[EpicEng]

This is the case for every Zelda game ever.

[no_wave]

I don't really understand what parts of the game are really departures from the Zelda formula. Swapping out the small mechanics like climbing and cooking this could be an Ocarina of Time review.

[datruth29]

Outside of the first hour where you acquire the 4 relics the designers require you to have in the game, the game is all open world. You never have to complete a dungeon. You can go straight to the main boss of the game if you chose to.

That's a complete departure of the Zelda formula.

[kupiakos]

IIRC you can do the same in the original Zelda as well once you get the raft and bombs.

[tiglionabbit]

Which is why this game is about going back to its roots. All the way back to Zelda 1.