Is it really that bad to like The Legend of Zelda only recently?

I know exactly what you mean, considering I didn't get into Zelda games until the Wii ones. Obviously, it's not bad-- on the contrary, the Legend of Zelda series is one of the best video game franchises in all of history. However, I think what you're really asking is how you can be considered a REAL fan by other, more experienced fans of the games, those who have been loyal to them since the original Legend of Zelda on the Famicom (i think). I have a couple of tips:

1. Play ALL the games. Even if you don't have or can't buy the console, You can download an emulator, which allows you to play the game by using an emulator application and the ROM of the specific game. ***WARNING: downloading the ROM off the internet without owning the game is illegal***. By playing all the games (preferrably more than once) you can participate in conversation with other fans. You will know what you are talking about, so you wont be considered inexperienced or a newbie.

2. Do a little background research. Find the official Timeline from the book "Hyrule Historia" (official release from Nintendo, so it's canon), which lists the chronological order of the games. Learn some basic stuff, like the creator Shigeru Miyamoto (He is super famous in the gaming industry and also created a bunch of other games for Nintendo, like Super Mario. If you don't know his name, you wont be taken seriously). Know things that are common to all the games, like "Zelda's Lullaby" or the different ocarinas.

3. Don't be afraid to have opinions. If your favorite game was Majora's Mask and not Ocarina of Time, that's perfectly fine. If someone disagrees with you, tell them your reasons and back up your opinion with stuff from the games. If you act like you don't know anything, the other fans will see you that way.

4. Remember, you still are a newbie. There are bound to be people that know more than you about the games, or bring up something you never noticed or had heard of. That doesn't make you an inferior fan, as long as you don't pretend you're more "qualified" than you actually are. And remember, those people are pround of having discovered something amazing: they feel its "their" thing. When someone comes along, "challenging their title" if you will, they feel they need to defend themselves. That's all that's going on. So if you make it clear that you know they are more experienced than you, you shouldn't have a problem.

Oops, that ran kinda long. Just remember: don't pretend to be something you're not. And it's just a game.

As a fan of the Zelda series since the NES days, all I can say is... Congratulations. Don't worry about what anyone thinks about your fandom, the series is meant to be dived into and enjoyed by anyone

Next month get yourself a copy of the Hyrule Hystoria art book, it's the best thing any fan can have, everything you need to know and then some in one magical tomb

You can get 4 more games from the Wii Virtual Console channel and 1 other from the 3ds eShop, and 2 DS games which should still be available

It doesn't matter how long you've been playing a video game, (whether it be for 12 years or 2,) as long as you enjoy it then there's nothing wrong with showing interest in the series years after it was created. You just encountered some LoZ fanboys who get butthurt about people that never played the original Ocarina of Time or the Four Swords when they were released. Just ignore people like that because they can't tell you whether you're a fan of the series or not; only you can.

It sort of enrages us "original" Legend of Zelda fans when people say "OMG i love Zelda" and they've only played the newest ones and never bothered checking out the older games. However, if if you really went as far as buying the $100 Skyward Sword game, then no.

Your Zelda fandom may have just resurfaced recently because you played a remake of OoT and remembered how epic it was >:D

And thank God Zelda stole your fandom before Twilight did xD

I only just got into The Legend of Zelda when Skyward Sword came out, so about a year ago. Their reaction to you recently becoming a Zelda fan was uneceaasry. I wouldn't worry about it.

No its cool your friend is a total jerk. It takes a poser to know one. Heck i didnt get into zelda untill the ds games came out. To be honst i like hand held games better,so when i got wind waker for game cube its fun but id rather play my hand held ones. One of the reasons why i want a 3ds is for the new zelda game. Besides who cares ,your friend seems like on of those anoying fan nerds that know everything. Go overload on zelda girlfriend and check out the legend of zelda the wind waker

Its good and HARD and its kid zelda,so cute

No I didn't start like Zelda to Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess oh Twilight haha :D

Personally, I would've socked the person in the jaw... I've never played Ocarina, but I have played Resident Evil... GREAT GAME. Also I did play Wind Waker which was fun. End of line.

You can like whatever you want, I only just got into Final Fantasy, I've been a Zelda fan for years but there's no reason you can't just start.

Don't listen to the gaming hipsters who need that self obsessed feeling of seniority over other gamers. it doesn't matter when you fall in love with the game, it's the same thing, no matter the time.