DarkestLink, I'm against dowsing too, but I still have to completely disagree with your arguments. People already took down most of them and you're pretty much just repeating the same things over and over again. In case you haven't noticed, I get It that you wouldn't like to explore all the map to find silent realms, but believe It or not, THATS AN EXTREMELY EASY TASK.
...So you concede it's not challenging either way. But one way takes far more time (unless you're lucky). Neither offer a fun gameplay value or challenge.
Dowsing replaces exploration, not puzzles, It doesn't help at all with puzzles.
It replaces, both, but, as many have said, it is optional. So more than anything, it replaces the puzzles. You can still technically explore, but the hints you would be given as to where to go next are replaced by dowsing.
As for exploration being boring, maybe that's just not your thing, but I love It and It used to be a big part of Zelda, If you don't like It, go play CoD or w/e. Wind Waker has WAY MORE exploration than Skyward Sword WITHOUT DOWSING, It can take you a very long time to find everything on the ocean, there are lot's of islands and boats that are easy to miss.
Actually, it's funny you mentioned Wind Waker. Wind Waker is on the opposite side of the spectrum. Skyward Sword had too little exploration because of dowsing. Wind Waker, on the other hand, had far too much. There needs to be a balance. Skyward Sword gave too much direction and Wind Waker gave too little. In games like OoT, it was more balanced. It gave you basic goals without saying too much.
You are directed to go see Zelda, but you are left to figure the method of doing so yourself. You are pointed to Death Mountain, but get a suggestion to settle down and explore Kakariko first. Navi hints talking to Saria. When the 2nd dungeon is done, you can ask around and get hints. Saria tells you to go to Zora's domain. When you are an adult, you are told you need an item in Kakariko. People in Kakariko are discussing this item Dampe has. 2 and 2 together. It's more fun and interesting than having some flashing arrow pointing you exactly where to go and better than just running around aimlessly trying to discern the main quest from the sidequests.
Oh, and please, QUIT USING THAT SILENT REALM IS TOO HARD TO FIND ARGUMENT. This is exacly why I highly believe you're contradicting yourself, you're against dowsing yet you're against exploring too,
Again, balance. I just want something else to lead me. Just dowsing and just exploring are both too mindless.
You have no idea how hard It is to take your posts seriously when you're pretty much recycling your arguments over and over again and contradicting yourself. Seriously, we might aswell just quit this, repeating that silent realm is hard to find without dowsing will get us nowhere.
It's not too hard. It's too long.
In the end, there are three scenarios. Imagine Sheik giving us advice.
Scenario One: Go to Kakariko village and obtain something to help you into the Forest Temple.
This is the balanced approach. You have the basic idea, but not too much information.
Scenario Two: Go to Kakariko village. Go to the Graveyard. Go to your very far left and pull the most southern tombstone, you will find Dampe. Go race him. If you survive, you will get the Hookshot. Go back to the Kokori forest. Keep in mind that there are now monsters in there. Go to the Lost Woods. When you see Mido, play Saria's Song and he will move aside. Continue going to the Scared Forest Meadow. After we meet there, use your new hookshot on the tree branch and enter the temple.
This is way too much information and takes out the fun in figuring this out yourself. This is basically what dowsing did. Instead of putting clues together, we just followed a guide.
Scenario Three: Go to the Forest Temple.
Not enough direction. We could probably assume that the Forest Temple is in the Kokori woods, but once we find it, we would be unable to enter due to our lack of hookshot. After several tries to get into this temple, I would assume I simply am not meant to enter "this cave" yet and look for the REAL entrance to the Forest Temple (we still don't know where that is). With luck, I might pass through Kakariko village. I will see them talking about Dampe. Since I was not directed here, I'm going to assume this is a sidequest. Finally, after some mind numbing senseless exploration, I just give up and start doing sidequests. A few days later when I'm playing OoT, I find Dampe's grave and decide to do the "sidequest". I find this hookshot. I still haven't realized that I'm supposed to use it to get into the temple. Because right now, I'm assuming it only works on those targets. After finding the iron boots and trying to use the door in the Lost Wood's lake (thinking it could be the temple) and ending up in Zora's Domain, I explore the woods more and finally see the ledge again. I try everything out once more and, to my surprise, find that the hookshot works on this tree that I thought was there for decoration. Finally in the temple. Overall, I'm not feeling happy right now. I wasn't challenged. I was just left in the dark and lucky I finally started to do some sidequests. Otherwise, I'd have never stumbled onto Dampe. Heck, seeing as I prefer to leave sidequests for last, it might have taken me even more senseless exploration to get into the temple.