This game would have been perfect is they just eliminated the cryptic and cynical Nintendo power cash grab mysteries. Even as is, I'd still put this in my top 3 Zelda games, it's light years better than any of the dreadful 3d shit that came out post SNES.
You really feel it's that bad/cryptic? I think Simon's Quest is way worse.
I agree about post-SNES 3D shit.
I've always thought one of the reasons it never got good reviews, besides the departure of style, was just how plain the overworld map looks. Graphicly it's nothing to write home about
The overworld map looks like crap, I agree, lol. It looks like a dated SIM game of some sort. "Look out for dat blob!"
I'm really enjoying the game much more than my last playthrough ('03 or '04), and as others have said, it doesn't appear as hard as I remember it being. Almost done with the second Palace.
This game would have been perfect is they just eliminated the cryptic and cynical Nintendo power cash grab mysteries. Even as is, I'd still put this in my top 3 Zelda games, it's light years better than any of the dreadful 3d shit that came out post SNES.
You really feel it's that bad/cryptic? I think Simon's Quest is way worse.
I agree about post-SNES 3D shit.
Simon's Quest is much worse, but Zelda II certainly has it's moments of WTF. I don't think I've ever actually completed Zelda II. I remeber getting to the Thunderbird guy as a kid don't remeber much after that, haven't played the game for at least 20 years. Maybe I should remedy this someday.
For me, A Link to The Past will always be my #1. Then the first LoZ, OoT, MM, and then I stop caring, lol.
Originally posted by: pegboy
Originally posted by: NostalgicMachine
Originally posted by: pegboy
This game would have been perfect is they just eliminated the cryptic and cynical Nintendo power cash grab mysteries. Even as is, I'd still put this in my top 3 Zelda games, it's light years better than any of the dreadful 3d shit that came out post SNES.
You really feel it's that bad/cryptic? I think Simon's Quest is way worse.
I agree about post-SNES 3D shit.
Simon's Quest is much worse, but Zelda II certainly has it's moments of WTF. I don't think I've ever actually completed Zelda II. I remeber getting to the Thunderbird guy as a kid don't remeber much after that, haven't played the game for at least 20 years. Maybe I should remedy this someday.
Zelda II is definitely among the best and I honestly think the series suffered a massive drop in quality when it went to 3d. The only good games in this entire series are Zelda 1, Zelda II, Link to the Past, and Link's Awakening. Maybe some of the other handheld stuff is good too (I don't play handhelds) but the 3d games are not Zelda games to me. Same way I will never recognized that first person shooter garbage with a Metroid licensed slapped on top of it. Those are not real Metroid games.
I've said it over and over again but there are far more bad/fake Zelda games out there now then good ones. Honestly I'd rather play the CD-I games than any of the 3d Zeldas, at least the CD games are hilariosuly bad and entertaining.
...the series suffered a massive drop in quality...
...there are far more bad/fake Zelda games out there now then good ones...
I feel the same, at least until you get to the CD-I part lol. I do like some of the 3D ones even though they're a diluted and often aggravating experience.
Put it this way. The combat in the 3D games is awesome. Many of the boss battles are tons of fun. Everything else
barren overworld
enemies that are actually puzzles
a thousand heart pieces
forced linear progress
lame annoying NPCs, and familiars who never STFU
puzzles!
lots of money with little reason to spend
sucks.
edit: You know what? I've never actually seen the game in the CD-I games, only the cutscenes. I just checked out some gameplay footage and it doesn't look that bad. I mean it looks bad, but not as bad as the cutscenes, which is all anybody ever talks about. It looks possibly playable.
The 3D "Zelda" games are about as authentic to me as a story driven RPG version of Tetris or a Final Fantasy themed shoot em up. Zelda was never meant to be a Tomb Raider knock off just like Tetris was never meant to be a visual novel with voice acting.
Saw this thread and decided to pull out Zelda II for a play through as it's been a while. I always loved this game and am looking forward to beating it this weekend. Game on!!!
I hate this game!!!!!! Not really but jeez. I have to admit I've never had so much fun/frustration at once. Silver Surfer was just frustration, personally but this game is fun and frustrating and I'm going crazy over in Pittsburgh!!! Go Steelers!!!
...the series suffered a massive drop in quality...
...there are far more bad/fake Zelda games out there now then good ones...
I feel the same, at least until you get to the CD-I part lol. I do like some of the 3D ones even though they're a diluted and often aggravating experience.
