Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity review – a blast in the past

Nintendo Switch; Omega Force/Koei-Tecmo/Nintendo
Bash and slash your way through umpteen morphing enemy hordes in this moreish Dynasty Warriors-Legend of Zelda crossover

Nintendo's 2020 flagship is Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity - a Dynasty Warriors and Legend of Zelda crossover that's a sort-of-prequel to 2016's phenomenal Breath of the Wild, despite the drastically different style of play. There is no climbing or exploration, no communion with magic and nature. Instead, it's all about the action, as Link and his compatriots slice up thousands of baddies with swords, magic, bows, hammers and, occasionally, soup ladles.

While the original Hyrule Warriors was more of a love letter to Zelda as a whole, Age of Calamity lifts its smooth, stylish art direction and visual language straight from Breath of the Wild. Menus, sound effects, in-game models and the overall look and feel are a flattering imitation that's also appealing in it own right. Returnees to this specific Hyrule will thrill as familiar locations, characters, objects and musical motifs are redeployed in this new action-packed context.