TGS2015: Hands-on with Hyrule Warriors Legends, the Zelda-flavoured Dynasty Warriors spinoff
Hyrule hack 'n' slash
I'm pretty sure every gamer out there has heard of the Dynasty Warriors series by now. It's hit just about every platform in the past twenty-odd years, and as time goes on it's receiving more and more spin-offs.
The latest, as most Zelda fans will have already heard, is Hyrule Warriors on the Wii U. Dynasty Warriors mechanics, with characters from The Legend of Zelda series. It shouldn't work, but it does.
The good news for handheld fans is that Hyrule Warriors is making its way to 3DS too, as Hyrule Warriors Legends.
I have to say, it's slightly odd to see a Nintendo character featured so heavily on the Tokyo Game Show floor considering Nintendo hasn't attended in quite a long time, but Link's always been welcome here.
This version includes almost all the content and DLC from the original, alongside some all-new content. Tetra, The King of Hyrule, and Toon Link will be playable characters in this version, and there's a Wind Waker Legend mode and three new stages just for them.
The main Legend and Adventure modes will be returning, although the Challenge mode DLC hasn't been confirmed just yet.
Hyrule Warriors Legends feels right at home on the 3DS. The controls are just as responsive as the Wii U version, and it run smooth as butter on New 3DS units.
Speaking of New 3DS units, some of you may be disappointed to hear the stereoscopic 3D view won't work on older 3D models. Not that any of us ever play in 3D... right?
One big change to the original is the addition of the character switch mechanic from Samurai Warriors Chronicles, although this addition does mean AI has been tuned to fight a little more aggressively to even the playing field. You can now warp back to owl statues by using your Ocarina too.
There'll still be amiibo support for access to Twilight Princess's Spinner item, as well as daily weapons if you're into that sort of thing.
While we're talking weapons, Link's trusty Hammer bolsters Hyrule Warriors's armoury in this 3DS version, and it seems like a most worthy addition so far.
Hyrule Warriors Legends will be arriving on 3DS in Japan on January 21st, 2016, with the western release following some time in the first quarter of 2016.
