During the TGS 2020 showcase by Koei Tecmo, the developer confirmed a new character for Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity in Impa, the Sheikah elder.
She originally featured in Breath of the Wild as a NPC but will be playable as her younger self from 100 years in the past – as she fights alongside Link and the others in her prime!
In particular, her move-set will feature swift slices and a variety of mystical techniques!
Video credits: GameXplain
About Impa
Impa is a recurring character in the Legend of Zelda series. She typically serves as a nursemaid and/or bodyguard to Princess Zelda and often offers guidance to Link.
That is until the release of Breath of the Wild, the Impa characters in Ocarina of Time and Skyward Sword were the only true confirmed Sheikah in all the series. Sheik was Princess Zelda’s alter-ego and the other characters theorized as Sheikah were not confirmed by Nintendo until the release of Breath of the Wild.
It is implied that the Impa from The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is a Hylian due to the fact that she does not have red eyes; however, this could be only a case of retcon by Nintendo.
This is further supported by Impa’s reference in the prologue of Zelda II to the Impa family charged with guarding the Royal Family of Hyrule. It was later confirmed by the Hyrule Historia that she was indeed a Sheikah in said games and Breath of the Wild shows that Sheikah can have brown eyes as both her Breath of the Wild incarnation and granddaughter have brown eyes like Impa’s pre-Ocarina of Time appearances yet are said to have a strong Sheikah bloodline which is confirmed as her elder sister is the only member of their family who possesses the traditional red eye color indicating it is genetically selective among Sheikah even in those with strong bloodlines.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity will be hitting Nintendo Switch on 20 November 2020 worldwide.
