I sort of agree. I'm hoping on a BotW sequel with more traditional Zelda stuff.

However, I don't think that would make the game any better. I just don't want the old Zelda to die.

If you can't separate them as a linear and open world game, then I don't know what to say. The second part is a reach and a nitpick. The first area serves as an intro and a tutorial. You can finish the game in 45 minutes including the intro. You still can't compare them.

I mean, when I replied to you, I meant in terms of the RPG angle we were discussing, since that's the part you bolded when you replied back and what I assumed you were pointing at. Obviously I can tell the big difference between the linearity and open-world aspect of one or another, that's something I've admitted as well. My whole reply came with the RPG part, which is why I quoted Vagrant Story, and why I assumed you were making a distinction for RPGs in regards of them being open world or not.

EDIT: it's also why I pointed out the tutorial area. Because it makes you taste the RPG aspect of it, in terms of having to upgrade the hero and choose his path, and also experience wind-resistance buffs through food or clothes, even if the rest of the game makes this entirely optional.

I'm not going to talk about my opinion on the game, but let me interject a bit here. I understand that Wright's first few paragraphs are literally him saying that this isn't like other Zelda games and that he wants that Zelda charm, but a reply like this just feels like a way to shut down criticism. Wright's complaints don't really have as much to do with it not being Zelda enough and more to do with the fact that the substitutes for those Zelda elements are lacking in quality. At least in the way he explained it. These criticisms would stand with or without the gaming being a Zelda game. Being part of that franchise just makes more comparisons validated.

Well, my response was that whatever RPG's elements they both have, it really doesn't matter because the two games are separate with one being open world and the other linear. That means that whatever RPG elements BotW has, it isn't necessary to beat the game. In Zelda II, it absolutely is needed to beat the game. That is why the RPG part of the argument went that way. The tutorial area argument is a moot point since I already explained that since you can beat the game right after that area.

In my opinion it was the worst Zelda game ever. I stopped playing after 14 hours or so. There were far to many temples with not overly difficult puzzles. Some enemies were seriously over powered killing you in just a couple of hits. The story progression was very slow and it felt too much like hard work. It is the only Zelda game I've given up on.

Still I have to praise the level design. The environments were great but that wasn't enough to grip me.

Even though I do agree that this isn't the best Zelda experience specifically, I'm glad they tried to change things up. By Skyward Sword, I was sick to death of the formula. I couldn't even get through that game. Sure, there were things in BOTW that could be improved, but I had a lot more fun with it than I would have if they made a more traditional Zelda game.

I just wish linear Zelda could coexist with this open-world one since I never cared much about the overworld in Zelda games and I also never asked for crafting/survival/durability elements in them.

Why should one replace the other when they're completely different experiences?

I guess I didn't see the distinction to be that abroad between both. Especially when I still feel like they're the two odd entries in the franchise, and with other noticeable similarities despite the strinking different approach to its linearity/non-linearity (The return of Ganon, Zelda's state, regaining lives through sleeping in towns/item usage, attack techniques, overworld being full with towns, citizens and dungeons, optional sidequests for similar rewards, unscripted and avoidable overworld encounters, and some more examples). We're probably looking at these two from different approachs, though.

I should fully play the first Zelda one of these days.

Ugh, don't remind me, it never ended. I must have killed at least a hundred of them, then I simply outran them with full stamina. I don't want your windcleaver! Luckily they took breaks now and then or perhaps it depended on the region how much they harassed you. I did the Yiga hideout quite early in game :(