I actually feel it would have been the other way around. I think most people would have liked it better and accepted it more if it was not a Zelda title. Or at least it would have been considered a "hidden gem"

I love Zelda II myself. I think it's a great game and a worthy sequal. Hard as balls though. 

I'd even say I like it better than ALTTP. The first two nes games are tied for my favorite, then Link's Awakening coming in second. Didn't care much for Ocarina or Majora's Mask. Haven't played windwaker or the Wii titles. 

Later games in the series even adopted some concepts from it. Like learning new moves and having a magic system. 

I'm not a big fan of it, it's not awful but I'd just much rather play Legend of Zelda or Link to the Past. I do have some pretty strong memories playing it when I was a kid but I just can't get into it now. I really need to try Zelda Outlands.

I just don't think the combat in this game works that well. It's possible to make this sort of weird action-y random battle combat work, but I just don't feel like Zelda 2 accomplishes it. Majin Eiyuuden Wataru Gaiden (it's based on the same property as Keith Courage) on the Famicom actually does it right, imo. Still, I'm not a fan of this sort of action-RPG (random battles that go to a confined space for a side-scrolling action battle). It pretty much just turned me off to the game. (I also find Zelda 2 kinda boring.)

Not related but.. I was looking at your avatar, and I was like "What the hell is that?".  After a few puzzled seconds I have come up with.. four gold gameboy pockets with cameras turned upside down.. is that right?

Definitely try zelda outlands. it is what zelda 2 should have been

History wasn't kind to the game because more and more gamers got used to getting the same thing in each game. Take a series like COD nowadays. You take the same engine, change a few assets and story and you pretty much have the same game just a different title. That's just one example.

Now look at the changes between LOZ and Zelda 2; Mario to Mario 2 to Mario 3...these games changed almost night and day with each sequel.

Wish we could go back to those days when we got something fresh with each iteration. Zelda 2 wasn't without its flaws, but I don't think there's a flawless game out there. Well the closest for me has been LTTP haha

This warms the cockles of my black heart, Robin.