Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition Review Compilation

WiiU, 3DS, and now on the newest Nintendo system, the Switch is the Dynasty Warriors/Zelda hybrid Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition.  Last Friday, the newest re-release was available in North America.

Having been a fan of the Dynasty Warrior series and also a fan of the various Zelda iterations, I picked up the original release on WiiU on 2014.  The multiplayer aspect was my original focus, with the tablet controller also adding a certain convenience to the formula.

With so many releases, will the game become the next Skyrim, milked to eternity?  I don’t think so, but here’s what the critics think:

(Thanks to OpenCritic for the reviews)

 

 

 

Destructoid – Chris Carter – No Verdict

Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition is pushing it, given that there’s already been a portable “definitive” release with previous DLC and then some, but if you skipped out on the 3DS release entirely (because it ran poorly on non-“New” models) or haven’t played Hyrule in any form yet, it’s going to be a much more enticing prospect.

 

IGN – Casey DeFreitas – 7.5 / 10.0

Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition is a good-quality port of the Wii U game, but outside of much more stable performance and better local co-op it doesn’t add enough new content to make replaying the story mode interesting again if you’ve already tried it. Luckily, the Adventure Mode maps and 16 of the 31 unlockable characters are available from the start.

 

Gamespot – 8 / 10

Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition on Switch brings all the DLC from other platforms together for what is, in essence, a remaster of one of the best Zelda spin-offs.

Kotaku – Unscored

Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition is a Smash where Zelda is all of the Bros. It is bursting with the ghost of Nintendo’s sweetest past.

Nintendo Enthusiast – Brett Medlock – 8.5 / 10.0

Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition comes packed with a ton of content to sink your teeth into. The game is overflowing with fan-service that any Zelda fan can appreciate. With impressive cinematics, smooth combat, and loads of bonus content, this is best Hyrule Warriors has ever been.

Nintendo Life – Mitch Vogel – 8 / 10

All told, Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition is a great time-sink game, featuring mindless but fun action gameplay that offers up the potential for dozens – if not hundreds – of hours of content. Though it certainly feels like a game that’s too bloated in places, it manages to balance the Zelda and Dynasty Warriors elements well. Group all of that with stellar presentation and impressive portable gameplay, and you’ve got a game that does a great job of doing something new (and weird) with a classic Nintendo property. We’d give this one a recommendation, especially to fans of the Zelda series who have always wanted there to be some sort of ‘anniversary’ game. Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition may not have a ton of depth, but it’s way more fun than it has any right to be, and you’d be missing out by not picking up this complete edition.

 

 

 

TheSixthAxis – No Verdict

Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition takes a great game and makes it greater, though it’s fair to say that for anyone outside of Legend of Zelda or Warriors series fans it will undoubtedly feel less special.

TrustedReviews – 4 / 5 stars

Whether you’re an avid Zelda fan or casual Warriors player, there’s something for you to love here. The Switch is the perfect console for a Musou experience since this game is best enjoyed in short bursts; prolonged spells almost reveal the secret of its magic, leading to a more laborious experience.

USgamer – 4 / 5 stars

It’s an older release and the price tag is a little steep, but Hyrule Warriors is pitch-perfect musou gameplay with a heaping handful of Zelda fanservice. The former is still the most important part though, so you need to be a fan of musou titles to really get the most out of this game. If you are a fan though, Hyrule Warriors is one of the better entries and it runs well on Switch.