Now that I've Been receiving more mail these days related to Zelda (Which I do read by the way), more fans have been talking and describing their experiences with this series of games. This letter really brings home the impact video games on an entire generation of people. I know that a large part of my formative years and now into adulthood are involved or surround video games. This is has been my life, and probably from now until the day I day I myself will always keep these things close to my heart. My own memories of playing Zelda when I was young are fond, my first game was actually Zelda II: The Adventures of Link and I swear I thought that was the greatest thing ever made at that time. I had an epic vision in my mind of what this world was like, and over the years I've maintained my fascination and devotion to this series of games. Beau Weidman here describes in detail with emotion and a lot of heart the experience and lasting appeal of a masterpiece that is the Zelda series. This letter achieves Letter of the Month Status for May of 2004, congratulations Beau!

Hiya X!, First of all, I must say this here is a wonderful site. I remember browsing it back when Zelda 64 was still played by the masses, and it quickly became my favorite fan site. Just recently, after this long wait for a good classic Zelda game, (a time which my interest in the series diminished), I heard of Zelda 2005, and quickly looked up your site again. I cannot express the relief I had when I found your site. Its been what, 6 years, and the site is still up and running. Amazing piece of work you've created here, VGX. So, after the praise, here are my memories!

I first played Zelda back in those foggy days of early childhood. Im guessing around late 5-ish, is when I started playing Zelda. My dad wanted my cousin's NES for some reason, and I clearly remember going over to her house and digging around in her closet for one of her many spare NES consoles (this girl, or maybe her father, is a friggin die-hard NES fanatic I tell you!), and I also clearly remember my dumb uneducated 5 year old mind not knowing what the heck was going on. As you could probably infer from the last sentence, since I started my gaming back when my mind couldn't fully think on it's own, my memories of first playing Zelda are extremely foggy. Well, anyway, we got a deal set up where I could borrow two games from her a month, and needless to say, I picked "that golden sword game!" (I hadn't learnt to read back then) as one of them each month. I played both Zelda NES games, never once knowing what the name of the games were or what was happening in them the whole way, but somehow, there was something so appealing about traveling over a vast, endless land in search for underground treasure. Eventually I either forgot about the two games, or was just too lazy to read the title of them, but sooner or later I got me a Game Boy. After using the advice of the salesperson, I got my mom to buy me Link's Awakening with the game boy. The first time I booted up the system, I was amazed by pretty much everything. This was my first step out of the puny power of the NES, and I was baffled by the game. I specifically remember getting to the first dungeon and seeing the bats fly around the overhead veiw. I paused the game there, and said "Mom! This game is just like that golden sword game I have back home!". That was the moment I first showed interest in the Zelda series. Eventually, I played night-to-day finishing Zelda, and over a year finishing Link's Awakening (cough*low battery life*cough*). I can't tell you what it was like when I first heard of Zelda 64. I came to class one day, and heard a bunch of kids talking about Ocarina of Time. I quickly learned it was another Zelda game like the two I already mastered before, and was eager to learn more. I was baffled.... no, beyond baffled, I mean, I couldn't describe in words how news of the game made me feel. I begged and begged for an N64, but my parents ignored every request. After getting my hands on a (almost) strait A report card, they gave in. One lucky afternoon, I was riding home from Toys R Us, and I was the happiest child on earth. My mom cancelled all my after school sports and such so I could "play Nintendo" all day, hell, she gladly drove strait back to the store to get me an RF Adapter for the TV. Apparently, reports cards have quite a lasting effect! Anyway, I can still smell the sweet aroma of fresh plastic as I slid the N64 out of the package, a smell which could beat the new car smell any day. How clean the piece was, taking It out and sliding my hand across it's sloping hull. I could go on for hours describing that day, but, lastly, I'll say the most memorable part of the day, was the satisfying "click" as Zelda 64's cartridge hit the business end of the N64's slot. And last, but not least, the breathtaking view as Link rode his horse across the sunset, backed by that very familiar tune we all know from the game's title cut scene. I fell out of my chair when I first saw Hyrule field. The first moment the sun quit blinding my eyes, and the magnificent glory of Hyrule was spread out across me, goose bumps spread themselves across my skin, and my overall body felt a big, sweet, chill. Every moment, I felt like this game was made specifically for me. It had everything I wanted in a game, beautiful graphics, breathtaking architecture, a storyline that's not too complex, but still epic and enchanting, and the perfect hero. I was obsessed with the game for a very long time, if you were in my house, and you wanted to see me, I'd be either in the bathroom or in front of the TV playing Zelda. One night, I dreamed, like, the full storyline of the game. From point A to Z, I could memorize every line of text, hum every piece of music in the game spot-on, made 3 fan sites I eventually forgot about, and almost cut the triforce, with a hylian shield background, into my hair (A quick yell from my mother saved me).

That game holds a very special place into my heart. Several times I break out in tears trying to talk about it. Like how some people hold dear memories of pets, houses, or even old friends, I hold memories of Zelda 64. I've kept close note of the series since, the big thump as I fell out of my chair when I saw my first reading of Majora's Mask. The quick excitement that turned to lackluster anticipation as I saw the first screenshot of that overly-bizzare world (yet I preordered and bought it any way). The mental note of the Oracle games I put inside of my head that quickly ran out (yet I got those two anyway...). The disappointment I felt as I saw a screenshot of a frightened, cartoon Link on Wind Waker (yet I bought a Gamecube purely for that game). Overall, the series seems to have gone downhill since the last days of Ocarina, yet, with Ocarina, I have earned unbeatable loyalty to the series. Now, I have memories of three weeks ago when I almost fainted, caught myself right when the butterflies hit my stomach, cried with joy, moaned in disbelief, all at the news of whatever Zelda game is going to serve the Gamecube next year. The best days of my life were spent when I was playing through Ocarina of Time. Now, I must say, I'm about to relive those days sometime next year. I already feel streams of tears trickling their way down my face.

I can't wait.

THE ODYSSEY OF HYRULE