Earliest Zelda Memories

[MrMosley]

This thread is to simply name some of the earliest memories you have of the Zelda series. Its not meant to necessarily be which game you played or beat first, but rather the first times you remember encountering anything relative to Zelda.

My very first memory of Zelda was actually with Link's Awakening. I remember loving the game, thinking Link's name was Zelda, and always wanting to play it when I went to my cousin's house since I didn't actually have the game myself. I don't remember specifics about playing the game, just the music of the intro and such sticks out in my mind.

I also remember going to my other cousin's house and seeing Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link. The only thing I really remember about it was that it was a gold cartridge, and I though that was neat. Other than that, I had no clue what game it was, and I honestly can't remember if I played LA before or after I seen Zelda 2 there. I do know that I never made the connection that they were of the same game series.

Another one of my earliest memories came a bit later. I may or may not have played many Zelda games at this point, but I do know I had played and beaten LA by this time and probably also had played OoT as well. I used to subscribe to a gaming magazine called Expert Gamer, which has changed its name since and I'm not sure if it even exists at all now. But in one of the issues I had when I was very young, it had an image of the very end of ALttP, where Link was holding up the Triforce. It was a contest to see who could name what game that came from, and they would win a T-shirt with the Expert Gamer logo on it. I can remember looking at that picture and having absolutely no clue what game it was. I kept thinking Link looked like a football player for some odd reason, or was wearing some multi-colored knight armor. Its odd to be able to remember looking at an image of a game that I am so fond of now and being clueless as to what it was, but I can remember that pretty vividly because I kinda wanted to win that shirt.

The last one I can think of that would constitute as an actual early memory in my book is going to my aunt's house boat on the lake and playing Ocarina of Time on the N64. This aunt of mine was actually the mother of the cousin who had Link's Awakening, where I used to play it as a kid all the time. Anyway, I can remember going there and seeing the game and actually playing it for the first time. I don't remember anything about playing through it, but I know I didn't get too far (I was probably more interested in going out on the lake). The most vivid memory I have of that event was that one of the files on the game he had named "Ganondorf", which I thought was very odd. I also had no clue who Ganondorf was at the time.

[jugglaj91]

My earliest memory is playing the original LoZ for NES. I had no idea what it was. All I remember about this is that if I had full hearts I could shoot a sword beam at enemies which at the time I thought this was AWESOME!!! Mind you this was back in 1999 so it was after the N64 and OOT. I had always played Pokemon on my Gameboy, Mario, or Sonic the Hedgehog. I know I didn't get very far in LoZ, or how far I got to be honest. But it a memory I don't think I will ever forget. Also: I knew the game was named Zelda so like others I though Link's name was Zelda LOL!!

[CZG]

First, I saw a gold cassette in the stores. The only one. With a very intriguing picture on the cover.
It got me interested to say the least. I never saw any commercials, I didn't know anything about this game and I hadn't even heard from Nintendo or Zelda at all.... But I knew I had to get this game...

So I waited several months for my birthday to come...
Having bought the LoZ game (got it from my parents actually), on the way home... I read the manual.
Oh wow, I can save this time (I just played Wonderboy in Mosterland on the Commodore 64 on TAPE, which very often jammed)! Also the map looked amazing and it got me so excited!

I hooked up my new console, skipped Mario for starters and started playing Zelda right away when we got home.
Before I moved Link around, I listened to the overworld theme. Twice. Or maybe even three times.

I was hooked on the game from that point.
When I entered the cave and got the Wooden Sword, I couldn't stop playing...

[badmuffins]

The farthest back I can remember is getting caught by those stupid guards at the forsaken fortress. WW was my first game.

[Jesper]

I always thought Link's name was Zelda aswell :P
My most rememberable thing from Zelda was when the King (in WW) owned Ganon's *** by touching the Triforce. Epic music, epic cutscene.

[Reyh]

Well, my earliest memories of Legend of Zelda, was the first game in the series, LoZ. I didn't own the game, but when I went over to my cousins they had a crap ton of NES games, LoZ in the gold cartridge was one of them. Now I don't think I played this one, not at that point, but I still remember them battling through the overworld, and a few dungeons.

