Zelda: Age of Imprisonment Review — Breaking Chains, Not Records

NFD NEWS
Nov 6
2 min read

Score: 7/10

The Legend of Zelda: Age of Imprisonment is a striking and somber evolution of Nintendo’s most storied franchise. It trades open-air freedom for confined desperation, setting its story in a world where the hero’s courage is literally bound — and Hyrule teeters between divine punishment and fading hope.

This darker tone immediately distinguishes Age of Imprisonment from its predecessors. Gone are the lush, sunlit valleys of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom; in their place are gothic ruins, cursed temples, and a soundtrack that bleeds melancholy through every echo of its chains. The story is intimate and painful — Link, imprisoned and stripped of his powers, must rely on Zelda’s fragmented spirit to navigate a kingdom collapsing under celestial judgment.

Combat introduces the “Chain System,” allowing Link to bind enemies, parry attacks mid-swing, or use environmental hooks for traversal. It’s one of the most creative mechanical additions since the introduction of stamina and weapon degradation. Boss encounters, especially “The Warden of Silence” and “The Crimson Jailor,” showcase inventive multi-phase fights that reward timing and tactical movement.

Exploration, however, suffers under the game’s new structure. The once-expansive Hyrule feels claustrophobic in design, divided by restricted zones and repetitive dungeon layouts. The narrative pacing falters midway, with prolonged escort missions and heavy exposition sequences that interrupt the game’s rhythm. Some side quests lack meaningful rewards, and several technical hiccups — from camera clipping during chain combat to minor frame dips in densely detailed areas — break immersion.

Pros:

• Atmospheric Mastery: A grim yet breathtaking artistic vision, with somber color palettes, dynamic lighting, and haunting musical motifs that give every location emotional gravity.

• Innovative Combat System: The Chain System offers strategic freedom, emphasizing precision, physics interaction, and environmental control rarely seen in the series.

• Emotional Storytelling: A grounded, introspective narrative about guilt, redemption, and sacrifice, anchored by one of the strongest portrayals of Zelda to date.

• Boss Encounters: Each major boss introduces mechanics that build on both narrative symbolism and mechanical mastery, offering layered, cinematic duels.

Cons:

• Pacing Issues: The mid-game lulls with repeated objectives and forced stealth or escort sequences that undercut the urgency of the main story.

• Limited Exploration: Overworld design feels constrained, sacrificing player agency for narrative focus, resulting in less memorable environmental discovery.

• Technical Flaws: Occasional performance dips and camera issues disrupt the fluidity of combat and traversal.

• Uneven Rewards: Side quests and crafting lack incentive beyond lore fragments, weakening progression satisfaction.

Final Verdict:

Age of Imprisonment is a bold but imperfect reinvention — a Zelda that values atmosphere over adventure, emotion over exploration. It’s a haunting experience that dares to strip away freedom to explore the cost of heroism itself. Though weighed down by uneven pacing and limited world design, it achieves moments of brilliance through its storytelling, boss design, and visual melancholy. This is not the open-air wonder of Breath of the Wild; it’s a deliberate descent into consequence — and a reminder that even heroes can be bound by their own legend.