This article was originally written for TheNintendoVillage.com, a website I founded and ran from 2018 to 2021.

We might still be waiting a while for the sequel to Breath of the Wild, but Nintendo have announced a new Hyrule Warriors game that gives us an insight into the events leading up to the esteemed Switch launch title.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity will revisit the events of Calamity Ganon’s assault on Hyrule, taking place 100 years before Breath of the Wild.

Koei Tecmo are once again developing the game, but whereas the first Hyrule Warriors was an amalgamation of the Zelda series, this will tell a cohesive story all its own about the events we only saw glimpses of during the original Breath of the Wild. They’ve also been working closely with Nintendo’s Zelda team on the graphics, dialogue, world and gameplay experience.

Here’s a bit of spiel from the press release:

In Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, which launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch on 20th November, players will be transported to the time before the Great Calamity happened, participating in epic battles against a backdrop of memorable locations in Hyrule before they were destroyed. The game stars familiar faces from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild like Link and Zelda, as well as other recognisable characters like the four Champions, who will be playable for the very first time in the Hyrule Warriors series.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity features action-packed gameplay that will be familiar to fans of Hyrule Warriors and Fire Emblem Warriors. Focused on performing combos and over-the-top special abilities, the gameplay is fast-paced and strategic, perfect for players looking for an intense, non-stop action game with direct ties to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. In addition, the game tells an in-depth story that depicts the events, relationships and dramatic moments of the Great Calamity in captivating detail.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity finds plenty of inspiration from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – not just in its visual style. Many characters from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild are playable, including Link and Zelda. Not only will players hack and slash their way through swarms of enemies to defend Hyrule; they will also solve environmental puzzles, unlock weapons and skills, craft with gathered materials, visit shops to obtain items and use the power of the Sheikah Slate, which fans will recognise from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

The game launches on Switch on 20 November, and fans who pre-order the game will receive the Lucky Ladle in-game bonus weapon for Link.

Check out the video below, as well as a bunch of screenshots, and let us know what you think!