Return to violent Hyrule.
In my years reviewing games, I have taken on my fair share of the Warriors franchise. When Nintendo and Omega Force combined, well, forces to bring us Hyrule Warriors, I was all-in. The mixture of one of my beloved series and the combat of the Warriors series just meshed so well. I completed every scenario, I unlocked the entire adventure map, I spent more time playing that game than probably all my other experiences with the franchise combined. I adored it. When Nintendo announced they were bringing it back on Switch, it was just one more step towards retiring the Wii U completely.
Hyrule Warriors Definitive Edition is basically the same game as on Wii U with a few new bells and whistles. For the full rundown check out our review of the Wii U original here. For what is new and noteworthy, read on!
MSRP: $59.99
Platforms: Switch
Price I’d Pay: $59.99
There are a few new features in this version that make playing it solo much more tolerable. I can now switch between characters by using the d-pad. I can also direct my AI teammates around the battlefield at the touch of a button. No substitute for playing with a friend, but it works. Speaking of that, with the Switch design I could simply pop off a Joycon and invite a friend to join up with me. This is still the best way to enjoy Hyrule Warriors, and making it easier on Switch is great.
The Adventure mode has also been expanded with new maps themed after other Zelda titles. There is also a fairy mechanic that allowed me to capture and dress up various flying companions. It is a little weird, but also extremely addictive. Finally, there are owl statues scattered across the world that let me teleport around levels. Combine all that with all the playable characters unlocked from the get-go, and this game deserves its “definitive” moniker.
Hyrule Warriors on Switch is a bit sharper than its Wii U counterpart when it comes to visuals. Make no mistake though, this is still the same musou game running on the same engine. That means the texture pop-in and occasional bouts of slowdown are bound to happen. This never detracts from the game though. This is still the most colorful in the Warriors series, and of course using assets from Zelda never hurts anything.
There isn’t much else new here, and while it was fun diving back into my favorite game in the series, there simply isn’t enough here to warrant double-dipping. Most of the changes are quality-of-life features or things I simply found understated. The story mode is still a slog to get through. Adventure mode being expanded is about the best addition, but when most of the unlockable characters are already unlocked, it loses some of its appeal.
If you missed out on this game on Wii U I cannot recommend it enough. However, if you are like me and already sank double-digit hours into the original, you will find it hard to justify another $60 for this game.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
