Amazing how the people saying "Zelda shouldn't be Fallout 3" totally ignored the OP.
And at any rate, I do agree. Zelda *was* about free roaming, sandbox-style adventuring. And since OoT it has been more linear. In the old Zeldas, you could adventure to many of the more advanced dungeons, and get tons of great items/equipment. There were always a few exceptions that required some items, but it wasn't the rule for every area.
Since OoT, it did away with that sandbox philosophy - You HAD to get the hookshot before doing 80% of dungeons. You HAD to get the bow & arrow before completing a certain task, and so on. That's no knock against OoT (it was great), but it's become more linear than what it was.
Back from the dead, I'm afraid.