Last week Nintendo revealed the next long-awaited release in the Zelda series – Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity.
The upcoming title was announced in a 6-minute video, presented by its developers, including Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma and Hyrule Warriors series producer Yosuke Hayashi.
Age of Calamity follows the gameplay of 2014’s Hyrule Warriors; however, the story is set in the universe as Breath of the Wild, where players will be able to experience the events of the Great Calamity. Fans of the series will be excited to learn that the story in Age of Calamity will be canon to the series, taking place 100 years prior to BOTW.
While previous instalments in the Hyrule Warriors series have seen a somewhat distanced relationship between developers Omega Force and Nintendo, Age of Calamity promises to be a more collaborative effort.
“Unlike the previous Hyrule Warriors games, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity was developed by working closely with the Zelda team in every step of the process, including gameplay direction, graphics, world and all dialogue,” said Hayashi.
The gameplay appears to be similar to the first instalment of the Hyrule Warriors series. Players will be tasked with battling through swarms of enemies to defend Hyrule.
Additionally, there will be environmental puzzles to solve, weapons and skills to unlock, and materials to craft. The Sheikah Slate, which fans will recognise from BOTW, will also reappear.
Players will be able to play not only as Link and Zelda, but also as the four champions from BOTW for the first time.
While Age of Calamity looks amazing, for fans hoping to be promised a main-entry instalment in the Zelda series, producer Eiji Aonuma says: “You’ll have to wait a bit longer.”
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch on 20th November.
