Best Zelda game to start with?

[Resetti's_Replicas]

So I've always been into the action/adventure genre, and despite growing up with Nintendo, and owning every systems since the N64, the Zelda games just passed right over me. Now I want to get into them, but I'm intimidated by the sheer number, and don't know where to begin. I've played a little of several at my friends' houses, I liked the ones with 3D environments over the ones with 2D. So, if I want a gentle learning curve, which of the "3D" Zedla games should I pick up first?

 

[acklumos]

The only Legend of Zelda game that has ever kept me entertained long enough to finish it (or even get remotely close) was Wind Waker. None of the others held my attention, so I would start with that.

 

[Contortum94]

Defiantly start with Ocarina of Time for sure, best one imo, and not too hard.

 

[brendonnelly]

Ocarina of Time: its really the basis of the story, and is refered to in most of the 3d console games. In fact, you should just play them in order of release from ocarina (I'm not sure about the 2d ones, i haven't played them)

 

[pope_of_larry]

start with Ocarina of Time it was the first one i played and the first one a beat there may have been a 6 year gap tho.

 

[MuppeTeN]

Ocarina, or ALTTP

 

[MrNickster]

I would recommend one of either A Link to the Past or the N64 onward games. The original NES and Game Boy games can be hard to figure out without a guidebook.

 

[Et3rnalLegend64]

Well, I guess I'll jump on the Ocarina of Time wagon. You may or may not want to ignore the insane amount of hype the game gets though. It's a really good game. Just don't listen to the people saying that it's the end-all be-all of everything.

Wind Waker is also a good place to start. It's rather easy. I don't know how much the sailing will annoy you though. Some people love it, but the common reaction is annoyance far as I know. I kinda liked it.

I wish I could recommend a 2-D game, but I only played A Link to the Past, Zelda 1, and Zelda 2. Zelda 1 and 2 may be a little hard for a first timer because they do very little hand-holding in those games. I don't know how ALttP would be to a newcomer, but it probably won't be as hard as the first two games.

 

[Sonic Doctor]

Go old school, and play the first one from the NES.

Now, my favorites are Wind Waker, and two connected Gameboy Color games, Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages.

With the Gameboy Color ones, you pick which one you want to play first, beat it, get the code it gives you and put it in the other game and continue on. You get the whole experience if you do it that way.

But by far, Wind Waker is the best.

 

[FalloutJack]

Start with an old school one (Like Link to the Past and Link's Awakening) and work up.

 

[Phlakes]

I'd say go Link's Awakening, ALttP, Ocarina of Time, and then whatever you feel like after that.

 

[Ignatz_Zwakh]

Link to the Past. Hell, it's one of the best games to start with PERIOD. I played the bugger when I was about 6 years old, life-changing moment right there man. \m/

 

[The Urban Moose]

ALL of the Zelda games have a gentle learning curve. Nintendo tries to cater to casual and hardcore fans, so the ability to pick up and play is a necessity in even their most in-depth games. Whatever you decide to get, I'm sure you'll have fun.

 

[DaHero]

Ocarina, then Link to the Past, then the NES (Console Classix or look for a remake from Nintento)

 

[Sonic Doctor]

Ocarina of Time: its really the basis of the story, and is refered to in most of the 3d console games. In fact, you should just play them in order of release from ocarina (I'm not sure about the 2d ones, i haven't played them)

Do you mean the 2D ones as the first games for the NES to the SNES?

NES
The Legend of Zelda
Zelda 2: The Adventures of Link

SNES
The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past

 

[Lateinos]

The 3D games are pretty much all good, but I say, start with Ocarina. You might as well go in order of release.

As for 2D games, Link's Awakening, Oracle of Seasons, and Oracle of Ages are all great games. I never really got into A Link to the Past though, possibly because I played it after the later 2D installments. If you had to start with one, I'd say Link's Awakening, then move on to the Oracle games.

 

[Kae]

WindWaker, it's easy and is pretty much made for beginners, but that does not make it any less awesome, it has a really soft learning curve and is probably the easiest of all Zelda games.

 

[Vern]

Link's Awakening and Link to the Past. Yes they're 2D Zelda games, but they're the best of the series in my opinion. After that, I honestly ended up preferring Wind Waker to Ocarina of Time, and I only played Twilight Princess for about four hours.

 

[FoAmY99]

I'd say play them in the order they were released so you can see how much the series improved over the years.