Now, the first game I can actually remember playing was ALttP, and boy did I play that game. It wasn't until I was older did I actually sit down and try and beat it. I was constantly exploring, finding heart pieces, secret items, etc. I remember how pumped I got whenever I found a new dungeon item, especially the Red and Blue Mails. I probably have more hours in this game, then I do any other game. Except maybe Super Mario World. Maybe.

[Ikana]

I remember playing the OOT for the very first time.I was like four when I first played it.I remember I erased my brothers file and he got so mad at me.

[Icetomeetyou]

I don't really remember actually playing one. But I do remember my friend telling me about Sheik and how he was really a princess in disguise. It made me want to play, but my mom wouldn't let me get any game system. I also had a weird feeling when I heard Saria's Song when I was about 10-11. Like I'd heard it before and for some reason when I heard it I remember somenoe in green.

Yeah I know that sounds stupid and like I'm totally making it up. But I assume you this is 100% ture.

[Tily]

My earliest memory was watching my babysitter play LoZ on my old NES console, so this was WAY back in the day lol. She was always so good and I always kept watching to see how far she would get. The farthest I remember was her getting to the mummies in the dark room or old tree, lol. I don't really remember which but all I knew was the game seemed so cool to me, especially since it was all gold plated!

[Din Akera]

My cousin introduced me to the game (OoT) and I remeber her letting me play, she simply handed me the controller once she got out into hyrule field, I was about 7 and my cousin is 4 years older than me. But what I remeber most was being afraid of the skullchild and not wanting to play if it was night. I learned about the sun song and so then I just wouldn't play until my cousin got it so I could play during the day time :) Now, obviously it doesn't bother me, but when I was that old I was scared. I didn't want to do temples either, I just ran around and killed gold skultulas, did side quests, and got heart containers.

[Tails]

I remember the kokiri forest very well.... VERY well! Seriosly, I was so bad at OoT as a kid I couldn't even get past the first room in the Deku tree >.>. So I would just roam around the Kokiri forest and lost woods for hours on end >.<

I did the same thing with Majora's mask as well. I would start a new game, play through the entire 3 day cycle, and die a the end XD. Over, and Over again! I must have memorized every aspect of clock town by the time I was done.

After that, I kinda gave up on Zelda... and played sonic until I was a young teen... then got into it again :)

[Skull_Kid]

Good ol'times... tons of afternoons trying to beat ALttP without any guides(back in 1993/4), it took me almost a year to finish the game...
My face when I first plugged OoT in my N64...
Oh, and the joy of a "lost" childhood when I saw that ALttP was ported to the GBA, wich brought me back to gaming.
And the Xmas gift that was so important this year, a copy of the SNES ALttP

[Y2K3]

My first memory of Zelda was one of two senarios. They both happened around the same time, so I cannot remember which was first. Either the Zelda Cartoon, which I absolutely loved when I Was young. I don't think I really knew what it was other than this segment in the Super Mario Bros. Super Show. Ther other possibility was play my uncle's Adventure of Link game. I also had no idea what it was other than 'that really hard game that I didn't understand'. Even still, I loved the game, and the music.

[NorthApple]

Heh, when I think back a bunch of OoT and MM memories get in my way- desperately jumping into the moat to avoid stalchilds, Epona leaping over the broken bridge, the warp pool to Zora's Waterfall, chasing the Bombers, I could go on and on all day. But honestly, they're not technically my earliest Zelda memories, I was 6 at the time anyway. So. *pushes them to the side*

I don't know what order these were in, at one point I thought LttP and LA were the same game anyway. No, I remember watching my dad play LttP, and was amazed as he pushed an orange block along out over empty space to find an invisible pathway. I also remember being outside Hyrule Castle, and he actually handed me the controller~! I was so happy, but I remember spending ages trying to get into Hyrule Castle under the archway, but being warped to the darkworld every time, with the brown grass and the bomb-throwing Hinox. I can remember absolutely adoring the shallow water you found in some caves, the way it was covered in ripples and made that 'splish' 'splish' noise when you walked in in~
And I think we had some kind of Game Genie, because we used to play LA on the big tv, though it looked entirely green. I remember the village song, the ballad of the windfish Marin sung, the chainchomp thing you could take for a walk, the boys playing catch, and the screen full of bushes~

The only other Zelda-related thing I remember was helping my mum make an LttP cave-themed birthday cake for my dad, and we made a pathway out of little biscuits, and used gummy turtles and chocolate mice as enemies, and a little plastic chest with a gummy heart inside in the middle~

[Link 2 the past]

First time video game I ever played was LttP. To this day it is still my all time favorite video game.

