The puzzles aren't more difficult in ages. Alttp was the first puzzle filled zelda game (not counting LoZ which only had two different puzzles) so every single thing was new whether it was dropping floors or using certain items. The third dark world dungeon was probably one of the hardest puzzle based dungeons in the game and the boss itself had a comical weakness. Alttp although didn't require many transitions to get from point A to point B like ages did, it was still a challenge to get to the dungeons like the hedge maze for the first dungeon or the flute for the 6th. I do admit however that ages did have some good items like the seed shooter but unfortunately it wasn't used as much as it could have. Also, ice palace owns all neophyte gamers while ages doesn't particularly have a difficult dungeon.