I haven't played every Zelda game, mostly because I never had a GameCube and I still don't have a DS, so my opinion can't be entirely solid. However, I don't think my opinion would sway if I were to play the ones I've unfortunately had to skip out on. As a small child, I was CONSTANTLY playing Link's Awakening on my enormous, gray Gameboy. I had both Zelda titles for my NES, but being so young and with little plot being spelled out without the instruction manuals, I didn't get into them until I was older. Link's Awakening, however, was much different. I came to know and love the characters and felt entirely absorbed. Other titles were admittedly much better and I've spent more time playing them, but they're still not my favorite. Link's Awakening has an element of nostalgia for me that can't be given by any other game.