I only played the NES games a couple of times as a kid over at a friends house, they seemed so primitive compared to LttP.

Only once they were put on the Wii VC did I beat the original game, I still can't beat AoL.

[lonely_moon]

My first memory of LoZ would be of Ocarina of Time. Seeing the sweeping camera angles, Link riding through Hyrule Field at dawn on Epona in the opening cutscene. My brother was playing it, and he chose a file that was already there (it was a second-hand copy), and the first actual gameplay I saw was of Adult Link in the Temple of Time. Naturally, my obsession with the series began there, and hasn't once ceased.

[shadowsoldier]

My first memory was of OoT I had just bought it and I was playing it for what seemed like hours, I can remember the sense of space upon entering hyrule field the first time, the amazing soundtrack, and the most important memory for me was taking in the storyline at full force. Ah some great first impressions.

[Dark Princess]

Well, it would be both The Legend of Zelda and Link's Awakening DX. TLOZ was the first one I had, but I was so young, and I could barely remember any of it.. So the true earliest memory would be of Link's Awakening. I'd always play it and not know what to do. I was five or six when I started going through dungeons and stuff, and I was able to get to the fifth dungeon (I think it was fifth), but then I'd get stuck at that point. I've beaten it a few years ago, though.. :)

[Axle the Beast]

For me that would probably be the first time I played Ocarina of Time. I was considerably younger back than and had never played a Zelda game before. My brother and sister rented OoT and brought it home, and my brother showed me the game. He essentially walked me through it (because I sucked back then) and helped me beat the Deku Tree, go to Hyrule Castle, talk to Zelda, etc.. Sadly I did not get to do Death Mountain. :(

Later on we bought a used copy of A Link to the Past on the SNES, so the bulk of my early Zelda experience comes from that (we didn't get OoT until a while later, around the same time we got Majora's Mask). Still, my earliest memory is of OoT. :)

[LANZZ]

Well, first time i play LoZ is when i finished my high school 2 years ago. My first game is alttp and after beat this game, i fall in love to this series. Until now, i already have all official zelda games (beat 10 of them), cdi games, and a lot of fan games. I also have other zelda stuff like alttp manga, oot manga, valiant comics, moblin's magic spear book, and copy of 'Hero of Time' fan film.

[DesertDweller]

I think I was one of the late-coming Zelda fans. I bought a gamecube used online or something, and it came packaged with The Wind Waker. I remember completely ignoring that game for the real reason I bought the GC: Super Smash Bros Melee.

Several months and no spare cash later, I finally got around to playing WW. I'm so proud of how I played back then; I was so clueless about the most basic puzzles; going through the game was like molasses climbing uphill, and I had wayyy too much fun crawling around and listening to the cute sfx played. I got quite absorbed in the story, but got lost on the gameplay and stopped somewhere around the Tower of the Gods.

Took a year-long hiatus from WW, then remembered I hadn't beaten it and finished the game. I did it all by myself with no help except for the ghost ship, which I admittedly had to look up online after spending hours running through it every time I happened upon it. Of all the Zelda stories, WW holds a special place in my heart. I get chills every time I think of Ganon's final words: "The wind...it is blowing."

I then sold my gamecube a year later or so, and didn't think much of Zelda until my mom bought a random gamecube at a garage sale for no reason whatsoever aside from that it only cost her $10 and came with a controller and memory card.

I got interested in Zelda again and decided to try out the Collector's Edition disc, bought WW again, and the addiction has only gotten worse from there. :D

[Raven]

ALttP at my older brothers friends house, i can't recall too much but I remember the guy playing the flute inside that copse of trees that would dis- appear and the Hyrule Castle. other than that its all a blur.. but now that im older i can play ALttP all by myself lol i joke. i also remember seeing and possibly playing a Zelda LA DX game, but that's even harder to recall... anyway its nice to reflect on stuff like this, i hadn't thought of that stuff for a long time.

