We already know it's in one of the lands, and which land it's in. The areas were in very obvious locations. In Faron, it was near the entrance to the deep woods, right next to the viewing platform, out in the open, and in plain sight. I teleported to Faron Woods, and I didn't even have to look for it. It was right there. In Lanaryu Desert, it was right next to the Mining Facility, out in the open, and in plain sight. The group of butterflies is very noticable, as well as the fog. If you go near the area, you'll see it. I didn't have to turn the lands upside down. Their locations were apparent, and were easy to find. With a little bit of exploring, they are all found very easily.
You act like there was some giant flashing sign telling you where it is. Butterflies can't exactly be spotted several feet away (and there's several of them). The mist was small and nearly invisible unless you were right next to it. There's nothing really significant about these places to think that the trial would be there.
Forest: Large Tree, Sealed Grounds, Outside the Temple, The platform itself, and Kikwi Elder area all seem like better candidates. They have significance. Some random area near the balcony isn't significant in itself.
Mountain: Entrance, Temple Entrace, Bokoblin Camp, Bokoblin Camp 2, and Deep Volcano entrance. All significant. We got an insignificant area of no importance whatsoever. No reason to suspect it would be there.
Desert: Well you got me there. Still, there are plenty of other areas it could have easily been at, such as the Entrance and the Temple of Time.
It's highly unlikely the developers would just put the water in any random place. I suppose it is somewhat needed here, but it's still very possible.
...But that was a completely random place. Just a random patch of water, that they put fairies over (which can't be seen until you actually approach it)
Are you calling me a liar? I did do it, and even if I were to get back to that section of the game, I wouldn't even know how to take a video and post it. I coould look around on Youtube and find one, I suppose, but I assure you I did do it. If you don't believe me, then whatever.
If you want to be so blunt, then yes, I have a hard time believing that you are telling the truth. I cannot fathom a reason why you would bore yourself for a large extended period of time for no benefit whatsoever. It seems more likely to me that you merely made this up for the sake of argument.
How would you have any idea that the treasure was the hookshot? When I first saw that, I was almost positive it was a sidequest, and i'm sure many others did to.
Not really...at this point in time, no sidequest had given me an item outside the Great Fairy. Dampe is not a Great Fairy. Dampe has an item. I need an item from Kakariko village. It's...pretty obvious.
Maybe dowsing is somewhat nessacary, but only for a very small portion of the game. Is that really that bad to you? Is it really that bad for dowsing to be used in a very small part of the game? Do you hate it that much?
No. It's the fact that it makes the game easy. It doesn't matter if it's optional or not. That has no relevance whatsoever. Nearly everything is optional. And with that in mind, we could get into a convuluted argument claiming that Zelda is one of the hardest series ever because of how much you can self challenge yourself if you really really want to.
I'm just gonna say this. There's a difference between having the dowsing used for things in the main quest (like finding the Sandship) and using it in the sidequests (like finding the Goddess Cubes). When I'm talking about the dowsing being an optional feature, I'm generally talking about the latter of these two. It's still an optional feature the entire game, but especially so in the sidequests. It's never even suggested for them. It's just there as a feature.
Dowsing...was never suggested. Are you kidding me? With Fi constantly popping up without my permission and reminding me to dowse everything...you think...it was never suggested?
Fi: Master! Try dowsing Zelda!
Fi: Master! Remember how to dowse Zelda?
Fi: Master! You should try dowsing Zelda here too. Do you need me to remind you how?
*beep beep beep beep beep beep* <--(Remember to dowse or this will keep going.)
Fi: Master! I can now dowse treasure! Feel free to use this feature at your leisure.
Fi: Master! I have picked up the signals of Goddess Cubes. Perhaps you should dowse them?
I forgot the messages for Heart Container dowsing and Gratitude Crystals, but rest assured, they are there.
As for it being optional...it doesn't matter. The word "optional" alone is misleading. That would imply it was merely put there as an extra help for those who were struggling with the main puzzles, sorta like how the Gossip Stone was there. But this was flung into our faces time and time again. Claiming it's optional doesn't make the game any harder. I could use your same argument to justify another claim that the 3D Zelda's are hard games.
Ocarina of Time's enemies too weak and slow? Well you had the option of not picking up those hearts. It's your fault for going out of the way to pick them up. It's also your fault for wearing the normal boots rather than the iron boots. Also why are you using the Master Sword? That makes the game too easy. Pick up the giants knife and break it. There we go. See how hard this game is?
Majora's Mask too easy? Well you're making the same mistakes. No more heart pieces. Quit helping those great fairies and earning new masks.
Wind Waker's enemies are too stupid? What? Take what you learned from Ocarina of Time. 3 hearts. Iron Boots. There you go! And remember, the boomerang is optional.
Twilight Princess's enemies are too easy? Well that's because you're doing the Hidden Skills sidequest like a noob. And what's with the Master Sword? That's optional. Use the Ordon Sword or glitch the Wooden Sword like a real pro.
Don't forget your iron boots and Zora armor! And keep your mitts off those heart pieces and that shield!
Hearts, shield, skills, armor, boots, and sword power...all of these are optional. But as you can see...it doesn't matter what self challenge you place on yourself. All of these make the game easier. Dowsing does too.