Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma delved more into the open world approach being used in the next adventure on Wii U.
In an interview during E3, Aonuma described the scale of the upcoming setting with "Kyoto as my base". Whilst the land may well be almost never-ending, one of the key elements that have excited fans is the "open world" approach, where the progression in the game is said to be far less linear compared to past titles.
Aonuma said that "the reward for exploring the world will be the acquired experience," with knowledge and abilities helping players "progress even further in the game, just like in real life." He re-iterated his stance that "Link represents the player in the game. He's a vehicle."
You always need to make a plan when you're travelling, even in real life you need to decide if you're going to drive or take the train, and the decisions you make impact your experience. You could start walking and realise you can't get to a place by walking so you regret it and learn something, like realising there's an obstacle that has to be overcome in a different way.
How do you think the world of The Legend of Zelda should be structured?