Why Zelda?  Simply put, it's not what it once was.  An open world adventure game, where you could go anywhere and find many lost secrets in the land of Hyrule.  As the series has progressed however, it has become more and more linear, giving you less choice of where you could go and how you could do it.

You want that key that's just out of your reach?  You gotta solve this puzzle first.  You can't climb that stack of boxes or use your hookshot to get it either.  That'd be too simple and open and fun.  You want to go to a dungeon?  You have to go this one.  No, not that one.  THIS ONE.  OVER HERE! HEY! LISTEN!  On and on Zelda games have become more and linearity.  Zelda has turned into Mario and Mario has turned into Zelda.  Mario has become more about choice.  You want to go here?  Have 10 stars?  Sure, come on.  You don't have to come here, but you can if you want.  Mario has become more open than Zelda, which is honestly just baffling considering their roots.