and don't forget they also made a 2d zelda prototype to test out mechanics for botw all the way back then, which this seems to be somewhat of an iteration on.

im really a pretty big fan of nintendos approach with these games: TotK feels not only free-form in how you play it, but also in how it was made, like they let the designers just experiment and play with their game before it had to become just another legend of zelda game. like when they tested the game they probably just noclipped out of caves and dungeons and then had the genius idea to just add that to the game as a mechanic. this is how one-person indie devs are supposed to make games, not triple-A companies making hundred million dollar games. although admittedly this is certainly not a philosophy they apply to their other games, the mario parties and the like are certainly produced on an always-running assembly line.