I have been apprehensive about diving into the more recent 3D Zelda games. I am not quite sure exactly what the reason was, but I know that it has to do with what I have read and heard on the internet. I remember hearing complaints about how much the games seem to hold your hand and how long it takes for Link to recieve the sword. These things have always pushed me back to A Link to the Past and I never really moved past it.
I do not know what I was so worried about. These games are far better and more addictive that I was lead to believe. I devoured Twilight Princess and am currently working my way through Skyward Sword. The other thing is that I am not just playing through these games, I am obsessing over them exactly how I did when I was younger and first laid my eyes on Super Metroid, A Link to the Past and Yoshi's Island. Do you have any idea how awesome that feeling is?
This is exactly why I return to Nintendo when I have hit the gaming doldrums. When I need a reminder of why I fell in love with gaming in the first place. They have the answers. In the end, Nintendo has shaped how I view games and what makes a game great in my eyes. I will return to that thought at a later date though. In fact, I want to return to it and examine what has defined my taste in videogames.
I love Twilight Princess, but it does start slow. It's ok the first time, but repeat plays can be tough.
I couldn't handle the motion controls of SKyward Sword. It sucks cause I really want to play it, especially since it's the first in the chronology.
Once I got past the motion controls, I really started to fall in love with the game. I hate motion controls in nearly all respects... Metroid Prime did work with them though.
I grew up not liking A Link to the Past or Ocarina of Time at first, but bought Ocarina and Majora's Mask towards the end of the N64's lifespan. I actually agree that the 3D games hold your hand much more than ALttP does based on what I've played as an adult, but y'know, sometimes I like not being stuck for hours wondering what the hell I do on that damn mountain to get to the next dungeon.
You are correct, I had forgotten that I had been stuck on Death Mountain for a while when I first had played A Link to the Past.
It's always a good thing to get a rush of that childhood exuberance for gaming again! Based on descriptions I think Twilight Princess would be my favorite Wii Zelda. Then again, Wind Waker kind of calls out to me too for some reason. Strange how the two Zelda games I'm most intrigued by are sort of polar opposites of each other. I make no sense!
Don't try to pay much attention to most Zelda fans. The fanbase can never get satisfied with anything in the games.
Skyward Sword is very good, but i've been stuck in a dungeon for far too long and I have no idea what to do. That said, if I return i'd consider to start from scratch because I would forget everything either way.
For all their faults, Nintendo is still the best 
I still have to play Skyward Sword but the negativity over the recent games is really overblown, I think. I suspect it's mainly people who don't know what they want and don't like what they get. That and journalists who think dumping on popular franchises makes them cool. I'm stoked for the next new Zelda, however it turns out.
I like to think that I am not, but deep down I know that I am a pretty big Nintendo fanboy. Which is why I am also super excited about the next Zelda game.
Twilight Princess may be one of my least favorite Zelda games, but that doesn't mean I hate it or anything. I didn't like how slow it started, and the graphics were so brown and muddy that it was sometimes hard to see where you could go. But the dungeons were neat and the game has two of my favorite Zelda characters in it: Princess Zelda and Agitha.
I do have to agree with your complaints. Initially I liked how it looked, but after about 10 hours I started to grow tired of the browns and greys. Zelda was an awesome character, but Midna is probably my favourite character from Twilight Princess. She really grew on me after she stopped bugging me about every little thing.
Skyward Sword is my favorite 3D Zelda aside from Ocarina of Time. I cannot wait for Zelda Wii U. CANNOT!
And I cannot wait until I get a Wii U. CANNOT!
kinda the same way myself. but mostly because I swore Id finally get around to beat ocarina of time before I get to other games. im bad like that when it comes to zelda games. ive yet to even beat the minish cap.
I haven't even played Minish Cap. I think that I ended up giving it to my neices and nephews who were obsessing about A Link to the Past on the GBA.