WithHyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonmenttaking fans back in time to showcase the events of the Imprisoning War, new plotlines and characters seem just around the corner. But someTears of the Kingdomcharacters still hold mysteries that might also be answered inHyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. The upcoming thirdHyrule Warriorsgame,Age of Imprisonment, will take players back in time with Princess Zelda as she fights in the war to imprison Ganondorf. The legendary Imprisoning War took center stage inTears of the Kingdomas Link learned about how Ganondorf rose to power and was left sealed beneath Hyrule Castle by the founding King of Hyrule and his allies.
Princess Zelda, King Rauru, and the sages who held the secret stones are currently the only confirmed playable characters forAge of Imprisonment. It’s only natural that the sages who played such an important role in Imprisoning Ganondorf are included, but little was actually revealed about them inTears of the Kingdom. With a big part to play inAge of Imprisonment, these nameless masked figures might finally be given the attention they deserve, makingAge of Imprisonmenta must-play game forTears of the Kingdomfans.
Age of Imprisonment Needs to Expand on the Story of the Original Sages
So far, the story of the imprisoning war is that Ganondorf rose to power as Gerudo King, tried to take power over all of Hyrule, but was stopped by Zelda and her allies. As such, Zelda and Rauru are the only two playable characters inAge of Imprisonmentwith whom players have a strong connection. Some players may feel a connection to Mineru, the sage of spirit and Rauru’s sister, due to her flashback appearances inTears of the Kingdom, but the other sages are essentially a blank slate. Aside from their races and descendants, almost nothing is known about the Gerudo, Rito, Zora, and Goron sages,leavingAge of Imprisonment’s roster questionable. Unlike the champions of the past inAge of Calamity, these sages have no proper characterization. In order to feel like they have earned a spot on the roster, and for players to feel connected to them, the story of these sages must be revealed inAge of Imprisonment.
Age of Calamity, the lastHyrule Warriorsgame, had a similar problem with its roster, but solved the issue by usingZelda’s common time travel tropeto bring characters fromBreath of the Wildinto the story. Some are expecting a similar twist inAge of Imprisonment, but it could be a risky move, as the time travel inAge of Calamitywas met with some controversy. However, if time travel doesn’t bring players more characters whom they already know, it will make it even more important to expand on the history and importance of the characters they will get to control.
What Else to Expect from Age Of Imprisonment’s Roster
The major draw ofAge of Imprisonmentis that fans will get to experience what Zelda went through after she disappeared inTears of the Kingdom’s opening moments. This allows for an expanded version of her story, adding important lore to the history of Hyrule. WithAge of Imprisonmentconfirmed to becanon to theZeldauniverse, any new characters would need to hold an important place within the established lore.
One way to hype players up for the expanded story might be used in the Switch 2 version ofTears of the Kingdom. TheZeldanotes app, only usable with the Switch 2 versions of the games, addsvoice memories toTears of the KingdomandBreath of the Wild. With new lore being added to these games, it gives developers a chance to tease new characters who could appear inAge of Imprisonment.
Some fans are hopeful thatTears of the Kingdom’s sages could be playable inAge of Imprisonment, accompanied by Link. It’s even possible that Zonai constructs could be reworked to fit the roster. No matter who else joins, though, the original sages will be central toAge of Imprisonment’s story, and must receive the attention that they’re due.
