Best Zelda game to start with Zelda franchise for people that didnt play any Zelda

[Raze]

I agree about Ocarina of Time, good intro. Twilight Princess could work too. 

I'd say to stay away from Wind Waker, the story didn't do a very good job of explaining the world of Hyrule, and the whole "Hyrule is underwater" thing is more of a throwback to those who already have traveled in it from other games. 

Of course, I'm jaded on WW, I call it "Nintendo's Philips CD-i Zelda", or the "Phanton Menace of the Zelda series"