So Zelda has always been that one franchise everyone seems to praise but I just have a hard time getting into. I tried the Zelda Ocarina of Time remake for the 3ds and played up untill the water temple, while I did get some enjoyment it just never grabbed me. I've also tried the original Legend of Zelda game for the NES which I did enjoy a little bit.

I want to give the series a second chance and would like to try one of the Zelda games available in the RGR but I'm not sure which one would be the best. So I was hoping you guys could help me out with that. Feel free to suggest any Zelda game excluding ocarina of time 2d or 3d (I seem to prefer 2d Zelda games a bit more though then again like I said I've only played OoT)  but I'd like it if you could give a reason why.

Thanks in advance!

I've played all the other 2D Zelda games, and here is my opinion about these:

A Link to the Past: Great story, lots of secrets, but pretty difficult. In terms of story I would say this is definitely the most Zelda-like story you can get. There are tons of items which are really hard to discover but incredibly useful if you want to continue. And this game has about 10 dungeons which is quite a lot, and that is what makes the game so hard. Definitely worth trying, but I would try other ones first.

Link's Awakening: Very mysterious, a cool sidequest, can get pretty hard later on. Link's Awakening is very mysterious since you're stuck on an island and you want to escape, but other people don't think of leaving the island. What's more, your enemies try to warn you for something... There is a really cool sidequest where you constantly have to trade items which is not only necessary to continue, but can also reward you with one of the best items at the end. I stopped when I got to the 7th from the 8 temples because I started to find it too difficult, but I really enjoyed. This one is pretty good to begin with.

Oracle of Ages: Timetraveling is cool and not too confusing, not too difficult, puzzle-based. In Oracle of Ages you can travel through time just like Ocarina of Time but instead of traveling to the future and growing older you can travel to the past and you will remain as old, which although it isn't as logical works well. It's not too easy and anyone can start with it. Don't think it's like Pokémon too: Ages and Seasons are completely different, with the difference being that Ages is based on puzzles (one of the bosses for example has different phases where you have to use about 4 different weapons for example). Very good one to begin with if you like puzzles.

Oracle of Seasons: Bit more action and monsters, idea of seasons is well executed, action-based. Oracle of Seasons is more action based (the final boss of this game is a great example) and thus it will have more things like difficult monsters and bosses but easier puzzles. Another good one to begin with if you like action.

Minish Cap: Lots of treasures, easiest of the 2D games, being very small works good. In Minish Cap you can grow as big as your thumb to talk with little dwarfs known as the Picori by humans but they refer to themselves as Minish. The idea works very good, and you constantly have to combine to proceed, but it isn't that difficult. There are also a bunch of tiny secrets and treasure to find, which is probably the best aspect of the game. A really good game to start with if you want an easy and fun adventure.

I myself think you should start with Link's Awakening or one of the Oracles, then play Minish Cap and then do Link to the Past. I highly recommend you do a Link to the Past later because while it is awesome I find it a lot more frustating and difficult thanks to some unfair monsters, difficult puzzles and bosses and a overworld flooded with monsters. The other ones don't really matter that much, starting with Minish Cap is pretty cool as well. If you start with one of the Oracles and you finish one, then you get a password which you can use in the other game to unlock some cool things like returning NCPs, stronger weapons and the real final boss!

juuldude : I actually forgot to mention that I did play a bit of oracle of seasons but it was way back so I don't remember much but I might just try it. Thanks for the detailed response it really helped. Though which would you recommend out of the oracle games (assuming I'll play both) to start with? Also have you played any of Majora's mask or link between worlds? I've heard majora's mask is good but I might not like it too much if it's too similar to ocarina of time and I've heard link between worlds for the 3ds being deemed the best 2d Zelda out there but since I'd actually have to go out buy it I'm not too sure.

And to anyone else reading feel free to respond I wouldn't mind getting more opinions.

I've only really played Minish Cap for 2D Zelda and I can agree about the difficulty. It's not a bad game to start with at all.
As for Majora's Mask, it may run on OoT's engine but I find it otherwise better. The inclusion of transformation masks switches things up a bit. The Overworld is also much smaller, but there are way more things to do in it. The 3 day system can get a bit nerveracking, but you get used to it. The only thing that seriously takes away from it is Great Bay Temple. Might even be worse than the water temple.

