So I just finished Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. The first Zelda game I've beaten since Ocarina of Time and it got me thinking. Zelda is just a big puzzle game!
Yes it has enemies to fight but there very sub-sequential to the whole process. You need to collect 3 items by going to a temple, figuring out how to get to the end of the temple, find the item you need and beat the boss. Basically what we saw in Z & W but a bit more hands on and some enemies that you could or could not fight.
Changing up the Zelda formula to a more puzzle orientated one could be a step in the right direction. I know it would piss off a ton of people but when you think of it Zelda's starting to get pretty stale.