Hyrule Warriors is a fantasy fighting game in which the main player battles thousands of opponents in an attempt to reclaim territory and save the kingdom.
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Story & Themes
Hyrule Warriors shares characters, settings, and mythology with The Legend of Zelda series.
Princess Zelda, the leader of Hyrule, is walking through her soldier's training grounds with her handmaiden and personal guard Impa when her castle comes under attack from dark forces. During the ensuing battle, the foot soldier Link is revealed to be the reincarnation of the Hero of Hyrule, and Princess Zelda vanishes (presumably kidnapped by the enemy). Impa and Link, along with the good witch Lana and the mysterious warrior Sheik, go on a mission to rescue Zelda and defeat the sorceress Cia, who was behind the attack on the castle. Cia was once good, but she became corrupted after experiencing unrequited love for the eternal spirit of the Hero of Hyrule (AKA Link).
Before the allies can stop her, Cia casts a spell that opens numerous portals into the past. The allies split up and go into the past to defeat her forces and close the portals. While in the past, the allies encounter numerous characters from previous Legend of Zelda games, including Princess Ruto, Darunia, Navi, Fi, Ghirahim, Midna, and Zant. The allies discover that Cia is being manipulated by the evil Ganondorf, and after defeating her and her forces they must return to the battlefield to end the fight with their true enemy.
Save Points
Hyrule Warriors can be saved at any time, however it is a high-intensity game, and so stopping suddenly in the middle of a mission can be very frustrating. Each level takes approximately half an hour to an hour to complete, and these make very good stopping points.
Difficulty
Some levels are incredibly difficult, but completing challenges and collecting items can be quite simple. Any game mode can be played co-op or single-player, so having a second player by your side makes the game easier for both of you. If one player is more advanced than another, the advanced player can beat the main missions by themself while the beginner player focuses on smaller, helpful tasks in the background.
Heads Up!
Violence Hyrule Warriors is all about battlefield attacks. The player is able to defeat dozens of enemies with a single move. Enemies cry out and fly backwards when attacked. There is no blood or gore, and enemies vanish in a puff of smoke when they are defeated. When a major ally or enemy is defeated, they are referred to as "fleeing."
Scary Imagery Some of the boss battles are a little creepy, but there is nothing seriously scary. However, the gameplay is incredibly fast-paced and action-heavy, which may intimidate young players.
Sex & Nudity Some of the female characters are wearing very impractical and revealing outfits. There is one notable close-up of the most exposed female character's breasts and rear end.
Consumerism Hyrule Warriors references lots of other Zelda games, which might get your kid interested in trying them out. It also has accompanying DLC (downloadable content), which costs $20 and unlocks bonus levels and character costumes. Further, it is compatible with Nintendo amiibo figures, which cost approximately $13 each.
Discrimination There are lots of playable female characters, many of whom have interesting story lines and strong personalities. These women are never questioned on the battlefield. However, some of them are written to be incredibly shallow and giggly, more so than their male counterparts. One of the game's main antagonists displays an acute and frustrating lack of female agency.
No characters are explicitly described as LGBTQ, and the ethnic diversity is lacking.
Conversation Starters
- Do you like being able to play as a female character?
- Do you think this game would be fun for someone who hasn't played a Zelda game before?
- Why do you think Cia is wearing such a revealing outfit?
- Do you feel like you understand Link's personality, even though he never speaks?
- How do you feel about fighting against Gorons?
- What's the most effective way to beat a level of this game?
- Why do you think the Great Fairy giggles and beckons the player with her finger, even though she's in the middle of a battle sequence?
- Do you find Cia's character to be annoying? Why?
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