Gamin'Gal : I see, I was thinking since I might buy the 3ds remake then (if I enjoy the other Zelda games) since I've heard people say it's really good and I like how it seems to have this really dark tone. The one thing that worried me is if it's very similar to OoT and the time limit thing that you mention (since I don't like having to play with a timer) but I guess you might get used to it and it could add to the atmosphere of the game. The masks seem interesting as well. Water temple wasn't actually the reason I stopped playing (I also only got a little bit into it) but rather the fact that I became bored and it felt more like I was forcing myself to play.

I don't like how much of the things in OoT revolved around waiting (egoraptor did a pretty entertaining video explaining many of the problems I had on youtube), and how many of the puzzles mostly seemed to revolve around finding a hidden switches or buttons and things instead of being actual puzzles. I guess it might change further in but if a game hasn't grabbed me that far into it I feel like it's pointless to continue.

I'm afraid I don't remember much of Woodfall or Snowhead but both had little gimmicks throughout. With Woodfall it revolved a lot around using the Deku form to avoid swimming in the poisonous water.
Snowhead was more with using the Goron to get around fast.
And Great Bay was water flow.
From what I've heard, the final dungeon is absolutely amazing though.
I'd suggest trying a bit of the RGR version before you buy it if you can.

Gamin'Gal : Yeah I was thinking about trying it if I can get my laptop to run it somewhat smoothly (which I feel somewhat doubtful about). For now I think I'll definitely try one of the oracle games (not sure which one though).

Zlinqx : My personal favorite is A Link to the Past for SNES, but that's probably because I grew up with NES and SNES, so I probably have a bit of nostalgia factored in.
That doesn't mean its a bad game by any means though.

The original Zelda on NES I could never really get into. I really had to force myself to beat it and never got through the 2nd play through with the different map.

The N64/3DS ones (OoT and MM) never really made me want to play them. I tried really hard to get into them and never really could either.

On a side note-
Can you please edit your previous post and remove that link to the other site? Thanks :3

vanelan : I did enjoy the legend of zelda for the NES but it's age does show, like you I couldn't really get into OoT, can't say about MM since I haven't played it but I actually think it looks interesting.

Regarding the link sure I guess but I'm not sure which post you're talking about, and if there's any problem with it?

Zlinqx : The NES one seemed too linear...
You had to go to each castle in a very specific order and basically know where the secrets were to progress.
It got very annoying...

I'll PM you about the link.

Zlinqx : I haven't played Majora's Mask because I want to finish Ocarina of Time first, but it looks like Gamin answered your question about that one. I also haven't played Link Between Worlds, but one of my friends has it and says it's one of his favourite (maybe even most favourite) Zelda game. It's based on A Link to the Past but has some nice additions I've read.

About the oracles, it doesn't matter that much. I myself like Ages more than Seasons, so I think I would go for Ages first. However, I think in terms of depth and difficulty I think Seasons is better to start with.

vanelan : I actually thought it was somewhat open ended since you could somewhat choose where to go. But I will agree that some secrets are pretty much impossible to find without a bunch of luck or with the use of a guide. But I still enjoy playing through it for what it's worth.

juuldude : I guess I'll start with seasons then since I like to save the best for last And I've also heard it's usually the one you play first if you go in the chronological order and it makes sense based on the names to me at least.

I did hear a link between worlds was supposed to be a mix of a remake/sequel of link to the past but since I've never played either I have no clue. I guess I should try a link to the past sometime later and if I like it I might pick up a link between worlds. I also heard that a lot of the new additions fix a some of the things that I didn't like about Zelda games so that's part of the reason I asked.

Zlinqx : You said you played part of Zelda 1. Really, if you can't get into Zelda 1, I don't think you'll like most of them. It pretty much defined a lot of the series, and then A Link to the Past took the same concept the original started with and added most of the extra things that we see in newer Zelda games.  Miyamoto himself said that Mario should always be linear, while Zelda should not, and that is exactly what Zelda 1 and LttP do.

