Intro –

There are seldom moments in video games where I get to do something truly extraordinary, like piloting what is essentially a moving mountain to destroy my enemies. It sort of gave me Final Fantasy XV flashbacks, but I digress. After the first couple of hours in Chapter 2, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity put me in the driver’s seat of one of the most powerful machines in the entire game: the Divine Beast Vah Rudania.

Now, I’ve always prided myself on getting immersed in the games I play, but when I took control of Rudania, that was the moment I realized I wasn’t just playing the game—I felt like I was part of it. Hyrule itself is massive, but using one of the Divine Beasts to annihilate my enemies with its incredible power made me feel almost omnipotent.

Oftentimes, you can play a decent game and eventually start to get a little bored. In my opinion, though, one or two incredible moments can completely change your opinion of a game. For example, I didn’t know what to expect when I started playing Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. At first, I was under the impression that it would play a little like Dragon Quest Heroes. Boy, was I wrong!

Today, I want to show you how Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity not only made me feel like a champion, but also made me feel like I was truly fighting for Hyrule. Sometimes, all it takes is one unforgettable moment for a good game to become a great one.

The Game Keeps Building Excitement –

When I first started playing Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, I thought it was just about attacking enemies, with no real exploration and no ability to deviate from what I initially believed was a linear objective. As I said, I saw a lot of Dragon Quest Heroes’ gameplay mechanics in the game.

I didn’t draw any real conclusions at that point because I was just starting out, so I definitely didn’t know what to expect. But after clearing Hyrule Field and bringing the opening battle to an end, I realized I had almost completely misjudged what was shaping up to be a genuinely enjoyable game. It wasn’t enough to simply control Link—it was about stepping into his role and experiencing the battle through his eyes.

Shortly after, maybe ten minutes later, I got the chance to use Impa in her prime. That changed things dramatically. I went from playing as Link to using one of the characters helping him cut through the enemy hordes. Impa came with her own unique moveset, and her abilities felt like a fresh coat of paint on what otherwise could have become repetitive gameplay.

That’s one of the reasons I think Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity does such a great job with its characters. Every new hero comes with their own powers and abilities, and it genuinely feels like you’re fighting the battle through their perspective as you guide them across the battlefield.

As the missions progressed, there were always people who needed your help defending their positions. Whether it was a Zora Captain, Goron Warriors, or even the Rito, someone always needed assistance pushing back the enemy invasion.

The game gives you enough time to reach those areas without making you feel overwhelmed. Most regular enemies go down with a few well-placed attacks and combos. Moblins, Wizzrobes, and Hinoxes are a different story, but even they never feel unfair. Throughout every battle, the game makes you feel like you’re always in control, and that’s a powerful feeling.

What invested me even more was the strategy involved in combat. For example, you can use an elemental rod against the matching Wizzrobe to weaken it significantly.

I remember using the Ice Rod against a Fire Wizzrobe until its gauge was depleted, making it much easier to finish off. I’ll also say this: the side objectives aren’t there just for show. Completing them rewards you by making your characters stronger and even increasing your maximum health with additional Heart Containers.

Goron City was the first place I chose to go. As I battled through the enemy hordes, Daruk mentioned that our current strength wasn’t enough to stop the invasion because there was simply too much ground to cover.

When he suggested using the Divine Beast, I didn’t think the game was about to change completely. I figured we’d just have to fight harder, move faster, and hit the enemy leaders with everything we had. Then I stepped inside Vah Rudania.

In an instant, I went from being a seventeen-year-old appointed knight standing about five-foot-four to controlling an ancient machine capable of leveling entire city blocks.

It was a fuckin’ work of magic.

The Moment I Felt Like A Champion –

When I took the controls of Vah Rudania, I felt like I was wielding ultimate power. This wasn’t just another weapon—it fired devastating laser blasts capable of reducing entire fortresses to rubble. Piloting power of that caliber really makes you think about every video game decision that led you to that moment. There are very few feelings in gaming that compare.

The weapon systems were incredible. Everything you did had tremendous range, and you could intercept, counter, or defend against nearly every assault the enemy threw at you. I honestly felt like there was nothing I couldn’t do or defend against. That was the power of a Divine Beast, and I definitely got my fill—and then some. Awesomeness!

