Is Age of Calamity the Sequel to Breath of the Wild?
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The short answer is: no, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is not a direct sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BotW). While it might initially seem that way, given its setting and characters, it’s crucial to understand the nuanced relationship between these two games. Age of Calamity is actually a prequel to BotW, and a sequel to 2014’s Hyrule Warriors, functioning as a spin-off that dives into the events of the Great Calamity that are only referenced in BotW. This might sound complicated, and it is, so let’s delve deeper into the specifics.
Understanding the Timeline Connections
The Prequel Perspective
Age of Calamity is primarily set 100 years before the events of Breath of the Wild. It revisits the era of the Great Calamity, depicting the war that led to Hyrule’s downfall. This provides players with firsthand accounts of events that BotW only showed through glimpses of memories and historical accounts. Instead of continuing Link’s story after the events of BotW, players actually experience the backstory to BotW, exploring the lives of the Champions and the battles they fought against the encroaching forces of Calamity Ganon.
A Different Timeline
However, Age of Calamity is more than just a historical retelling. Due to a key plot element involving a small guardian traveling through time, the events in Age of Calamity actually branch off into a separate timeline than BotW. This means that the outcomes in Age of Calamity are not strictly canonical to BotW. Instead of the timeline leading directly to the ruined Hyrule seen in Breath of the Wild, Age of Calamity creates a divergent path, where certain crucial characters survive, and the devastating impact of the Calamity is altered.
The ‘Sequel’ Element
It is important to also acknowledge why there is confusion to its placement in the Zelda timeline. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is a sequel to Hyrule Warriors, which originally debuted in 2014. This makes it a spin-off sequel in the Dynasty Warriors-style “Musou” series using the Legend of Zelda IP. Age of Calamity improves upon the gameplay of its predecessor while simultaneously telling the story of the Great Calamity that’s crucial to the world of Breath of the Wild. This is why it could also be considered a prequel in terms of the overall Zelda narrative.
Key Differences Between the Games
The main difference between BotW and Age of Calamity is that the latter has different gameplay mechanics. BotW is a massive open-world adventure with physics-based puzzles and exploration, where Age of Calamity is a fast-paced hack-and-slash game in the style of Dynasty Warriors. While Age of Calamity draws heavy inspiration from BotW’s characters and visual style, it provides an experience focused on combat-driven gameplay and narrative storytelling, rather than the more exploration-oriented play style of BotW.
Age of Calamity’s story and gameplay are also distinctly different. In Age of Calamity, players get to experience how events transpired during the Great Calamity. This includes seeing the Champions before the Great Calamity occurred. It allows you to play as characters like Link, Zelda, and the four Champions while also providing a perspective on character development and narrative that players may have longed for after playing through Breath of the Wild.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Age of Calamity a Zelda game?
Yes, but not in the traditional sense. It’s a Zelda spin-off that features many of the same characters and setting as other Zelda games. However, its gameplay style is more akin to a Dynasty Warriors title than the classic Zelda action-adventure format.
2. Is Age of Calamity canon?
No, Age of Calamity is considered non-canon. This is because it establishes a new timeline separate from the one that leads to the events of Breath of the Wild. The events in Age of Calamity alter the outcome of the Great Calamity.
3. Can you play as Calamity Ganon?
Yes, Calamity Ganon is a playable character in Age of Calamity. You unlock him after defeating him as a boss in the main story and can then use him in other missions.
4. What happens to Terrako in Age of Calamity?
Terrako sacrifices itself at the end of Age of Calamity to weaken Calamity Ganon. This act is crucial in the new timeline and ultimately inspires Zelda and Hyrule to fight back.
5. Are the Champions alive in Age of Calamity?
Yes, the Champions survive in the timeline created by Age of Calamity. This is a significant divergence from Breath of the Wild, where they all perished during the Great Calamity.
6. Is Ganon stronger during Blood Moon in Age of Calamity?
No, the Blood Moon does not enhance Ganon’s power in Age of Calamity, as it does in Breath of the Wild. This is due to the divergent timeline and the different narrative focus.
7. Is Calamity Ganon the same as Ganondorf?
Yes and no. Ganondorf is the male Gerudo, the physical being, while Calamity Ganon is his evil, spiritual manifestation. They are different forms of the same antagonist.
8. What is the combat system like in Age of Calamity?
The combat is fast-paced, focused on hack-and-slash gameplay and combos, in the style of Dynasty Warriors. It differs from the more tactical and physics-based combat in BotW.
9. Does Age of Calamity have a secret ending?
Yes, there is a secret ending you can unlock by completing post-game content. This provides an additional scene that expands on the new timeline.
10. Is Age of Calamity repetitive?
Yes, the gameplay can be repetitive due to its hack-and-slash nature. However, this is typical of the Musou genre, and the game aims to be relaxed and fun rather than overly challenging.
11. How old is Purah in Age of Calamity?
In Age of Calamity, Purah is approximately 24 years old during the Great Calamity. This is in contrast to her much older appearance in Breath of the Wild.
12. Why doesn’t Link talk in Age of Calamity?
Link doesn’t talk in Age of Calamity, similar to BotW, to maintain his image as a stoic hero. He bears the pressure silently to fulfill his duty.
13. What is the timeline difference between Age of Calamity and BotW?
Age of Calamity takes place 100 years before BotW, depicting the Great Calamity that BotW only references. However, Age of Calamity changes the outcome and thus creates a separate timeline.
14. How is Age of Calamity different from Breath of the Wild?
Aside from different gameplay, Age of Calamity is focused on story, while Breath of the Wild is focused on exploration. Age of Calamity allows you to experience key narrative moments that BotW only mentions in passing and adds lore to the Zelda universe.
15. Which game is better: Hyrule Warriors or Age of Calamity?
This is subjective. While Age of Calamity has improved combat and character uniqueness, Hyrule Warriors offers a better battlefield experience. It depends on individual preference and what a player is seeking.
Conclusion
Age of Calamity is not the direct sequel to Breath of the Wild. Instead, it is a prequel that dives deep into the story of the Great Calamity while simultaneously working as a sequel to the 2014 game, Hyrule Warriors. It takes you on a narrative-driven journey through the events leading up to the devastation shown in BotW, albeit one that ultimately branches into a separate timeline. Understanding these distinctions will help you better appreciate each title and how they contribute to the vast universe of The Legend of Zelda. By playing both games, you can have a more complete picture of the world of Hyrule.