Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment releases in two days, but Nintendo has hit the first wave of reviews with some unusual restrictions. It's standard for game reviews to be unleashed under specific embargo guidelines, which might request that reviews avoid certain key spoilers. In this case, however, the requirements seem a little stricter.
An IGN article claims that reviews ahead of launch have to refrain "from discussing any non-public story details whatsoever" and establishes the site's decision to hold its review until launch to avoid these restrictions. On Bluesky, Polygon editor Giovanni Colantonio confirmed his similar intent, noting that he's "holding publish until launch day" to "offer a more substantive critique."
A protective approach is nothing new for Nintendo, as the company tends to be more cautious than others when handing out review keys. Reviewers with launch model Switches, for example, were often denied access to first-party Switch games. Upholding strict review requirements fits with Nintendo's broader model of conservative business practices, which are often the subject of controversy among fans.
There are still plenty of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment reviews to read ahead of launch, including Screen Rant's review of the game, which praises its visual...
