 90 out of 113
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 113
  3. Negative: 0 out of 113
  1. Ninty Fresh Magazine
    Oct 22, 2021
    80
    Of all the champions, AoC is most comparable to Daruk: rough around the edges and simple, but full of heart and grows on you fast. [Issue #3, p.55]
  2. CD-Action
    Jun 9, 2021
    75
    Age of Calamity is like a t-shirt with your favorite band’s artwork – remove the love of their music and all you’ve got is a piece of clothing. Similarly, if you play Hyrule Warriors not familiar with Breath of the Wild, you’ll miss tons of fan service and end up with a pretty and relaxing but rather basic hack and slash. [01/2021, p.64]
  3. Nintendo Force Magazine
    May 5, 2021
    85
    This battle-hardened prequel is able to scratch an itch that its source material couldn't. [Issue #50 – January/February 2021, p. 75]
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