Put it this way. The combat in the 3D games is awesome. Many of the boss battles are tons of fun. Everything else
barren overworld
enemies that are actually puzzles
a thousand heart pieces
forced linear progress
lame annoying NPCs, and familiars who never STFU
puzzles!
lots of money with little reason to spend
sucks.
edit: You know what? I've never actually seen the game in the CD-I games, only the cutscenes. I just checked out some gameplay footage and it doesn't look that bad. I mean it looks bad, but not as bad as the cutscenes, which is all anybody ever talks about. It looks possibly playable.
There was definitely a shift in gameplay once Zelda went 3D. The barren, only-one-enemy overworld of OoT Hyrule was a huge letdown, although it didn't feel that way when the game came out. Majora's Mask tightened it up, but it's still no LoZ or ALTTP!
I think what makes Zelda II challenging is the controls. Link's movement is a bit slippery because he continues to move after you stop pressing the d-pad, and you have to get used to the timing when slashing mid-jump. It's a good game. I don't like it as much as the top-down adventure style 2D Zeldas, but I liked it well enough.
I think what makes Zelda II challenging is the controls. Link's movement is a bit slippery because he continues to move after you stop pressing the d-pad, and you have to get used to the timing when slashing mid-jump. It's a good game. I don't like it as much as the top-down adventure style 2D Zeldas, but I liked it well enough.
I have to agree with you on timing. Timing is literally everything in this game. Get too cocky, and you start getting hit...a lot, lol.
Zelda II keeps you on your toes for sure! It still took me a good 35 mins to get through Death Mountain (with a few deaths and restarts).
I prefer the original LoZ, but Zelda II is still one of my favorites. When I was in 5th or 6th grade, a few of us on the school bus decided to hang out one weekend until we beat it. Such a fun time it was.
So I always hold RESET after saving...and for some reason, my AoL cart appears to have ignored my last save. Now I'm back to where I was just before Death Mountain, lmao.
So I've been playing this game on and off for the last week or so...
...And man, I have to say that grinding in this game is the epitome of tedious; ESPECIALLY when you die/game over. I must have done the same section three or four times in my sitting yesterday, only to spend over an hour going up one level lmao.
That's why you save the palace gems for late in the game.
That's exactly what I'm doing.
I just had an awesome run, actually. Leveled up twice, so my attack is way more effective now. The game really does ease up a bit as you level up. I'm getting much better at beating those boomerang guys, lol.
In my early NES years, Zelda II was probably one of my most frequent rentals. The title screen music always blew me away. I was never able to get very far but I always thought the game was a lot of fun. When I acquired my own copy in the early 90's, I was able to give it a proper go...and only ever made it as far as Death Mountain.
Will be playing through the early Zelda games in the near future and I'm looking forward to another round of Zelda II.
That's why you save the palace gems for late in the game.
That's exactly what I'm doing.
I just had an awesome run, actually. Leveled up twice, so my attack is way more effective now. The game really does ease up a bit as you level up. I'm getting much better at beating those boomerang guys, lol.
just don't go to the mash, face a large encounter, and leave your turbo controller running while your back is in the corner, causing you to kill unlimited birds...
Actually, learning to. kill bubbles with rapid downstabs is the fastest way to level up
That's why you save the palace gems for late in the game.
That's exactly what I'm doing.
I just had an awesome run, actually. Leveled up twice, so my attack is way more effective now. The game really does ease up a bit as you level up. I'm getting much better at beating those boomerang guys, lol.
just don't go to the mash, face a large encounter, and leave your turbo controller running while your back is in the corner, causing you to kill unlimited birds... Actually, learning to. kill bubbles with rapid downstabs is the fastest way to level up
I did that to reach 400 (level 4) for about 20 minutes, and I'm never doing that again. I got much, much better at fighting larger, more experiencing-yielding enemies in the caves, lol. I'm at level 8 now, and my next level is after 1000 EXP.
Things are rolling right along at this point; I just need to remember to level up at least once per session.
That's why you save the palace gems for late in the game.
That's exactly what I'm doing.
I just had an awesome run, actually. Leveled up twice, so my attack is way more effective now. The game really does ease up a bit as you level up. I'm getting much better at beating those boomerang guys, lol.
just don't go to the mash, face a large encounter, and leave your turbo controller running while your back is in the corner, causing you to kill unlimited birds... Actually, learning to. kill bubbles with rapid downstabs is the fastest way to level up
I did that to reach 400 (level 4) for about 20 minutes, and I'm never doing that again. I got much, much better at fighting larger, more experiencing-yielding enemies in the caves, lol. I'm at level 8 now, and my next level is after 1000 EXP.
Things are rolling right along at this point; I just need to remember to level up at least once per session.
So I started my save file over, and did things differently right out the gate. I've been focusing on leveling up primarily, and all I can say is I'm absolutely destroying this game now.
Seriously. Why the hell hasn't anyone ever just said "Get to level 6 or 7 as fast as possible, and then you're set"? Lol.
