When I look at this new Monolithsoft game that sense of epic scale is what I would like for Zelda. Being able to ride a horse or flying a bird across a landscape like that would really feel adventurous. It doesn't have to be barren either, just wide enough to feel like a real world with caves, towns shrines and other puzzly things scattered about. There could be big open Xenoblade areas and then dense SS like areas that require a lot of puzzles to make it out of but not a full on dungeon.
Xenoblade has a LOT of open space to explore, but there are actual places of interest that can be found if you keep following that scary cliff side. That sense of discovery has been lost to me in just about every 3D title. They are there sure, but most of the time you have to go that way to beat the game. There are caves in Xenoblade with monsters hanging out in that I saw from a distance but never found. It gives such a sense of wonder. It's nice finding massive areas that aren't required to beat the game but can still enhance your adventure in a major way.
Imagine that zany curvy landscape from Xenoblade, those mountainous portions, then imagine places to hook shot underneath leading to a completely optional maze within the mountain? Or the ocean looks so far out you would never take the time to cross it, for fear of time or maybe big whale monsters eat you. But one day you just decide to see what's out there and make it past all the sharks to find a pea sized desert island rescuing some stranded pirate who has a really neat optional weapon?
I would argue Banjo and Kazooie gave off more of a mysterious aura to its areas.
I would love to fly again on a bird, preferably an owl or eagle but just looking at this new Monolith game with the mech transportation and I'm reminded of how I imagined skyward sword to be. When Iwata hinted we would be flying thought he meant flying over herds of animals ad crossing bodies of water.