• Genre: Action, Adventure
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch
• Developer | Publisher: Koei Tecmo | Nintendo
• Age Rating: PEGI 12 | ESRB T (Teen)
• Price: UK £49.99 | US $59.99
• Release Date: 18th September 2020

I purchased the game myself, and can safely say that I’m unbiased in my opinions. This is a spoiler-free review, so read on with confidence!

Story

100 years before Breath of the Wild, we witness the events that unfold in Age of Calamity. Hyrule is on tenterhooks awaiting the arrival of Calamity Ganon. In the meantime, Hyrule is preparing itself, unearthing Sheikah technology to help them thwart the incoming Malice. Meanwhile, Princess Zelda, her personal Knight, Link and the four champions go on a quest to help Zelda unlock her dormant power. I’m assuming most of you have played Breath of the Wild. If so, you will know some of the events already, but playing through them is even better.

Without going into spoiler territory at all, I have to applaud Koei Tecmo with the story. With BOTW2 incoming, this sure is a nice filler before we get to play the most anticipated sequel to a Zelda game ever (in my opinion). Are there any subtle hints to BOTW 2? Well, play and find out and let your own speculative mind take you on a hell of a ride.

Gameplay

If you’ve played Hyrule Warriors (or any other Warriors games), be it on the Wii U, 3DS, or of course the Definitive Edition on the Switch, Age of Calamity is somewhat the same but miles better than Hyrule Warriors DE. It’s a typical hack-and-slash-and grind game, where you can defeat thousands upon thousands of Bokoblins and more monsters from the BOTW universe. Everything will be similar to many players however each character has their own play style, and when you upgrade them they can unleash some heavy combos!

Amongst the main quests and side missions, you will gain lots of materials, weapons, and food, recreating the ever so popular feature from BOTW, to gain buffs. You can upgrade weapons too, making them even more powerful for when the game starts throwing massive curve balls at you. For a game built on a repetitive platform, Age of Calamity is oddly refreshing. Of course, gameplay may feel restricted as the only controls are hitting X or Y, a shoulder button to use any equipped Sheikah ability, or the special move when you have filled the bar up.

Surprisingly, it still keeps you hooked.

Graphics, Sound, and Performance

Age of Calamity brings the Breath of The Wild visuals along on this hack-and-slash adventure. Everything Breath of the Wild did graphically, Age of Calamity has it. The defeated enemies even turn into a puff of Malice, and the sound effects and music score run exactly the same.

Performance can sometimes suffer when loads of stuff is happening on the screen all at once. I experienced it more than once, but it didn’t hinder me from progressing the game.

Conclusion

Age of Calamity is a somewhat delightful filler while we wait for Breath of The Wild 2. Not only that, but the game that provides a great story too. Being able to witness the battle of Hyrule, and getting to witness first hand the flashbacks via Hyrule Warriors Age of Calamity is a testament to the story telling team at Nintendo. If you watch fan theory videos regarding Zelda, such as Zeltik for example, and take into account all the info from past games and what Age of Calamity does, you can’t help but wonder what we’re going to see from the Zelda universe going forward.

Verdict
Age of Calamity is a must have game for any Zelda fans. Experiencing and witnessing the Calamity in full effect leaves you wanting more, and it’s very rare for games to do that to the player. The story is a roller-coaster ride, making you feel on edge, relived, and excited, sometimes all at once!