Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment May Lack a Piece of…

While Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment continues the prequel trend begun by its predecessor, it still seems to be missing one key character or feature integral to both the story and the charm of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. Just as Age of Calamity served as a prequel to Zelda: Breath of the Wild, it seems its successor, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, will also get the same treatment following the announcement of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. However, besides speculation about how canonical Age of Imprisonment will be, the upcoming prequel faces other questions regarding its cast of characters.

As the lynch pin to Age of Calamity's story by traveling through time and averting Calamity Ganon's destruction of Hyrule, the diminutive Guardian Terrako was an all-new and standout character. But with the likes of Sheikah technology, Guardians, and even Link potentially missing from Age of Imprisonment, the Tears of the Kingdom prequel has yet to reveal or even confirm if it has a substitute for Terrako. As a result, this could suggest that Age of Imprisonment will take a different approach to Age of Calamity, potentially overlooking characters like Terrako as it keeps to the Zelda canon.

After Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, the Sub-Series Should Return to its Roots

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment looks interesting, but it should return to its original vision sooner rather than later.

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By Nick Rodriguez

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Shouldn't Ignore Characters Like Terrako

Despite Age of Calamity writing its own non-canonical story based on Breath of the Wild, Age of Imprisonment may set a new precedent following Nintendo's confirmation that the upcoming spin-off will be canonical to the mainline Zelda series. Fortunately, given the recurring use of time travel in Tears of the Kingdom, Age of Calamity, and the broader Zelda series, this still leaves Age of Imprisonment with creative flexibility regarding its story, characters, and more. However, similar to Tears of the Kingdom, with the Zonai and their technology likely replacing the Sheikah, it seems that Terrako won't return in Age of Imprisonment.

Even if this is the case, though, Age of Imprisonment shouldn't miss out on supporting characters like Terrako to balance out its story, gameplay, and overall experience, just as past Hyrule Warriors games have done. For instance, the likes of Linkle and Tingle in the original Hyrule Warriors or Hestu and Monk Maz Koshia in Age of Calamity added new playable characters based on but not integral to Zelda overall. So while Terrako played a key role in Age of Calamity's story, it also offered a lighter contrast to Breath of the Wild's darker elements and could even be unlocked as a playable character as a post-game reward.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment's Character Roster Has Historic Potential

Between those already confirmed and those rumored to appear, Age of Imprisonment's character roster could be key to fleshing out its story and gameplay, especially if the prequel remains canonically faithful to Tears of the Kingdom. Therefore, beyond Princess Zelda, Rauru, Mineru, and the four Sages, Age of Imprisonment will need to capitalize on the uncertain history of the Imprisoning War in order to establish additional characters to balance out this roster. While this could explore the Knights of Hyrule or other ancestors to Breath of the Wild's and its sequel's characters, it should also feature Terrako-inspired alternatives.

The Zonai Should Influence Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment's Characters

Beyond the likelihood that Age of Imprisonment could substitute Sheikah Guardians with Soldier, Captain, and Flux Constructs as enemies and bosses, the Zonai's technology could provide Terrako's possible replacement. Given the relationship between Terrako and Princess Zelda in Age of Calamity, her potential role as Age of Imprisonment's protagonist might benefit from a Zonai construct inspired by the diminutive Guardian. Introducing a new Zonai Construct as the Princess's companion during Age of Imprisonment could balance and even enhance the game's tone and story with Tears of the Kingdom without ultimately breaking Zelda canon.