[Justin]

The year was 1996, I was 6 years old or so. My family and I just got a Super Nintendo with Mario All Stars, and Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. I can barely remember this day, but there exist some memories. I remember opening the box and setting up the SNES. We also got a 2nd controller, this controller had the color A, B, X, Y buttons. The first game I played that day (not the first in my life) was Mario because it came with the SNES.

Anyways, afterwards we played ALTTP. It was the best, because you could free roam and explore. Unlike the Mario games, it gave you an introduction and a story. There was an actual reason for playing the game. For me, I compared it to watching a movie, except you were in it (sort of).

Anyways, without making a long post, I'll end the story here. That was a very long time ago :(! *hates being old*

[LozzyKate]

I was three years old in 1999. Four years before that, my parents bought two N64s. One was blue. The other black. Anyway, my parents had bought OoT in 1999 and my dad started playing it. He could not figure out where to get the Kokiri Sword, so I tried. Yeah, a three year old is bound to mess it up right? Well in my case, no. I found the Kokiri Sword and continued the game. I beat the game in a matter of three days.


When WW was released, my dad and I were the first buyers. We pre-ordered it and went pick it up at the mall when I got a phone call to come and pick it up whenever. I think it was 3 in the morning, but i will always remember that day because it was also the day the war started. I have a lot more stories, but I don't want to bore any of you.

[Mikau94]

My earliest Zelda memory is probably watching my friend play ALttP

[soulreapersheik]

i have loads of memories of OOT. my best one is being in kokiri forest, walking around, talking to the deku tree....whenever i go there it feels like being at home!

[Forsaken]

My very first memory of Zelda was actually with Link's Awakening. I remember loving the game, thinking Link's name was Zelda, and always wanting to play it when I went to my cousin's house since I didn't actually have the game myself

I had to go over my cousin's place to play games as well, I completely understand you :P
I guess it was because I was too young to own a video-game, and so my lucky cousin got his sister's SNES for christmas. Lucky bastard! xD

Anyways, my very first memories of Zelda games were AlttP scenes. I remember feeling sad and awkward for Link having his uncle kidnapped, and giving tips/trying to help my cousing throughout the game.
My very first contact with english! Yes, thanks video-games I can speak english. I remember bombs, the boomerang and other epic items being used. The Underworld!
Hmm...then skipping to OoT, the ocarina epic songs, the graphics, deaths in water temple, Dark Link, Kakariko-Village...
The amazing soundtrack, storyline, unique characters... I can see myself constantly editing this post so I can add more stuff to it, hah.
By the way, nice thread.

[UltramarineZora]

My earliest memory...

This would have to be when I was about 6 or 7, and I watched my dad play OoT. At the time, this was the coolest game ever. I remember when Link walked into the room to defeat Gohma, and when Gohma came down from the ceiling, I hid behind the couch because I hated spiders. Then my dad beat Gohma and the ring of light came from the ceiling to take Link away, and I was so happy.

After that, I thought OoT was the sweetest game ever. I knew I had to try it. That is eventually how I got addicted. :P

[Steve]

My first memory of Zelda is back when I was four years old, and was playing the original Legend of Zelda for the Nintendo Entertainment System, along with games such as Mike Tyson's Punch Out! and Super Mario Bros. 3.

[athenian200]

My earliest memory of Zelda was reading about Ocarina of Time previews in Nintendo Power. So many people seemed excited about a new Zelda game coming out after 5 years, and I wasn't sure why, having never played one before. The things I read created a certain mixture of emotions in me. Partially a sense of epic adventure mingled with the kind of awe you get when reading mythology, and partially a sense of innovation/exploration mixed with a sense of refinement and being established. Finally, finding out that this series started out on the NES and that I'd never heard of it until now (since no games had been released for it in 5 years) really gave me the sense going in that I was uncovering a lost world filled with unknown magic and tales. I decided to buy the game, having gotten such a vivid impression and lacking any competition for my attention due to the dearth of RPGs on the N64.

