Hyrule Warriors Reviews
Visiting familiar Zelda locations and wiping out hundreds of enemies offers brief but satisfying bursts of mindless enjoyment, just don't expect to be engaged in the same way as a full series release.
Omega Force superbly balances the beat 'em all combat of Dynasty Warriors with the enchanting world of The Legend of Zelda. With a meaty combat system and tons of stuff to uncover, Hyrule Warriors is a mad idea that should logically get old after an hour, but never does. It's a novelty that can't quit being novel, and I love it to death.
Hyrule Warriors is a different kind of Zelda game. That doesn't mean it's any less fun. Amazing production values, addictive gameplay, a rich story and an overall sense of extreme quality, polish and confidence make Hyrule Warriors much more than a mere spinoff.
I kept coming back wanting to play more, even after unlocking almost everything the game had to offer. That is the ultimate compliment I can pay to the latest exclusive title on the Wii U. Fans of Zelda and musou games, this is a no-brainer, but for anyone else on the fence, it is definitely a game worth checking out.
Misses one too many marks
Hyrule Warriors ought not to work – it smacks of Nintendo's desperation to get any sort of game out for its overlooked machine – but it will certainly delight the faithful fans, and manages to remain utterly true to the world of Zelda while offering really fresh-feeling gameplay. It's far from perfect, and won't win any awards, but has the attributes required to gain cult status in the years to come. If you have a Wii U, it's a must-buy.
It is The Legend of Zelda meets Dynasty Warriors in this fast-paced field combat game. Nina Raze finds a brilliant combination where you might not have expected it.
It's certainly not perfect, but Hyrule Warriors' combat and treatment of the typically sterile Zelda franchise is just big, dumb, loud fun.
'Hyrule Warriors' delivers plenty of fan service for 'The Legend of Zelda' fans but fails to provide a compelling reason to keep playing.
Despite all its problems, Hyrule Warriors is a ton of fun to play, and provides far more flexibility and variety than expected
If you love all things Zelda and your button-mashing thumbs aren't yet sore, then Hyrule Warriors is definitely one for your collection. Otherwise, you're not missing much if you skip it.
Hyrule Warriors has little in common with a traditional Zelda game. You don't solve any puzzles, you don't explore any dungeons, and you certainly don't break into anyone's house and destroy all of their pottery. Still, it definitely works as a spin-off that focuses almost entirely on action. It's fun to see Link and friends battle with the kind of glitz and glamour you'd expect from an episode of Sailor Moon or Dragon Ball Z. I'm not saying I'd want that in a real Zelda installment, but it works in this surprisingly engaging off-shoot.
Hyrule Warriors is fun, pays decent fan service, and uses the Dynasty Warriors template well.
Hyrule Warriors is a success. It enables Nintendo to explore the Zelda cast and world in large scale conflicts, while also offering fans an avenue for rampant nostalgia. The game only falls down due to the documented trappings of the Warriors franchise and the fault of being the first of its line, even though it does make some brave attempts to improve on the template with this. If you have a penchant for the world of Nintendo's Hylian hero, and don't mind the repetition of its design, then Hyrule Warriors undeniably offers an entertaining and satisfying way to engage in large scale quasi-tactical Hyrulian combat.
Hyrule Warriors meets and exceeds any expectations set for the game. It offers a ton of gameplay through unlockables and various modes, and will entertain with its Zelda fan-service. However the gamplay is still repetitive and non-fans will likely want to avoid.
Hyrule Warriors offers an intriguing blend of both the Zelda and Dynasty Warriors series, making for an experience that fans of either series can thoroughly enjoy. It stays true to the Zelda series' lore, sights and sounds, and combines it with the fast-paced, button-mashing action the Dynasty Warriors series is so well-known for.
When played in short sessions, Hyrule Warriors is mindless fun that celebrates the rich history of the Zelda series. However, your long term enjoyment of this game boils down to how much you like Dynasty Warriors, or hack-and-slash games in general, and whether or not you care about exuberant amounts of Zelda fan service. It more than delivers on both these points, but if either one of these is a turn off, this likely isn't the experience for you.
Hyrule Warriors can fall into the same trappings as any hack and slash, but the amount of effort that went into making it enjoyable for Zelda fans is staggering. This is one of the best couch co-op games I've ever played, warts and all.
Hyrule Warriors benefits from allowing the Zelda series to take some big risks. Even if the graphics and gameplay feel like a generation late and a few stellar dungeon designs short, I'd like more third-party developers to pitch projects like this as each leaves me more hopeful that Nintendo consoles won't have rely on strictly first-party wares.
Hyrule Warriors is basically a one-note experience, but it hits that note with perfect pitch. The Zelda universe works better as a musou button-masher than you might expect, and much of that success is down to Tecmo's obvious love for the subject matter. This isn't a patch on what we've seen of the next "true" Zelda, but it should tide fans over quite nicely until that one arrives.