In a surprise trailer drop, Legend of Zelda fans got their first look at Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity on Tuesday. The announcement caught almost all fans off guard as there hadn't been any previous news about Age of Calamity revealed before. Judging by the trailer, the game seems to take place hundreds of years before the events of Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Players will get the chance to live out the cataclysmic events that led up to the most recent Zelda title.
At first glance, many might think Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is the highly anticipated Breath of the Wild, but it is actually a sequel to 2014's Hyrule Warriors. The original game was a Dynasty Warriors spin-off starring many of the iconic characters from the Zelda series. The game was non-canonical and separate from the rest of the Zelda universe with its own original story. The original Hyrule Warriors was basically just a hack and slash beat 'em up where players would defeat hordes of enemies with unique weapons and outlandish attacks. Age of Calamity seems to be a much different game.
While the core theme of the original Hyrule Warriors game - hacking and slashing through waves of enemies - looks to still be intact, Age of Calamity follows a canonical plot that is actually rooted in the Zelda universe. It will serve as a Breath of the Wild and help fill in some of the game's story gaps. Judging by the trailer, players will get the chance to take control of each of the four champions from Breath of the Wild, Revali, Daruk, Mipha, and Urbosa, as well as Link and Zelda. Age of Calamity should help answer some unsolved questions from Breath of the Wild like, how did Link nearly die? Where was the King of Hyrule when Calamity Ganon attacked? What specifically forced Zelda to trap herself with Calamity Ganon? And, why does Revali hate Link so much?
Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Calamity Is Not Breath Of The Wild 2
Considering what is already known about Breath of the Wild 2, the sequel takes place after the events of the first game. Breath of the Wild 2's only trailer shows Zelda and Link exploring the catacombs of Hyrule, when the accidentally revive the corpse of Ganondorf and Hyrule Castle begins to rise from the ground. Age of Calamity could be a major lead in to BOTW 2 because it may contain important background information. It might be a stretch, but perhaps Age of Calamity will explain why Ganondrof's body is tucked away in the catacombs of Hyrule or what might be hiding beneath Hyrule Castle.
It's been rumored BOTW 2 may take place before and after the events of the Great Calamity, allowing players to explore Hyrule as it was hundreds of years before BOTW. If this rumor turns out to be false, Age of Calamity should give players the opportunity to experience futuristic Hyrule while it was still in one piece. Players may also get the chance to learn where all of the ancient shrines came from and see what the Sheikah Monks looked like hundreds of years in the past.
It's fairly disappointing that there hasn't been any news about Breath of the Wild 2 since it's initial, and only, trailer was released over a year ago, but at least Legend of Zelda fans will have Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity to hold them over in the meantime. Players will be able to experience the events of the Great Calamity once Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is released on November, 20th. This seems like a must-have title for any Breath of the Wild fan.
