https://www.destructoid.com/the-f...

I've been working my way through Zelda II for the first time since I was a kid and have some serious issues with how this game was designed.  I do think it does have a legacy though and think it is an important game in the series.

Just wondering what other people's thoughts on the legacy of the game is?

I grew up with Link to the Past as my introduction to the series as a 5 year old, it was the first Nintendo game I ever played through and beat on my own. Then I played through and beat Link's Awakening in 1995 when I got my Game Boy. I didn't get an NES until 1997, and my very first game was the Grey version of Zelda II. For years it was my only NES game along with Final Fantasy and Yoshi's Cookie. I honestly can't remember when I finally bought and played the first NES Zelda. It was either slightly before or after Majora's Mask came out that I finally got a copy. So my definitely played the games in a strange order. I loved Zelda II growing up, it was already N64 by that time and I still thought it was a very good game, beating it was a great accomplishment. I never knew it had a "bad" rap until I started using GameFAQs. I recently had a conversation with a friend who is my age (born 87) but had it much earlier than I did, probably 1991 or so, and he remembered it as the first game he and his Dad played through together, and still vividly remembered going through the particular boss fights with him, I could tell that in his eyes Zelda II is a legendary game, and exactly like me, he did not grow up with the original Zelda either.

I think it's a really fun game, but along with Ghost n' Goblins, it's the most difficult game I've played for the NES. I usually like to play through without any help from the internet or a strategy guide until I absolutely need it but it got to a point in Zelda II where I was looking up everything I could get my hands on. It was so tough, no tips helped haha.

It's not my favorite Zelda game but I think it's fun. I don't mind it because it's different. Reading the article I have the same opinion on Mario 2 for whatever reason. My favorite Mario game isn't even really a Mario game. Weird.

I actually started replaying this last night. I think it's an awesome game. Awesome music, speedy pace. The combat is where the difficulty comes from, but it's FUN! Yeah, it lacks the cuteness and player-friendliness that all the other games in the series have... but that's okay, isn't it? My only issues are some of the adventure gamey "what am I supposed to do here?" moments, but really, compared to similar games (and probably even in comparison to Zelda 1), they're really not that obtuse.

edit: Okay... Death Mountain is probably a bit too difficult (for how early it is in the game), and the friggin' gauntlet that is the path the final palace is probably just too difficult compared to the entire rest of the game. Outside of that, I don't think the difficulty is out of line for an 8-bit game.

I remember buying and first playing Zelda II pretty clearly, even though it was so long ago.  I think it was my most anticipated game release up to that point, and maybe of all time.  Just insanely huge hype for it.  When I finally got it and played it I enjoyed it immensely and don't remember being disappointed.  I felt like the 2D side scrolling action and RPG elements were a logical next step in the series, for the time.  

However, in retrospect I think the crazy punishing and unforgiving ramp up in difficulty towards the end of the game was a little too much.  Overall though an excellent NES game that is just a little overshadowed by other great games in the franchise.

Zelda 2 is in my Top 3 of the entire series. Loooove that game.

Got my first (grey) copy at FuncoLand in Saugus, MA in 1997.

I'm another late 80's kid that grew up with ALTTP on the SNES. It was my first Zelda title. Then came the original LoZ, then Zelda II.

I finally beat this one (Zelda II) for the first time summer 2015 or 16. It's a hard title, but I don't think it really has many flaws. It's just hard. You gotta save the crystals until the end, and grind grind grind. If it's your first playthrough it's going to be hell. It's much easier the second, third+ time through!

Zelda II is the first game i bought with my own money for $60.00 at Toys R Us. I played it for about a week, and the cart stopped working. I called up Nintendo, and they had me send it in for a replacement. Got a brand new copy in the mail a week or so later, and played it until I beat it. I loved the game, but some of that love may have come from the fact it was the first game I ever purchased. I still have it, but I haven't played it in years. I play through the original Legend of Zelda usually once a year, but when I've tried to play Zelda II, I get through the first dungeon and then quit.

Zelda 2 is my favorite of the series even ahead of 1, but only slightly. I love that the Shadow of Night hack was created too for the Zelda 2 fans that enjoy that same game play.

I love Zelda 2 and think it's a great game. I don't understand all the hate it gets. Sure it's different from the original,but it doesn't mean it's terrible. Same goes for Simon's Quest and to a lesser extent,Super Mario Bros. 2.

Did anyone really have a problem with this when it came out and when the NES was in its prime? Or is this dislike of Zelda 2 (and TMNT) just a bunch of AVGN revisonism?  

I love Zelda II so much. Reading the Destructoid article has gotten me pumped about the game. It's still easily my favorite Zelda game ever and also my favorite NES game of all time.

When it came out it was a very popular game. I know not everyone likes it,but to call it terrible is unfair and untrue.
 

The article mentions how well it sold, so I'd say it was popular enough.

Yeah, I was under the impression that just like Mario 2, it was a different look/feel sort of game as the first game but both were instant classics and treated as such.

The game was always a popular title until YouTube.

BUMP

This thread inspired me to start a new file on Zelda II. I've already gone up twice on all levels, and completed the first Palace. So much more enjoyable when you know what's going on.

Zelda II is the secret best Zelda.

My Zelda II cart still has my completed save from 1989.

So Zelda II is one of my least favorite Zeldas of all-time. I owned it as a kid and did beat it (I know I used a guide, maybe Game Genie too), but it made no lasting impression on my memory. The only things I remember about the game is how damn hard it was to get the hammer from the mountain, and the "I am Error" guy in town.

I appreciate it as a game and think it was ok for what it was, just doesn't measure up to the other Zeldas I really enjoyed. Don't expect to ever play it again. I don't think it is a bad game, it just has tremendous competition to be a good Zelda title.

As for sales, I'm sure they were so high based on hype from the original. I wouldn't read too much into that other than hype from the first.

It’s a first and a last for the series. Link always grows in power and ability in every Zelda game, but always through new items and more masterful swords -- Zelda II is the only game where you can choose how you develop as a warrior.

This explains how Zelda is normally (action) adventure, and Zelda II is (action) adventure RPG.

Fantastic game. Not that difficult I think, but you need to put some time in it.

When I got it as a kid, I was a bit dissapointed at first, expecting a zelda 1 style of game. After a few days it started growing on me. I remember calling the nintendo power line a couple of times before I beat it :-)

I never had the urge to play through it again, but I have that with most of the Zelda games.

It's definitely better than anything post LTTP. The only thing holding the game back is some of the cryptic bullshit you have to do, but that's easily remedied with a 2 second google search.

Zelda 2 best Zelda.

I don't understand the difficulty thing. Ironknuckles are so much easier to kill than they are in Zelda 1. On Death Mountain, just always go down or right, except when you can't. In the Great Palace, always go left or down, except when you can't. I'm not good at hard games and I am good at this one. Therefore it is not hard  

I also really wish Nintendo had stayed with this more mature character style for the series.

IMHO, Zelda II is only "hard" on your first few times through. Most of that has to do with not fully understanding the leveling system/how attacks work, etc. Once you know what to do, how to play, and where to go -the game is amazingly enjoyable. I'm enjoying it more than ever before, and this is about my fourth time going all the way through.

I remember playing this a lot back when it was freshly out. I never managed to complete it due to the difficulty. The farthest I ever remember making it was to the 3rd palace, and I can't remember if I ever made it thru that one or not.

I enjoy the game, but it is too difficult for my tastes. Fortunately, I've played one that lowers the difficulty quite a bit, and the game is much more enjoyable that way.