My next memory is of being so terrified by ReDeads and the concept of invisible enemies that I became paranoid about there being invisible ReDeads in certain corridors and entryways in my home. I ended up being terrified of the Bottom of the Well, and it took me weeks to get frustrated enough to confront my fear, barreling through it and the Shadow Temple. Let's just say that after I beat the game, I wanted to make extra sure that no evil could leak out of the cartridge (since I was worried the Sage's seal wouldn't be enough to hold it). So I purchased a box of Chinese design with a lot of mystic runes on it and a lock, put my OoT cartridge inside, and locked the box. I then put a label on it that said, "Pandora's Box - Do not open!" I stopped imagining ReDeads after that, but I didn't open it again for 5 years. I stopped being afraid of the game around the same time I stopped believing in religion. I ended up getting a used copy of ALttP after that to satisfy my Zelda cravings, due to realizing 3D gaming was a little too intense for me. I pretty much stuck to my SNES after that until the Gamecube came out.

[Tony]

My first memory of zelda was roaming the kokiri forest when I was 7 on valentines day, my second memory was going to lake hylia having the crap scared out of me by monsters.

[StrangeWig]

My most memorable moment in a Zelda game happened when I first stepped into Hyrule Field in OoT. After talking with Kaepora, I was walking towards Hyrule castle with that awesome music behing my ears when I noticed that the sun was actualy going down!!! o.O
I was like:
http://blog.nbc.com/ross_blog/TV%20omg.jpg

I spent a lot of time just staring at the sunset!! Till I noticed I was surrounded by skullkids :D

[predsfan88]

I remember playing OoT the first few times. I sucked at it when I was little, so my sister who is also a big Zelda fan took over at the hard parts. Now I can pretty much beat OoT with my eyes closed. I've always wanted to time myself and see how fast I could beat the game, but always lost track of timing it. Plus I always like playing it for the story and not rushing through the game.

[Linky]

Hmm, The earliest memory I have of Zelda is me and my friend were at some after school thing and he had his gameboy playing Minish Cap, at the time I had no clue what it was but now that I'ma Zelda Freak I realize what it was and I now have the game

[Turo602]

Yeah I always Love when I first get the game and play it for the first time, but I think I have to go with Four Swords Adventure. The game was great by itself but it was in fact the very first Zelda game I actually passed. I also had the most fun with it because I played with my older brother and sister. It was always funny fighting for rupees and items, and It was also cool that it was a Co-op Zelda game. It was also always fun seeing who was the best at the end and also the Tingle mini games.

So what are your best memories?

[Destiny]

Taking OoT to daycare and playing it while having an audience of 12 other kids. It was the in thing xDD

[Turo602]

Taking OoT to daycare and playing it while having an audience of 12 other kids. It was the in thing xDD

LOL! Who doesn't like to have an audience while playing? After all, you get to show off your skill to easily impressed kids.:P

[MOTLEYlink]

Watching my older sister play OOT, :( I kind of miss those times.

[Turo602]

Watching my older sister play OOT, :( I kind of miss those times.

I know how you feel. I was first Introduced to the Legend of Zelda through my brother. I would always watch him play. But it's funny, he had the first Zelda game on NES and loved it but we weren't Fans up until Wind Waker was nearing. He doesn't even know how he ended up with the first Zelda game, lol.

[basement24]

I think every Zelda game I have has certain memories tagged to them that I will forever remember (not in-game memories, but real-world ones connecting in with my playing of a new title). The best one for me was probably playing through AoL with my father and sister while my mother watched back when it first released. We'd all take turns but my father, who never played a video game before nor has played one since, was the best at it. Finally, my sister and I just let him play as we wanted to see how he got through it.

We got to the final temple, and final boss, but were defeated. Tired, we saved to try again another day. Unfortunately, a friend of the family visited before we could and played the game and didn't hold RESET while pressing POWER (the NES way of ensuring your game saved). The next time we played the game, ready to finish it, our game was at the beginning. We never set out to try and finish it again on the NES since it was too disheartening, but at least playing through 99% of the game with my family was fun.

Flashforward to earlier last year, and I finally finished the game on the Wii VC. The family gathered around to watch the ending after over 20 years. The best part of it was when the ending was completed, my father just said "That's it?". It was hilarious. Good times, indeed.

[Turo602]

I think every Zelda game I have has certain memories tagged to them that I will forever remember (not in-game memories, but real-world ones connecting in with my playing of a new title). The best one for me was probably playing through AoL with my father and sister while my mother watched back when it first released. We'd all take turns but my father, who never played a video game before nor has played one since, was the best at it. Finally, my sister and I just let him play as we wanted to see how he got through it.

