Throughout the history of Hyrule, Impa is a figure of white hair who emerges time and time again to protect Princess Zelda and aid her knight. The spin-off game, Hyrule Warriors, is no exception. In a game that celebrates The Legend of Zelda, we are presented with a young yet mature Impa. As one of the first characters introduced into the game, she stands strong, watching over and protecting Princess Zelda. But she is more than just the warrior princess’s advisor and bodyguard. She is a warrior herself.
Impa is the second playable character given to the player amongst a roster of old and familiar faces. And with the powerful weapons at her disposal, her strength is no question. Her main weapon of choice is a two handed curved great sword named, at base level, Giant’s Knife. Despite the blade being as big as herself, she wields the knife with precision and strength, slashing through multiple enemies and combining her moves with water magic to pelt her enemies with raining water daggers. Even her secondary weapon shows the immense training and capabilities that earned Impa her position. The fiery Naginata, a traditional weapon of the Sheikah tribe, swings across the battlefield, lighting her enemies with flames.
While the weapons at Impa’s disposal are unlike the weapons used by her predecessors, Impa’s overall design is inspired by a few different iterations of her past self. Her garbs and build hold similarities to Skyward Sword Impa with a colour scheme more akin to the Impa and Sage of Shadows seen in Ocarina of Time. Her armour and weapon also have influence from Japanese samurai. Complete with the signature white hair and the red Sheikah symbol painted over her eye, we have a true warrior and wise advisor on our hands. But sometimes strength and wisdom is not enough. It is the companions beside us that give us strength.
Impa’s journey in the beginning of the story aligns much with Link despite her strong connection to Princess Zelda. Her wisdom and knowledge knows that to defeat the upcoming threat her Princess dreams about they will have to find the reborn spirit of the hero. The first mission presented to the player, shows Link’s strength, impressing Impa on the battlefield. When Link is struck down by their first foe, Volga, Impa is there to defend, a set of panic in her eyes when she is unsure if she can protect Link from the fiery onslaught heading their way. Though Impa would care for her soldiers, her protection over this particular soldier comes from the courage she can see within his heart. When his hand glows with the light of the Triforce, her instincts are proven right.
The first mission is not all sunshine and rainbows for Impa. This is war after all. While she was protecting Link and fighting across the battlefield, her Princess went missing. From the very beginning, Impa failed her one job. Like a true warrior, she doesn’t give up on her tasks. And like a Sheikah of wisdom she knows when she cannot go out alone. She seeks Link’s help, deciding on her own that he is worthy of the legendary green garb of the hero. Her tone is somber but she won’t give up. She may have failed but as she says to Link, “Real strength comes from knowing your weaknesses.”
Across caverns, forests and valleys, Impa searches for her Princess. In her journey, she encounters the vague and elusive Sheik, claiming to be of the same tribe. Impa’s suspicions and distrust are present from the beginning. Impa is not just a Sheikah but also the leader of the tribe. A leader is a big position, especially if you also work for the royal family. Even so, it is implied that Impa knows the name of every person in her tribe and Sheik is not one of them, though the mysterious warrior says otherwise. Impa goes as far to accuse Sheik of being a spy. Little does she know that the warrior by her side is exactly who she’s been looking for.
Little does Impa know that she trained her Princess so well that not even she recognized Princess Zelda in disguise. The reveal comes as a relief. Once Impa is reunited with the Princess, she steps back from the limelight and resumes her position beside Princess Zelda, always. We get to see more of the advisor role come out. In “The Sacred Sword”, Impa talks about the history of the Master Sword and the implications not only to Link but also all of Hyrule. Acting as advisor, she warns of the evil that will be set free once the master sword is drawn. Even so, she does not argue against her Princess when they decide to go after the legendary blade. Wisdom may be one of Impa’s traits but it is her Princess that wields the Triforce of Wisdom, and like much of Hyrule, she has faith in the Goddess and her decisions.
Impa is a powerful force, both when a friend and a foe. She carries with her the legends of those like her in the past with the strength of the young Impas that have traversed across the battlefield and the wisdom and knowledge of the older Impas that have wrinkled with age and served the Goddess until the end. She battles failure with her head held high and never once does her loyalty waiver. Amongst a cast of heroes, Impa is a beacon of strength and hope and shows us all what a warrior who never backs down is capable of.
