I absolutely love Nintendo, PlayStation is my prefered console but Nintendo has a major place in my heart. I've played many Nintendo games on the Gamecube, SNES, and the Wii, but I've never played a Zelda game. I think I'm going to pick up a Wii U so I can finally play a Zelda game. I also know nothing about the characters other than the fact that Link is a bad guy? I think? What made you like Zelda? The gameplay? Characters? Story? Music? Graphics?

NO (lol)! He's the main Hero (Least you didn't call him Zelda ).

And to answer the 2nd bold... All of the above!

this is embarrassing

(i actually thought zelda was a character, i never knew i was playing the zelda main character in smash bros this whole time)

You are in for a treat. Wii U allows Wind Wacker HD, Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword with backwards compatability, and of course the new one coming out next year. I would also recommend a 3ds if you haven't got one for A Link Between Worlds, Ocarina of Time, and the upcoming Majora's Mask. Also look for Virtual Console games for 2d Zeldas as well as Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks which work on the 3DS

the new zelda looks so beautiful

Link is indeed the bad guy and is also a girl

A lot of people make the common mistake that the main character's name is Zelda.

It's obvious that his real name is Ganondorf.

Neither did I until a little over a year ago. Now I've played almost all the 3D games (except Majora's Mask, but that will change next month) and A Link Between Worlds. It's quickly become my favorite franchise. I love the exploration and atmosphere in them, as well as the feeling of being on a grand adventure (that always last well over 50-ish hours for me).

I also like that each game switches up the art style and gives a new gimmick of sorts to really make the series feel fresh with each installment. In my opinion, if there's any game to buy a Wii U for, it will be Zelda U.

Zelda is a character. She's the princess that Link saves. :)