Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Is The End Of The Breath Of The Wild Era

With the current Zelda game, Breath of the Wild, nearing the end of its lifespan, a new major Legend of Zelda game is likely coming soon. We can expect an announcement for the next big adventure before long, and fans will undoubtedly be eager to play it.

Looking back on the time around the release of Breath of the Wild, it’s tempting to simply call it a success or failure. But I think that oversimplifies things.

Zelda eras don’t tend to last this long.

Wow, with Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment dropping, it hits me that we’ve been getting Zelda games consistently for over ten years now! That’s crazy for this series – usually, they’re switching up Link and Zelda with new versions pretty often. It’s awesome, but a really long run for the franchise.

Nintendo and the lead producer of the Zelda series, Eiji Aonuma, have announced that this chapter of Zelda games has come to a close. As a longtime fan of Hyrule, I’m feeling a mix of sadness and anticipation for what comes next.

Honestly, I’ve really been enjoying seeing how the games are starting to connect to each other. It’s way more interesting than having everything completely wiped clean and starting from scratch with each new release, you know?

Honestly, I’m really ready for a change of scenery from this version of Hyrule. It feels like we’ve explored it enough, and I think the land of Hyrule itself has run its course. It’s time for something completely new and different.

I’m not trying to come up with something completely new. I want to discuss the end of the Breath of the Wild period and why it’s actually quite fascinating.

An Unconventional Finale

The End Of An Era

The story of Breath of the Wild didn’t conclude with a grand, final showdown between Link and Ganondorf. It actually wrapped up with a Dynasty Warriors-style game that sets the stage for the events of Tears of the Kingdom.

I really enjoyed Age of Imprisonment, but it’s a little disappointing that the story arc started with Breath of the Wild is ending with a spin-off instead of a grand finale. It’s not a bad game, just that one of the best Zelda series is wrapping up in a more subdued way than I anticipated.

Honestly, looking at it, it actually makes sense. This Link and Zelda have been through so much. They’ve really been tested, you know?

These Link and Zelda have seen a lot – they’ve journeyed through time, repeatedly overcome the evil Ganon, and watched Hyrule rise from its lowest moments to a golden age. Given all they’ve been through, a more relaxed spin-off adventure feels like a fitting next step for their story.

This isn’t a negative thing, but it means a fantastic era for the Zelda series is ending in a more subdued way than many anticipated.

Look, as a Zelda fan, I’ve always loved how the series isn’t afraid to shake things up. They’ve built a reputation for constantly finding fresh ways to play, always evolving beyond what you’d expect from a typical Zelda game.

Perhaps ‘Age of Imprisonment’ was the perfect conclusion to this chapter of Zelda games. With the main conflict resolved, the focus shifted to protecting Hyrule itself. Placing ‘Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment’ during the Imprisoning War feels like a fitting and natural way to bring this story arc to a close.

Protecting The Mythology

The Imprisoning War Is The Perfect Cap To This Era

The Imprisoning War is a foundational event in the Legend of Zelda series, first appearing in A Link to the Past. It’s been consistently mentioned in later games, notably forming a crucial part of the backstory in Ocarina of Time.

This aspect wasn’t revealed until the Age of Imprisonment. Given how closely the era of Breath of the Wild connects to the series’ original lore and older stories, it felt like the perfect time to delve into this ancient conflict. As a result, the games set during the Age of Imprisonment have carefully preserved and expanded upon the established Zelda mythology.

Nintendo has been very protective of the Zelda story, and they seem willing to deliver a dramatic conclusion, even if it means an action-packed battle. While it wasn’t the ending I anticipated, looking back after completing ‘Age of Imprisonment,’ it feels like the most fitting conclusion to the saga.

Given how closely connected the world of Breath of the Wild is to its history and ancient myths, now felt like the perfect moment to delve into that long-ago conflict.

As a longtime Zelda fan, I was so thrilled with Age of Imprisonment! It finally delivered on the epic battle we’ve heard about for years in Zelda history, and honestly, it was a smart move. The Zelda games are always fun to play, and combining that with a war-focused story, something the series is built for, just worked. I really feel like the team at Nintendo EPD3, the ones who always make the Zelda games, were the perfect group to bring this Imprisoning War to life.

Given that the team is probably fully focused on developing the next major Zelda game, releasing a new update might not have been the best decision. Therefore, ending the story with Age of Imprisonment was the only logical way to conclude the Breath of the Wild series.

An Eye To The Future

The Future Of Zelda

Nintendo considers Age of Calamity the conclusion of the story arc started with Breath of the Wild. The next major Zelda game isn’t coming out for a while, and although it will likely have similar gameplay to Breath of the Wild, it’s expected to have a completely new story and take place in a different world.

Right now, the time surrounding Breath of the Wild is considered a golden age for the Zelda series. Maybe how it concluded isn’t the most important thing. The real success of this period might be about its overall impact on the Zelda franchise, rather than just the quality of the last game.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment broke from the traditional Zelda formula. It didn’t feature classic dungeons or puzzles, and instead of a large, open Hyrule or a vast ocean to explore, it offered something different. Initially, this was a bit of a letdown, and I wasn’t immediately impressed.

Overall, I feel much more positively about how the Age of Imprisonment storyline concluded than negatively. While it wasn’t flawless, it clearly demonstrated a great deal of respect and affection for a series I deeply cherish, and that makes it hard for me to be truly disappointed.

2025-12-17 16:40