Review: Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition (Nintendo Switch)

Cut down entire legions of enemies using powerful, over-the-top Dynasty Warriors-style moves, and dominate the battlefield as fan-favorite characters from The Legend of Zelda series.

Pros:

• Really good graphics.
• 12.9GB Download size.
• Two controls styles- Warrior or Zelda.
• Three difficulties- Easy, Normal and hard.
• Health gauges on/off.
• Midbattle cutscenes can be turned on or off.
• 8-Bit weapons on/off.
• Controller- Invert axis, Rumble on/off.
• Four game modes- Legend, Free adventure, and challenge.
• Amiibo support- Scan any 5 in a day for bonus loot.
• Awesome 8-Bit themed loading bars.
• Can skip cutscenes.
• Tutorial pop-ups as you play.
• Minimap shows objectives, locations, enemy positions and other players.
• Attacks- Normal, Heavy and a charge special move.
• Can hotswap between characters in a game.
• Classic Zelda soundtrack and sound effects.
• Rupees- Drop from vases and enemies and are used for buying items/upgrades.
• Huge impressive number of enemies on screen.
• Massive screen-filling bosses.
• Enemy leaders are on the battlefield and taking them out will cause the army to flee.
• Lock on for attacking bosses and leaders.
• Morale- Low and high, Affected by enemy dominance or low numbers. This affects their effectiveness in battle and is clearly shown as a flashing color when low or high.
• Decent cutscenes.
• Bazaar- Badge market- Craft badges that increase stats like ATK, DEF and assist. Training dojo- Spend rupees to level up characters to the max character level you have. And Apothecary- buy/brew potions for use in the battlefield.
• Gallery- Check out all your collected collectibles.
• Includes all previous DLC.
• Challenge mode- Battle, Boss and Ganon’s Fury.
• Combat is frantic, free-flowing yet satisfying.
• Combo counter.
• Huge world to play in.
• Keeps- On the field, these are points that you can take over to increase your presence on the battlefield.
• Adventure mode- Nine maps from classic Zelda games complete with retro over the map. Choose where to move, Battles ensue and bosses appear.
• Two players local drop-in/out co-op addition. You can share Joycons.
• Wide selection of weapons can be found/crafted that each has unique abilities that allow you to use what you want to fit your playstyle.
• Over a dozen classic Zelda characters that again each have unique attacks and stats.
• Fun to play.
• Pro controller support.
• Tons of replayability.

Cons:

• Long load times.
• Small text especially when in the game on the handheld.
• No touchscreen support.
• Bosses are damage sponges.
• A lot of pop-ups, Alerts, and noises as you play which do nothing but spread anxiety and unawareness upon you as you are never sure what it all is.
• The map is hard to read quickly mostly due to the size.
• Difficulty spikes.
• Camera control can get awkward.
• A lot to initially take in.