...and I honestly don't think people give this game its fair share. I feel like its a game that over time has gained a reputation as being awful when most people probably have never played it. Or I think that most people hold the first game in such high regard that this game was too much of a departure from what they knew. Either way, I really don't think its reputation is justified.

To be thonest, I really liked this game. I think it has something do with my love for the classic Castlevania titles. I prefer side-scrolling platforming style over the top-down style of the first game. The light RPG elements never really felt all that tedious and I never really had to grind to the point of bordem or annoyance. I also really didn't think this game was all that hard either. Yeah, it some frustrating parts, but the Mega Man and Castlevania games are much harder in my opinion.

I has good music, tight controls, and I really think its cool to see if the enemies from the first game in a different perspective.

So yeah, this game is definitely worth a 2nd look.

And I know it may be blasphemous to say but I prefer this over the original.

One of my favorite games ever and as much as I like the first one, I enjoy Link a lot more.

Psst, I agree with you....

Always liked Zelda II, even as a kid. I like it's unique gameplay for a Zelda title, and it's challenge. Funny coincidence, I was just playing Zelda II an hour before logging on and seeing your thread.

Zelda 2 is a good game. I much prefer the first one, though. I liked Zelda 2 in pretty much every way, but I wish it had more puzzle elements and overworld exploration. Adding currency/shops/bombs would have added a whole new element to the game.

I never understood why some bash this game really. Okay, it is very different from the original Zelda, point taken. But the game is still awesome on its own, and has nothing to be ashamed as a Zelda game even if the series went back to the original top view for good (and 3d from Ocarina of Time).

If you want to play something similar now, play Battle of Olympus. It is made with the same engine, and this is a very underrated side scrolling adventure game in the NES library.

Ditto ^^^ 

The original is great, but I really enjoyed the second one more for many of the same reasons you described Zombi. 

I think it gets trashed because;

A) Casual fans, who make up a large portion of the Zelda fan base, think its too hard
B) It's the only primarily side scroller in the series
C) The spells, leveling, item use, etc, is a lot different than the rest of the Zelda games

It's not a bad game at all, if it wasn't a Zelda game, I think more people would like it.

 

Secret best zelda

Zelda 2 has always been one of my favorites. It has gotten dumped on in the Internet age as a bad game. Oh well. I still play through it 2-3 times every year

Indeed, I get all reasons you mentionned, but I still don't understand how this draw to the conclusion that it is a bad to terrible game. In fact, I probably understand why they bash the game, but I think it is such a stupid reasoning that I'm left scratching my head.

Think you hit the nail on the head with that.
 

True, but the players that fall into that reasoning are fooling themselves IMO.

One of those "sad but true" situations for sure.

 

Now Toxie hit the nail I had in my head! Is this too much nailing on the head for your thread OP?

I played it for 2 weeks but found myself dying in the caves a lot and would have to walk all the way from the town back to the cave I was in but it took forever because I kept running into those stupid monsters on the map and having to walk to the end of the screen before I could get back to the map again. It's incredibly annoying. Then I get back into the cave and have no idea where to go.
I have finished:

- The Legend Of Zelda
- The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past
- The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time
- The Legend Of Zelda: Majora's Mask
- Dragon Warrior
- Dragin Warrior II
- Dragon Warrior III

All of these games are similar but not nearly as annoying. After 2 weeks of trying I didn't even want to play it any more.

You see, you have personal and valid reasons to not like it, that is okay in my book.

P.S. I don't get the mention of DW I-III in your post, but kudos for beating these cool RPG!

I found those also stop you on the map to make you deal with an immediate situation but they have a point, you battle for gold and experience. With Zelda II, they stop you on the map but it's pointless, all you're really trying to do is get back to the map. It's a waste of time. That's why I mentioned those.

I wouldn't say it is pointless though, since you get experience points in Zelda II. Also, this is the challenge of the game, you need to fight your way through the map, which is exactly what happens in all RPG and adventure games.

I also like the second game more than the first. The combat system in II is super deep and full of strategy unlike the original game. That is probably the main reason why I like II more than I. The combat is much more satisfying and the game ends up having more replay value as well.

Finally completed this one for the first time ever last summer. It's by far the most difficult NES title I can complete. Congrats, dude!  

Yep, that was another reason that I forgot to mention. The combat itself is a lot more varied (and fun) because of the strategy involved.

 

I've always loved this game. It's always confounded me how it gets a bad rep, but Guillavoie's reasons make the most sense. I see so many younger Zelda fans trash this game, and it's apparent they just don't "get" what this game was trying to do.

I actually recieved this when I got my first NES back in 88 or whatever, and I never even knew the original zelda existed. When I first got it I had a ton of difficulty with it, it wasn't until later I found out I was playing it too much like a side scroller and not enough like an RPG, and it was far more fun.

One of my favorite games for sure! I'm not sure if I'd say I like it more than the first Zelda, but both are pretty close to me.