Best Virtual Console Zelda Game?

[ahkenatan]

I just turned on my 3DS for the first time in nearly a year and I opened the Nintendo Shop or whatever and I have a balance of $6.96. I'd like to start playing the Zelda games because most of my friends have played at least one and I hear they're good, but I've never played or even seen someone play them. 

 

Here's the list of options:

1. The Legend of Zelda
2. Zelda II - The Adventure of Link
3. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
4. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
5. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX

What Virtual Console Zelda game would you recommend to someone who has never played a Zelda game?

[Nonco]

Links Awakening is the best of all those

[CatCloud]

I just turned on my 3DS for the first time in nearly a year and I opened the Nintendo Shop or whatever and I have a balance of $6.96. I'd like to start playing the Zelda games because most of my friends have played at least one and I hear they're good, but I've never played or even seen someone play them.

Here's the list of options:

• The Legend of Zelda
• Zelda II - The Adventure of Link
• The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
• The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
• The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX

What Virtual Console Zelda game would you recommend to someone who has never played a Zelda game?

Hmm, one of the Oracle games or links awakening.

Zelda 1 and 2 are also good but I can't remember how beginner friendly they are....

Season and ages are.. Kinda, the same game, but it's like two sides of one coin.

Great games though.

[Virtual01]

Zelda 1 and 2 are grossly outdated but not terrible games. Of the GBC trilogy, Seasons is my favorite. DX is also really good. Don't care too much for Ages, I find that it drags a lot more than the other games.

[daniellearmouth]

Quite bluntly, I'd only recommend Link's Awakening out of all that...

 

I would recommend Zelda II, if you were experienced with the franchise. But given how so unlike any other game in the series it is, I don't expect it to gel well with you.

[daniellearmouth]

Zelda 1 and 2 are grossly outdated but not terrible games. Of the GBC trilogy, Seasons is my favorite. DX is also really good. Don't care too much for Ages, I find that it drags a lot more than the other games.

 

II holds up surprisingly well today, IMO.

 

Yeah, it's hard as nails, but the combat still feels pretty solid and surprisingly smooth, and at least unlike Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, it's not filled with contrived bollocks.

[ahkenatan]

Link's Awakening it is! Thanks guys.

[skywake]

Chiming in late, as someone who has played every Zelda game? I'd also recommend Link's Awakening.