What made piloting a Divine Beast so different wasn’t simply that it was a massive ancient machine—it felt like a living weapon, much like Link and the other Champions. The difference was the sheer scale of its power.

Its weapons could be adjusted to fight enemies in the air or on the ground, and I never felt like anything was beyond my reach while piloting Rudania. For a brief moment, I honestly thought I was invincible. What made that feeling so believable was that some of Rudania’s weapon systems generated protective barriers, allowing you to shrug off incoming attacks while continuing to bombard enemy forces.

The Divine Beast was practically a moving mountain equipped with super-powered weapons capable of wiping out entire armies. It goes without saying that it made normal enemies look like toys in comparison. There were even moments when I wasn’t sure what was damaging me until I looked in the direction the attack was coming from because everything around me was exploding at once.

Destroying wave after wave of enemies was an incredible rush. Even after every last bit of resistance had been eliminated, I still felt unstoppable.

Although Rudania could take damage, its durability made you feel like you were commanding an unstoppable force marching across the battlefield. I honestly can’t remember many gaming moments where climbing into a machine made me feel this powerful. This is what unforgettable video game moments are made of.

And yes, I might have been piloting a Divine Beast, but I honestly felt like I could have marched straight up to Calamity Ganon, gotten right in his face, smacked the hell out of him, and finished the job with one final blast from Rudania’s weapons. That’s the feeling the game gave me. You’re not just piloting a machine—you’re commanding one of Hyrule’s greatest defenders.

For me, that’s the exact moment Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity stopped feeling like just another game and started feeling like an unforgettable experience.rt being more like a fun training exercise to use the extraordinary power in which I was bequeathed.

Conclusion –

To wrap things up, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity isn’t just your regular run-of-the-mill Legend of Zelda game. It may start out that way, but trust me—it doesn’t stay that way, nor does it stop surprising you along the journey. I’m about 25 hours into the game, and it has made me feel heroic not only through the battles I’ve fought and won, but by allowing me to experience the unique powers of each Champion. There are many things that define a champion, but one of the most important is individuality.

The game balances exciting gameplay, like piloting the Divine Beast Vah Rudania, with cutscenes that make you genuinely care about what’s happening in Hyrule and why there’s such urgency surrounding the Calamity. The story is told without dragging things out or overwhelming you with unnecessary exposition. Even though Link is at the forefront, the four Champions, Zelda, and Impa all play an important role in creating an experience that feels complete. In past Zelda games, you were happy simply playing as Link. Here, however, you get to experience the unique fighting styles and abilities of the Champions as well. Eventually, you’ll realize they all need to become stronger together because if one falls behind, the entire team becomes weaker.

What made the Divine Beast experience so memorable wasn’t simply that it was powerful—it was the fact that I actually got to pilot one. I want it on the record that I had already beaten The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild before playing this game, so I had no idea what surprises were waiting for me. Never in a million years did I expect to climb inside Vah Rudania and take control of it myself. That’s the moment I’ll always remember. It felt like getting an unexpected hundred-dollar bonus on your paycheck and immediately buying something you’ve wanted for a long time. Even after stepping out of the Divine Beast, the game continues introducing new abilities, stronger characters, and bigger moments. There was always something exciting waiting around the next corner, and I never had to wait long before discovering what it was. That was a huge plus for me.

So let me leave you with this.

If you’re looking for a game that truly makes you feel like a hero—not just by swinging a sword, but by commanding one of Hyrule’s greatest weapons—then play Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. And if you think, even for a second, that you’re about to play just another ordinary Legend of Zelda adventure…

You’re in for the biggest rude awakening of your life.

This adventure is anything but ordinary.

Consider yourselves warned.

Continue the Adventure –

If piloting a Divine Beast made you feel like a true Champion, there’s even more to discover throughout Hyrule. I’ve put together a Benable list featuring games that capture the same sense of adventure, heroism, and unforgettable gameplay moments. Whether you’re looking for another action-packed journey or a game that makes you feel larger than life, you’ll find plenty of recommendations to continue your adventure.

https://benable.com/RoddyMcG/games-that-make-you-feel-like-a-hero-51