You say "zoning out everything", but those trees are so large. Also, from a player's perspective, walking into a tree (which is supposed to be possible in AoL) seems less likely, because you're using large solid objects and expecting players to know that they represent a forest area. That's just a bad meme waiting to happen.
However, this isn't actually a bad idea at all. I personally would have tried to scale the overworld up a little... In fact, I think you might find as well that once you have an overworld done, you'll zoom out to get a good look at the whole thing at once, put Link into the picture to scale, and realize "Hyrule looks a bit small... :/"
What are you even talking about? I am legit 100% confused by your post.
I am transitioning the Zelda II overworld into LTTP style. It is not a 1:1 exact replica with just prettier graphics. It is taking the overworld from the NES version and completely re-imagining it as if it was meant for Link to the Past.
The whole "zone" thing is what Link to the Past and Minish Cap already do. The overworld in those games is not one huge open environment. You transition to different areas, you scroll between open areas(not the camera following you but the actual scrolling at the edge of the screen), etc. Thus, I am taking parts of the overworld from Zelda II and putting them into zones to be tiled appropriately.
On another note: this isn't my first dance. I have already completely mapped Zelda II into different styles several times already. You claim my overworld will be small... My overworld is already half the size of LTTP and my overworld doesnt even have the second continent, death mountain, or maze island included in it yet. Trust me, it will be just fine.
Stop thinking of a direct 1:1 and you will overcome that mental block of the forests(I had to as well). Certain forests will be accessible similar to Lost Woods in LTTP. Other forests such as the forest directly up and left from the starting location are completely meaningless. Thus, I am just going to tile in tree areas similar to what LTTP does around the flute boy and Kakariko.
As I said, I have done this several times. This time, I am packing much more detail into it(eventually).
"Have faith!" - Happy Mask Salesman