If you don't like open world type things, Zelda is not for you, really. Some Zelda's are more linear, but they still don't have a level to level feeling that Mario, Sonic, or Megaman have.

farmboy8 : I said I enjoyed the original, I've actually beaten it. The one I couldn't get into was Ocarina of Time :/ I do feel that the Zelda games are pretty linear though, it basically seems to be the same thing in each game and from what I've seen there's little in terms of side quests in most games. So from what I've played Zelda doesn't really seem open world for the most part, at the very least not OoT, I guess the original Zelda is kind of open world though.

And comparing them to Mario or Megaman seems kind of moot since they're a different genre of games, they're platformers and platformers are usually linear, megaman is still somewhat non linear as far as platformers go with being able to complete the levels in any order you like.

Zlinqx : Ah, I guess I didn't make it exactly clear what I meant comparing those games to Zelda. You're right, they're completely different genres, which is pretty much what I was trying to say before. However I was more thinking in terms of an aesthetic point of view. I mean, Mario could have an over world that you were free to roam like Zelda, and then change into a platformer when you got to a certain but, like what would be a dungeon in Zelda.  So, in terms of pacing and progression, Zelda could be considered very linear in that you must complete things in a certain order. But on the other hand, what essentially defines open world is not be on a fixed course, with literally having the world open for you to explore, which pretty much every Zelda title, even the lesser praised ones, have had that.  So I was comparing that to Mario and Megaman, where even though you in Megaman you can complete things in any order, you still have that linear Aesthetic. So long story short what I meant was that you'll probably be disappointed if you go into a zelda game expecting that Aesthetic.

Anyways, glad you enjoyed the game! Sorry for the long ramblings! Just wanted to clear up what I meant.

farmboy8 : I still find it kind of hard to compare them, but I do get your point. Even with that I wouldn't really say OoT is open world, you still have to complete certain dungeons in a certain order like you said. Even if there is a small world to explore where you can do some other side quests So I would say it's more of a case of it having some open world elements while not being exactly being an open world game like say the original zelda for the NES was.

I can't really speak for most of the other games since like I said, I haven't played most of them but from what I've heard at least the 3d Zelda games are supposed to have a similar structure in that you also have to complete certain dungeons in a certain order and you have an overworld you go through.

Anyways while I'm still kind of disappointed in OoT though I may give it another go and sof the other 3d zelda games seem interesting, like windwaker (which I've heard is supposed to be more open world) and majoras mask (which seems to have an interesting story and some interesting gameplay elements) And I've enjoyed all the 2d zelda games I've played so far.

Link the Faces of Evil. Best game.

In all seriousness, I think that Link's Awaking DX is the best. It's simple but complex. Most importantly? Fun.

Definitely made me like Zelda a whole lot more.

You should try A Link to the Past because that was one of the best overhead Zelda games, and it is not that hard.

A Link to the Past is the first Zelda game I ever played "seriously" (I did try the two others on the NES but didn't own the console so I never finished them) so I think it's better. The controls are fairly easy to master and finding your way is much easier than on the NES versions. Plus, the soundtracks is far more elaborate, and having good music is always pleasant to the ears.

From experience, I would say try A Link to the Past to try and get into the game more? Then maybe go on to one of the Oracle games (I know, I'm repeating what someone else said). After that, try Link's Awakening and Minish Cap. I will tell you right now that Minish Cap is ridiculously fun, so if you start there, you might like the franchise more?

I also recommend playing Oracle of Seasons before playing Oracle of Ages. It's just a tad bit less frustrating that way. Take it from someone who has played and beaten both games, both ways. The less annoying path was Seasons THEN Ages. XD;

If you can find a GameCube...I also recommend playing Windwaker. It's an odd take on the franchise, but it is SO MUCH FUN and not all that frustrating. It gives you time to explore without much consequence, so I highly recommend it, even though I'll probably get flak for it. The art style is toony, yes, but that takes nothing away from the story. It's amazing. 

Also, if you have a 3DS and can find a physical game for cheap, why don't you try a Link Between Worlds? It's intuitive and fun, I just beat it recently and realized it was actually one of the better handheld Zelda games, which...is saying something. If you can't play physical games, though, I recommend starting with either  Minish Cap or A Link to the Past on here. *nodnod*