WhileHyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonmentcontinues 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 ofHyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. Just asAge of Calamityserved as a prequel toZelda: Breath of the Wild, it seems its successor,Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, will also get the same treatment following the announcement ofHyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. However, besides speculation about how canonicalAge of Imprisonmentwill be, the upcoming prequel faces other questions regarding its cast of characters.
As the lynch pin toAge 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 evenLink potentially missing fromAge of Imprisonment, theTears of the Kingdomprequel has yet to reveal or even confirm if it has a substitute for Terrako. As a result, this could suggest thatAge of Imprisonmentwill take a different approach toAge of Calamity, potentially overlooking characters like Terrako as it keeps to theZeldacanon.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Shouldn’t Ignore Characters Like Terrako
DespiteAge of Calamitywriting its own non-canonical story based onBreath of the Wild,Age of Imprisonmentmay set a new precedentfollowing Nintendo’s confirmation that the upcoming spin-off will be canonical to the mainlineZeldaseries. Fortunately, given the recurring use of time travel inTears of the Kingdom,Age of Calamity, and the broaderZeldaseries, this still leavesAge of Imprisonmentwith creative flexibility regarding its story, characters, and more. However, similar toTears of the Kingdom, with the Zonai and their technology likely replacing the Sheikah, it seems that Terrako won’t return inAge of Imprisonment.
Even if this is the case, though,Age of Imprisonmentshouldn’t miss out on supporting characterslike Terrako to balance out its story, gameplay, and overall experience, just as pastHyrule Warriorsgames have done. For instance, the likes of Linkle and Tingle in the originalHyrule Warriorsor Hestu and Monk Maz Koshia inAge of Calamityadded new playable characters based on but not integral toZeldaoverall. So while Terrako played a key role inAge of Calamity’s story, it also offered a lighter contrast toBreath 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 keyto fleshing out its story and gameplay, especially if the prequel remains canonically faithful toTears of the Kingdom. Therefore, beyond Princess Zelda, Rauru, Mineru, and the four Sages,Age of Imprisonmentwill 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 toBreath 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 thatAge of Imprisonmentcould 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 inAge of Calamity, her potential role asAge 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 duringAge of Imprisonmentcould balance and even enhancethe game’s tone and story withTears of the Kingdomwithout ultimately breakingZeldacanon.
