I think in a lot of ways, the game-play is a lot alike, but that's simply 'cause it's a game series, sorta like assassins creed, you climb the walls, you jump in hay stacks, and all that stuff is just the same as other games. The plot is a lot alike as well: You have to go save Zelda. As you always do. Even if it was someone else, you would still have to go save someone, as in a lot of other games (TP, WW, etc.) But I don't have a problem with it, 'Cause it seems more of how its portrayed rather then how its all alike, that's what makes be creative. Have you ever seen 'saving the princess' done in so many different ways? Its very creative.
And how can it be like all the other Zeldas when all the Zelda games are different enough from each other that there not alike? Every Zelda game is different, if he's played them, then he could tell that.