We got to the final temple, and final boss, but were defeated. Tired, we saved to try again another day. Unfortunately, a friend of the family visited before we could and played the game and didn't hold RESET while pressing POWER (the NES way of ensuring your game saved). The next time we played the game, ready to finish it, our game was at the beginning. We never set out to try and finish it again on the NES since it was too disheartening, but at least playing through 99% of the game with my family was fun.

Flashforward to earlier last year, and I finally finished the game on the Wii VC. The family gathered around to watch the ending after over 20 years. The best part of it was when the ending was completed, my father just said "That's it?". It was hilarious. Good times, indeed.

Lol, what a journey that game was eh.

[Icetomeetyou]

The first time I started up Twilight Princess on my Wii. It was the best feeling ever. My heart was beating manically, my breathing was fast, and I was pretty close to tears. It was the best feeling in the world.

[Turo602]

The first time I started up Twilight Princess on my Wii. It was the best feeling ever. My heart was beating manically, my breathing was fast, and I was pretty close to tears. It was the best feeling in the world.

Lucky you. You wouldn't believe the hell I went through. I got TP on Christmas and wasn't able to open or play it because there was a good deal on it at Target so my brother was going to return it and get the cheaper one. When I got home that day, that plastic was ripped off into dust and I was playing TP for the first time ever!

[Valexi]

My best Zelda memories was when I was a kid playing the first LoZ game; my parents would watch me and give me hints on where things are because they had played it before, but make me feel that I got it on my own.
I got really upset when I couldn't beat Ganon, but my Dad swooped in and beat him up for me.
Oh, and another nice memory was when we first got OoT; my parents were just as excited for that game as I was.
We got home and played it for hours.
:p
Good times.

[Turo602]

My best Zelda memories was when I was a kid playing the first LoZ game; my parents would watch me and give me hints on where things are because they had played it before, but make me feel that I got it on my own.
I got really upset when I couldn't beat Ganon, but my Dad swooped in and beat him up for me.
Oh, and another nice memory was when we first got OoT; my parents were just as excited for that game as I was.
We got home and played it for hours.
:p
Good times.

HAHAHAHAHA! It almost sounds as if Ganon was someone messing with you and then got their a** beat by your dad.:lol:

[Destiny]

Another momment of mine is when I came home from school and my mom, being sick and being one who scolded me on my Zelda game playing, was sitting in front of the tv with the N64 out playing OoT. I was like.. "Mom?.."
She said, "Oh my god this is great!" And now she wont' leave my video games alone xD

[Kybyrian]

Hmm... best Zelda memory...

It certainly has to be Ocarina of Time whenever you collect the Cuccos for the Cucco Lady. I'm not sure why, but it's actually one of the few memories I had of Ocarina of Time after not playing it for a few years. It just stuck in my head, but I always remember how fun the entire game was.

[xmajorax]

Playing the part in OoT in Gerudo 's Fortress and the Spirit temple with my best bud. It was like my 3rd time playing it through and i still had trouble sneaking past the guards, so we woud take turns trying to finish it. Also playing the first LoZ with the same guy and failing at it. :P

[bigflyingpotato]

Ah, several years back I started Oracle of Ages before I was even into Legend of Zelda, and I only got a couple temples in. This year I got Oracle of Ages for my birthday since I lost the old copy, and playing through the first parts and hearing the music again was pure nostalgia.
Also, when Link turned into a wolf for the first time in Twilight Princess, I was watching my brother play and that's what got me hooked on the series I think. I was amazed.

[Toon_Link]

I was about 6-7, and I was playing OoT, and I used to think Hyrule Field was this super huge ginormous field. So I had to explore every inch of it, and I was playing as a child (I didn't even know you could play as an adult at the time) then all of a sudden it turned to night, and the Stalchilds started appearing it scared me so badly I turned the game off, and ran out of my room. I remember when I was over at some kid's house (I wouldn't consider him a friend since he was a spoiled little brat) we were playing OoT, and he showed me that you could turn into an adult, and then he showed me the castle town when you're an adult it freaked me out 'cause of the ReDeads, and their shreaking. I don't know why some of the best memories I've had playing Zelda were when I got scared, well maybe it's just that I laugh at that now that it doesn't scare me anymore.

