If you haven’t heard of Nintendo’s Dynasty Warriors and Legend of Zelda crossover yet, you’ve been missing out. The unlikely mix has a set release date for September 26th, and Nintendo has just released a bunch of new content to promote the game. Check out this trailer for a peek- it shows off a bunch of the characters, with a roster that includes a diverse cast from across the entire series, including Zelda, Ruto, Midna, and even antagonists like Ghirahim. Are your nostalgia senses tingling yet?
In addition to Dynasty Warrior’s typical brand of hack and slash gameplay, Hyrule Warriors also seems to incorporate a retro map, puzzle solving and boss battles much like the typical Zelda RPGs. It’s worth mentioning that Tecmo Koei is actually overseeing the development of Hyrule Warriors, and it’s therefore prudent to think of this as a fun spin-off rather than a full-fledged Zelda title. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that, and it allows Tecmo a degree of freedom in their representation of the Legend of Zelda lore.
First and foremost, many of these characters will be playable for the first time in Hyrule Warriors. Zelda and Sheik have both been in Smash Bros. forever, but how about Impa, Agitha and Fi? I for one am glad to see so many female characters in an action game, even if it is ostensibly because Link has always been the hero with a rotating cast of female heroines behind him.
The game rocks a clean and polished graphical style. It’s no Skyward Sword, but characters look crisp and colorful against the game’s background. Effects for combos look great, and the combat is what really makes me itch to play this. Just watch this showcase of Sheik to figure out what I mean:
Does that not look incredibly awesome to you? The Dynasty Warrior games have always held a place close to my heart, despite their ridiculous design sense and repetitive gameplay. It’s just a great feeling to mow down entire armies single-handedly and being able to do it with flair. And that’s just single-player- the game becomes a lot more fun when you tackle it with someone else in co-op, and Hyrule Warriors does not look like any exception to the rule. It goes without saying that Sheik is my favourite so far, with sword & shield Zelda following close behind. This is just one more reason to grab a Wii U this year, folks. Between Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros and Hyrule Warriors, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better party system.
Find more information on the Hyrule Warrior’s official website.
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