Just destroyed the second palace in like five minutes flat. This game is officially fun now!
So I started my save file over, and did things differently right out the gate. I've been focusing on leveling up primarily, and all I can say is I'm absolutely destroying this game now.
Seriously. Why the hell hasn't anyone ever just said "Get to level 6 or 7 as fast as possible, and then you're set"? Lol.
Just destroyed the second palace in like five minutes flat. This game is officially fun now!
We have been saying it for years. This game is GOOD. People just don't grasp how to play it and judge it unfairly.
Stack a few levels of "attack" power and sail through the game!
It is an awesome sprawling world with secrets, monsters, temples and the best sidescrolling 8-bit sword fighting experience ever programmed.
The Zelda franchises unwillingness to deviate from tradition makes for very same-y games. The franchises history is like a ball a chain around its ankles keeping it from growing and doing new things. Zelda 2 was a clear attempt to do something new. Gotta respect it.
The Zelda franchises unwillingness to deviate from tradition makes for very same-y games. The franchises history is like a ball a chain around its ankles keeping it from growing and doing new things. Zelda 2 was a clear attempt to do something new. Gotta respect it.
Interesting, I thought the series has always been known to change things up. Starting with Zelda 2, then MM, WW, the DS titles, and Skyward Sword all are met with mixed opinions because of it. There's even multiplayer focused ones. To me the 3D games are a natural progression from Zelda 2's combat, so taking the whole series into account Zelda 2 isn't too different any more (aside from levels).
So I started my save file over, and did things differently right out the gate. I've been focusing on leveling up primarily, and all I can say is I'm absolutely destroying this game now.
Seriously. Why the hell hasn't anyone ever just said "Get to level 6 or 7 as fast as possible, and then you're set"? Lol.
Just destroyed the second palace in like five minutes flat. This game is officially fun now!
We have been saying it for years. This game is GOOD. People just don't grasp how to play it and judge it unfairly.
Stack a few levels of "attack" power and sail through the game!
It is an awesome sprawling world with secrets, monsters, temples and the best sidescrolling 8-bit sword fighting experience ever programmed.
It really is. It's friggin' night and day when you level up. When you start, the game is an "Oh shit!" endurance fest. Now, it's like it takes me an entire hour to get a single game over, even when exploring new areas.
Heading towar the third Palace now. I absolutely intend on completing this game.
So I started my save file over, and did things differently right out the gate. I've been focusing on leveling up primarily, and all I can say is I'm absolutely destroying this game now.
Seriously. Why the hell hasn't anyone ever just said "Get to level 6 or 7 as fast as possible, and then you're set"? Lol.
Just destroyed the second palace in like five minutes flat. This game is officially fun now!
We have been saying it for years. This game is GOOD. People just don't grasp how to play it and judge it unfairly.
Stack a few levels of "attack" power and sail through the game!
It is an awesome sprawling world with secrets, monsters, temples and the best sidescrolling 8-bit sword fighting experience ever programmed.
It really is. It's friggin' night and day when you level up. When you start, the game is an "Oh shit!" endurance fest. Now, it's like it takes me an entire hour to get a single game over, even when exploring new areas.
Heading towar the third Palace now. I absolutely intend on completing this game.
Good Luck. The final palace is legitimately hard no matter how much you level.
Comments
This game would have been perfect is they just eliminated the cryptic and cynical Nintendo power cash grab mysteries. Even as is, I'd still put this in my top 3 Zelda games, it's light years better than any of the dreadful 3d shit that came out post SNES.
You really feel it's that bad/cryptic? I think Simon's Quest is way worse.
I agree about post-SNES 3D shit.
I've always thought one of the reasons it never got good reviews, besides the departure of style, was just how plain the overworld map looks. Graphicly it's nothing to write home about
The overworld map looks like crap, I agree, lol. It looks like a dated SIM game of some sort. "Look out for dat blob!"
I'm really enjoying the game much more than my last playthrough ('03 or '04), and as others have said, it doesn't appear as hard as I remember it being. Almost done with the second Palace.
This game would have been perfect is they just eliminated the cryptic and cynical Nintendo power cash grab mysteries. Even as is, I'd still put this in my top 3 Zelda games, it's light years better than any of the dreadful 3d shit that came out post SNES.
You really feel it's that bad/cryptic? I think Simon's Quest is way worse.
I agree about post-SNES 3D shit.
Simon's Quest is much worse, but Zelda II certainly has it's moments of WTF. I don't think I've ever actually completed Zelda II. I remeber getting to the Thunderbird guy as a kid don't remeber much after that, haven't played the game for at least 20 years. Maybe I should remedy this someday.