[Oihana]

First time I ever even heard of Zelda was in 1998 when OoT was released (I got the year right, right? correct me if I'm wrong) I was just a kid then, and I walked into the living room to see my older brother and his friend playing the beginning of the game. Kokiri Forest was the very first Zelda location I ever remember seeing. So I have my brother to thank for my Zelda obsession!

[bbevington90]

My first memory of the Zelda series was playing ALttP at my friend's house. I had no idea about the series, but he loved the series, and over time I did too. I remember helping him get through some of the dungeons. I was always the one good at the fighting portion, and he was always good at figuring out the puzzles. I ended up buying OoT when it came out and the rest is history.

[ZeldaMaster]

My earliest memory was first playing WW since then I've continued to borrow The Legend of Zelda Collectors Edition just to play OoT and MM

[DuckNoises]

The first time I played a Zelda game was at age 7 or 8, in a grocery store, of all places. There was an N64 set up, and there was Ocarina of Time and Banjo-Kazooie set up and playable. I played a bit of both, not knowing what either of them were, but I had a blast. I remember walking from Kokiri Forest to Hyrule Field, and I listened to the Hyrule Field theme over and over again, just wandering around. After the in-game sun set (a real feat for its day), I ran away from the Stalchilds and escaped into Castle Town. I remember meeting Malon (whom I believe I referred to then as "chicken girl"), and I was pretty confused as to why the guards wouldn't let me through the gate to Hyrule Castle. :P
That grocery store didn't have an N64 for much longer. :( I remember coming back maybe a year later and leaving disappointed, having not found the N64.
I wouldn't own Ocarina of Time for a long time after that, though.

I suppose my first formal introduction to the Zelda series was playing Oracle of Seasons, a few years after I got my first Game Boy. I saw my friend playing it on his Game Boy Colour, and I was intrigued with its shenanigans. So, I asked my parents for it and got it for my next birthday, and I loved it. I then tried to find more and more of the games as they came out, and borrowed or played others with my friends.

[Shadow Link]

My earliest memory was probably back when I was 4, I would play MM and roll around as a goron for hours.


Still do :)

[Jedizora]

I was at my cousins house when i ws 7 and he had WW. i really only played for about 30 seconds because he could'nt figure out how to use the telescope to look at the post man.

[penguinboy82]

Actually, (and you kight think this is lame) but I wanted (yes, wanted) to learn how to read because of OoT. My mom would be sitting there playing it, and I got upset every time because I couldn't read the words. To this day, I am fond of THOSE memories, because they involved a few of my (nowadays) favorite things. Learing, reading, my mom, and the obvious, ZELDA! FTW!!! Also, I was OoBer excited when I finally beat MM, because, to this day, it was and is the only Zelda game that I have beat and my mom has not. I don't get it. How could a game with a time limit be "too confusing" or "there's too much to do!"?

[knowlee]

Ah, my earliest Zelda memories. I recall the first time I actually played Zelda. I was around maybe 7-8-years-old and I was over at my grandparents house where they had a NES and some games. One of them, you guessed it, was the original LoZ. I remember looking at the game as I was deciding what game I would try to play. (I wasn't much of a gamer at this time.) I decided that I would play LoZ and I popped it into the system. Once I started myself a new game on there I started to walk around, kill octorocks, and would die at times. I got as far as the beginning of the first dungeon before I died numerous times and decided "forget it, this is too hard" and shut off the game.

I didn't get into the game until much later when my family had a SNES. My mom bought ALttP from the store one day, and me being a bit curious decided that I would play it. I remember getting immersed into the game and could find myself getting a bit farther than I did in the original although I still died at the first boss. My cousin would come over during some days and I would watch him play it. He would get much farther into the game than I would and I was content with watching him at the time. Then of course there came the days that he didn't come around for a while and I got tired of waiting for him to come over and play so I could watch. Thus, I decided that I would start my own game on there and try my best to beat it. Remembering what I saw him do in the first three dungeons I was able to find myself beating them and eventually found myself fighting Agahnaim and entering the Dark World.

