The Legend of Zelda franchise has been around since 1986. In that time, 20 mainline entries have been released, alongside an array of remasters and remakes. In between those major releases, The Legend of Zelda has also released a handful of spinoffs, some of which have varied wildly in quality.
At one end of the spectrum, there are games like Link: The Faces of Evil, and the other infamously awful Phillips CD-I Zelda spinoffs. And at the other end of the spectrum, there are spinoffs like 2019’s Cadence of Hyrule, a joyfully upbeat rhythm game that captures the magic of the fantasy franchise perfectly. The Hyrule Warriors series lies closer to the latter end of the spectrum, and a new entry could actually be just what the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 needs.
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The Nintendo Switch 2’s Launch Line-Up Could Use a New Hyrule Warriors Game
A Brief History of The Hyrule Warriors Series
Debuting in 1997, Omega Force’s Dynasty Warriors franchise has had countless sub-series and spinoffs over the years, many of which have been collaborations with other popular franchises. One such spinoff was Hyrule Warriors, a Legend of Zelda-themed title originally released in 2014 exclusively for the Wii U.
Hyrule Warriors takes the hack-and-slash character combat of the Dynasty Warriors series and gives it a Legend of Zelda overhaul, adding iconic franchise heroes, weapons, enemies, and settings. At the time of its initial release, Hyrule Warriors received generally favorable reviews, with critics praising the game’s fan-service, varied combat abilities, and faithfulness to the source material. However, Hyrule Warriors drew criticism for its repetitive mission structure and its often buggy co-op system that relied on the Wii U Game Pad.
Both a Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Switch port of Hyrule Warriors were released in the years following the game’s initial release, each adding an assortment of new content such as new characters, weapons, and story missions. In November 2020, a sequel hit store shelves. Titled Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, this sequel improved upon its predecessor in just about every way, refining its combat systems and adding a riveting new story set 100 years before the events of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
A New Zelda Would Bolster the Switch 2’s Launch Line-Up
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity reviewed a little better than its 2014 predecessor, and it sold surprisingly well, shipping over 3 million copies in just four days. Though it would need a unique hook to bring players back for a third time, a new Hyrule Warriors game could do fairly well all these years later, especially if it shipped alongside the upcoming Nintendo Switch successor.
While the Nintendo Switch 2’s launch line-up is still a complete mystery, fans are hoping to see some big first-party franchises in it. With Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom releasing just a year ago and Echoes of Wisdom coming out earlier this year, it seems unlikely that another mainline Zelda entry will be ready for the Switch 2’s launch window. And that’s where a new Hyrule Warriors could come in.
A New Hyrule Warriors Could Showcase The Power of the Switch 2
Along with ensuring that the Nintendo Switch 2 has a Zelda game at launch, a new Hyrule Warriors entry could be a great showcase of the new console’s technical capabilities. A large part of the Warriors series’ marketing tends to revolve around how many enemies appear on-screen at one time, and the flashy particle effects that come from hacking and slashing away at them. A new Hyrule Warriors, then, would probably do a great job of showing off the Switch 2’s improved technical prowess.
Join the struggle that brought Hyrule to its knees. Learn more about Zelda, the four Champions, the King of Hyrule and more through dramatic cutscenes as they try to save the kingdom from Calamity. The Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity game is the only way to see firsthand what happened 100 years ago.
Battle hordes of Hyrule’s most formidable foes.
From barbaric Bokoblins to towering Lynels, menacing monsters have emerged in droves. In addition to Link and Zelda, take control of characters like the four Champions and a young Impa. Use their distinct abilities to carve through hundreds of enemies to save Hyrule from the impending Calamity.
- Released
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November 20, 2020
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
- ESRB
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T for Teen: Fantasy Violence