Hyrule Warriors Reviews
Hyrule Warriors wasn't a game I expected to fall in love with, but thanks to its oodles of Zelda fan service and shockingly engrossing gameplay, upgrades, and modes, it turned into something very special that lives up to the Zelda legacy. It's easy to dive into and has enough variety that it doesn't really get old over the dozen or more hours you can spend with it. If Nintendo crossovers are always this polished and fun, I welcome many more of them.
It's hard to imagine a bigger love letter to the The Legend of Zelda franchise than Hyrule Warriors, which is a really polished and well-made Dynasty Warriors game. It still contains many of the franchise's flaws or weak points, but it also boasts many of its strengths. It's certainly more Warriors than Zelda, but it makes excellent use of the source material, so it doesn't feel like Link's face was slapped on an unrelated title. Some may miss the Zelda dungeon-crawling and exploration, but Zelda and Warriors fans will find a lot to like here.
Come to Hyrule Warriors with a Dynasty Warriors mind, or with a fast-paced hack-n-slash mind. Then realize that deep down, you've always wanted to play a Zelda game like this just once. Don't worry, this is just a fun little diversion before the next "real" Zelda game drops on the Wii U.
As an introduction to the Dynasty Warriors template, Hyrule Warriors has gotten me deeply interested in the rest of Koei Tecmo's output. As a Zelda game, it honors all the little series details that players have found so endearing through the decades. As an action game, it is distilled fun.
Hyrule Warriors is a true crossover, not just a Zelda skin slapped onto a Warriors title. It's not the refined experience you get from The Legend of Zelda, but it's more involved than Dynasty Warriors. It's hack and slash fun that can scale with the player, mindless to skillful.
A fan service skin of a Zelda game, however good, is still just an impersonation. It's a mix that only occasionally works, and more often than not simply feels repetitive and out of place.
"Battlefield Hyrule."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Hyrule Warriors provides a nice distraction without being anything too compelling. For Zelda fans, it provides some nice fanservice but as a musuo it falls somewhat short, lacking the personality and charm of others – especially Fire Emblem Warriors.
While it’s a shame I won’t be able to share the experience with a friend without the game completely crapping out on itself, I will continue to enjoy this title and it’s unique take on the Zelda universe. Do I think it was worth a Limited Edition release? Probably not. But I would recommend this to any Dynasty Warriors, or Zelda fan for some great fun.