I also remember playing MM and getting so engrossed in the game that it would be all I would think about. I also remember being so excited that I beat the game for the first time. That was the first Zelda game that I had beaten so it felt like I had accomplished something great. :)

[PhantomTriforce]

My earliest memory was playing ALttP, and thinking, "Wow. This game is HARD." :)

[dizzy_me_up]

my first Zelda memory is actually one of my best memories period. I grew with a kind of rough childhood. my parents had some really bad issues and my mom was angry all the time. one of my neighbors (her god-son and pretty much my brother) had A Link To The Past and for some odd reason she decided to play it and loved it. this is the only game she's ever played. fast forward a little while and she decides to get me a Super Nintendo so we can play Zelda without borrowing his. I remember one night I was about 3 or 4 and she got up at midnight and tried to beat the Ice Palace and I got up to see what she was doing. she ended up letting me stay up until 3 in the morning with her. this was the happiest I had ever seen my mom as a kid and I always ALWAYS cherish that memory. it's what keeps me going back to Zelda every time.

[Tony]

My Dad and I playing ooT together when I was 2 or 3 and I was so scarred and yet so intrigued by the power of OoT I kept going back for more.

[Aero_Dynamic]

When I got the Wind Waker in the mail i was like"ITS HERE!!!!!!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!! YEEES!!!!" lol

[nintendo4ever]

mine was when i was too little to read but i would still sit and beg my older sister to read out loud to me and let me watch when she played. i felt so accomplished when i finallly started playing myself lol

[Donahue]

I remember playing Majora's Mask when I was 5 and being afraid to leave Clock Town.

Ocarina of Time was one of the games that made me fall in love with video games. Of course, I rarely played it and had to sneak behind my cousin to do so, but it was amazing.

[AwesomeLink86]

Earliest Zelda memories.........Playing the original two Zeldas in diapers :D

[Cel-Shaded Deku]

Playing OoT with my dad. Back then I was five so most of the time I would just cut the grass in Kokiri Forest, play with the hookshot and cuccos in Kakariko, or watch my dad play the later parts of the game. Sometimes I would fight the stalchildren in Hyrule field and eventually I got the courage to try to beat the first dungeon but I needed a lot of help.

[EternalNocturne]

When I was so much younger, I saw a commercial on the TV with a girl trapped in a cage or something. This was back in, um... 2002 - 2003-ish. She was narrating and throughout the entire commercial, and I was thinking, "Ugh, it's one of those 'save-the-princess' things again. This game looks so boring."

How wrong I was. I've been beating myself up for not getting into Zelda sooner. XD I found out much later that the commercial I saw was the one of The Wind Waker.

HMPH. >_<

[Bigelover88]

My earliest Zelda memories? Oh boy as I said before I only became familiar with Zelda like two years ago but of course I did know the name. My earliest memories with Zelda must have been at the SSBB game for the Wii when I had to fight Link always at the beginning. Soon after I bought PH and I always have memories of me playing the game while it was dark outside and very cold. My hands were hurting but I didn't care because I loved playing it so much

[Durion]

My earliest Zelda memories are from around about when I was two or three, and decided that I would play on my brothers copy of Ocarina of Time. I can remember getting as far as the Goron City before I either stopped playing the game to play on Diddy Kong Racing (an old favourite) or Mario Kart 64 (also an old favourite, before I realised how awesome Ocarina of Time really was).

I can remember trying to get across the bridge in Kokiri Village to talk to that girl, and failing many times because I wasn't really that good with making Link run in a straight line so that he didn't fall off. I can't really remember before that, or much else in the actual village after that, I just remember running around the Lost Woods and beating the Great Deku Tree, before going to Hyrule Castle, and talking to Princess Zelda. I remember getting frustrated at the fact that I didn't know how to get pasts that guards for a long time, and that I had to keep paying 10 rupees before I realised that you could climb up the wall.

Other than that, I spent a fair amount of my time running around Zora's River and Kakariko Village.

[Beeker]

The earliest place I remembered Link was in SSBM. Even with the trophy info, I didn't seemed to care much about Zelda. It was around 2004 that I played OoT on the Collectors Edition, and the one thing I remember from that was getting stuck at Jabu-Jabu. I had no idea how to get inside him, and I gave up until I got my hands on Twilight Princess and Phantom Hourglass, when I fully realized how awesome Zelda is.:P

Funny how one of my first memories is one of anger.:lol: