How Much Gameplay Is In Age of Calamity? A Deep Dive
Figuring out just how much gameplay you can squeeze out of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is a common question for potential players. The answer, while seemingly straightforward, has several layers depending on your playstyle and completionist tendencies. In short, if you’re focusing purely on the main objectives, you’re looking at approximately 24½ hours of gameplay. However, if you’re a gamer who aims for full completion, experiencing every nook and cranny the game has to offer, you can easily clock in around 76 hours or even more. This substantial difference highlights the game’s flexibility and the wealth of content it offers beyond its core narrative. Let’s explore these aspects in more detail.
Main Story vs. Completionist Playthrough
The core narrative of Age of Calamity consists of around 20 story missions (not counting the Blood Moon missions), and while these provide a solid foundation for the game, they only represent a fraction of the total content. Focusing exclusively on these missions will get you through the game relatively quickly, but you’ll miss out on a substantial amount of gameplay.
A completionist playthrough, on the other hand, involves engaging with the game’s myriad of side missions, challenges, and unlockables. This dramatically increases the playtime, pushing it closer to the 76-hour mark. This approach allows you to fully experience the strategic depth of the game, level up all the characters, gather resources, and unlock all the special features. The balancing of the game encourages this approach since focusing solely on the main story can leave you under-leveled.
The Significance of Side Missions
One of the biggest contributors to the extended playtime is the sheer volume of side missions available. There are over 150 side missions in Age of Calamity, and these are far from inconsequential. These missions not only offer opportunities to level up characters but also provide crucial materials that are necessary for upgrading and unlocking features. These quests can vary from battling large groups of monsters to rescuing allies on the battlefield. These missions ensure that players are constantly engaged, learning new skills and experiencing various scenarios. Failing to interact with side missions risks not only your growth but also a missed chance to see a large variety of the game’s content.
Other Factors Affecting Playtime
Several other elements contribute to the overall playtime of Age of Calamity. These include:
- Character Leveling: Reaching the maximum character level of 100, even with DLC, requires considerable time and effort, especially since the game does not permit level farming as quickly as one might think. You must complete a wide range of missions to max them out.
- Unlocking Playable Characters: Many playable characters, including Calamity Ganon, need to be unlocked through specific challenges and story progression. This extends playtime and encourages exploration of all of the game’s content.
- The Expansion Pass DLC: The Expansion Pass adds new characters, stages, and missions to the game. Players who purchase this will find their total play time increased even more.
- Weapon and Resource Grinding: While weapons don’t break like in Breath of the Wild, obtaining specific weapons and resources often involves replaying levels or engaging in specific challenges.
- Post-Game Content: The post-game is a bit of a grind, but many find that rewarding due to the challenges it presents and the ability to unlock new content such as the secret ending.
Replayability and Endgame
Age of Calamity doesn’t end when you finish the main story. The game has substantial post-game content that includes new challenges, the ability to unlock and play as Calamity Ganon, and even a secret ending that requires completing specific quests and challenges. This encourages players to go back to familiar levels and explore new characters and abilities.
This endgame content and the different playstyles available ensure the game has a high level of replayability. Whether you want to experiment with different character builds, try out various playstyles, or simply strive for 100% completion, Age of Calamity has plenty to offer long after you’ve finished the main story.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Age of Calamity’s gameplay length varies greatly depending on the player’s approach. A focused run through the main story will take you roughly 24½ hours, while a completionist playthrough can easily take 76 hours or more. This is thanks to the game’s wealth of side missions, character progression systems, post-game content, and DLC. This robust offering ensures that the game can provide hundreds of hours of enjoyment for players who fully engage with all it has to offer. Whether you’re a hardcore Zelda fan or just looking for a fun action game, Age of Calamity provides a wide range of content to satisfy many different play styles.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many story missions are in Age of Calamity?
There are approximately 20 main story missions in Age of Calamity, excluding the Blood Moon missions.
2. Is Age of Calamity a difficult game?
Age of Calamity is not a particularly difficult game, but neglecting side missions can make the game harder by leaving you under-leveled.
3. Does Age of Calamity have puzzle-solving elements?
Unlike traditional Zelda games, Age of Calamity focuses heavily on action and combat rather than puzzle-solving or dungeon crawling.
4. Is Age of Calamity canon to the Zelda series?
No, Age of Calamity is considered non-canon due to its altered timeline compared to previously established canon.
5. How many side missions are there in Age of Calamity?
There are over 150 side missions in Age of Calamity, significantly extending the playtime.
6. Is the combat repetitive in Age of Calamity?
The action in Age of Calamity is repetitive, but some players might find it relaxing and comfortable, rather than monotonous.
7. Is Age of Calamity a sequel to Breath of the Wild?
No, Age of Calamity is a prequel to Breath of the Wild, set 100 years before its events, focusing on the events of the Calamity.
8. How does Age of Calamity differ from Breath of the Wild in gameplay?
Age of Calamity is a musou-style game with large-scale battles, while Breath of the Wild is an open-world adventure with more exploration and puzzle-solving elements.
9. Do weapons break in Age of Calamity?
No, weapons do not break in Age of Calamity, unlike in Breath of the Wild.
10. What is the hardest mission in Age of Calamity?
The “Siege of Fort Hateno” on VERY HARD mode is considered one of the most challenging missions in the game.
11. How many DLC packs does Age of Calamity have?
Age of Calamity has two DLC packs available in the Expansion Pass, adding new content to the game.
12. What is the max level in Age of Calamity?
The maximum character level in Age of Calamity is 100, even with the DLCs.
13. Can you play as Ganon in Age of Calamity?
Yes, you can play as Calamity Ganon after completing the required challenges and post-game content.
14. How do you unlock Calamity Ganon?
To unlock Calamity Ganon you must complete all other playable characters and then defeat him in the “Versus Calamity Ganon” challenge.
15. Does Age of Calamity have multiple endings?
Yes, Age of Calamity has a secret ending that is unlocked by progressing far into the post-game content after the main story.