

Even though there are no less than three flavours of Link, they are all fun and unique to play as. The roster is one of the more underappreciated aspects of these games. In order to complete the entirety of the adventure mode, each of the 29 characters must be used to their fullest extent. In the Switch version, almost all of the DLC characters are acquired through adventure mode, which is a very nice change. Various costumes are available, so everyone gets a fresh look. New weapons offer significant strength upgrades and new move-sets to play around with. There's always another challenge to take on, or another direction to go. Hyrule Warriors gets it right by adding a sense of non-linear exploration. Most of the time, they are purchased with in-game currency, which isn't all that exciting. Unlockables are not an uncommon element in videogames, but rarely are they used in such a clever manner. If a moment can be spared to preach to the choir, then let it be known: Adventure mode is incredible. What was once an ambitious but tedious mode has become an addiction, and it will now take far more than a twelve-step programme to break. Granted, at least one of the respective cards must be found before they can be purchased, and the fee isn't nominal, but this seemingly minor extra is a literal game-changer. Yes, a friendly Goron shopkeeper will sell all of the compasses, candles, and bombs players will ever need. Now, the Switch version has a number of changes and additions, but the very first one that said "Koei Tecmo is serious about making this game work" was the option to purchase item cards. Exploring the map and obtaining all of the treasures quickly became a mind-numbing process. The only way to stock up was to repeat the appropriate battles. They are limited use, so if the player happened to burn the wrong bush, then they were out of luck. Take, for example, the item cards in adventure mode. Some of the features felt a little dated when compared to similar titles, the boss-battles were a little one-dimensional, and a few of the design decisions were just plain frustrating to deal with. It's a fine game, but not quite ideal for long-time Musou fans. To put it bluntly, this critic wasn't a fan of Hyrule Warriors. Still, for some gamers out there, even the world is not enough. If content is king, then it's only fair that this entry deserves a crown. That includes Challenge mode and Co-op, which were removed from the 3DS release.

Every side-story and feature from both of the previous games? They are in there, as well.

All nine adventure mode maps are also included, and they could take over a thousand hours to complete. It boasts no less than 29 playable characters, many of them having multiple weapons to choose from. Speaking strictly in terms of value, there's no question that Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition soundly delivers.