My second favorite next to Link to the Past
For me, A Link to The Past will always be my #1. Then the first LoZ, OoT, MM, and then I stop caring, lol.
This game would have been perfect is they just eliminated the cryptic and cynical Nintendo power cash grab mysteries. Even as is, I'd still put this in my top 3 Zelda games, it's light years better than any of the dreadful 3d shit that came out post SNES.
You really feel it's that bad/cryptic? I think Simon's Quest is way worse.
I agree about post-SNES 3D shit.
Simon's Quest is much worse, but Zelda II certainly has it's moments of WTF. I don't think I've ever actually completed Zelda II. I remeber getting to the Thunderbird guy as a kid don't remeber much after that, haven't played the game for at least 20 years. Maybe I should remedy this someday.
It's a must-play/complete on the NES, IMHO.
Secret best Zelda.
Secret Best Zelda.
Secret Best Zelda.
I've said it over and over again but there are far more bad/fake Zelda games out there now then good ones. Honestly I'd rather play the CD-I games than any of the 3d Zeldas, at least the CD games are hilariosuly bad and entertaining.
...the series suffered a massive drop in quality...
...there are far more bad/fake Zelda games out there now then good ones...
I feel the same, at least until you get to the CD-I part lol. I do like some of the 3D ones even though they're a diluted and often aggravating experience.
Put it this way. The combat in the 3D games is awesome. Many of the boss battles are tons of fun. Everything else
sucks.
edit: You know what? I've never actually seen the game in the CD-I games, only the cutscenes. I just checked out some gameplay footage and it doesn't look that bad. I mean it looks bad, but not as bad as the cutscenes, which is all anybody ever talks about. It looks possibly playable.
ZELDA II FOR LIFE
...the series suffered a massive drop in quality...
...there are far more bad/fake Zelda games out there now then good ones...
I feel the same, at least until you get to the CD-I part lol. I do like some of the 3D ones even though they're a diluted and often aggravating experience.
Put it this way. The combat in the 3D games is awesome. Many of the boss battles are tons of fun. Everything else
sucks.
edit: You know what? I've never actually seen the game in the CD-I games, only the cutscenes. I just checked out some gameplay footage and it doesn't look that bad. I mean it looks bad, but not as bad as the cutscenes, which is all anybody ever talks about. It looks possibly playable.
There was definitely a shift in gameplay once Zelda went 3D. The barren, only-one-enemy overworld of OoT Hyrule was a huge letdown, although it didn't feel that way when the game came out. Majora's Mask tightened it up, but it's still no LoZ or ALTTP!
I think what makes Zelda II challenging is the controls. Link's movement is a bit slippery because he continues to move after you stop pressing the d-pad, and you have to get used to the timing when slashing mid-jump. It's a good game. I don't like it as much as the top-down adventure style 2D Zeldas, but I liked it well enough.
I have to agree with you on timing. Timing is literally everything in this game. Get too cocky, and you start getting hit...a lot, lol.
Zelda II keeps you on your toes for sure! It still took me a good 35 mins to get through Death Mountain (with a few deaths and restarts).
So I've been playing this game on and off for the last week or so...
...And man, I have to say that grinding in this game is the epitome of tedious; ESPECIALLY when you die/game over. I must have done the same section three or four times in my sitting yesterday, only to spend over an hour going up one level lmao.
That's why you save the palace gems for late in the game.
That's exactly what I'm doing.
I just had an awesome run, actually. Leveled up twice, so my attack is way more effective now. The game really does ease up a bit as you level up. I'm getting much better at beating those boomerang guys, lol.
Will be playing through the early Zelda games in the near future and I'm looking forward to another round of Zelda II.
That's why you save the palace gems for late in the game.
That's exactly what I'm doing.
I just had an awesome run, actually. Leveled up twice, so my attack is way more effective now. The game really does ease up a bit as you level up. I'm getting much better at beating those boomerang guys, lol.
just don't go to the mash, face a large encounter, and leave your turbo controller running while your back is in the corner, causing you to kill unlimited birds...
Actually, learning to. kill bubbles with rapid downstabs is the fastest way to level up
That's why you save the palace gems for late in the game.
That's exactly what I'm doing.
I just had an awesome run, actually. Leveled up twice, so my attack is way more effective now. The game really does ease up a bit as you level up. I'm getting much better at beating those boomerang guys, lol.
just don't go to the mash, face a large encounter, and leave your turbo controller running while your back is in the corner, causing you to kill unlimited birds... Actually, learning to. kill bubbles with rapid downstabs is the fastest way to level up
I did that to reach 400 (level 4) for about 20 minutes, and I'm never doing that again. I got much, much better at fighting larger, more experiencing-yielding enemies in the caves, lol. I'm at level 8 now, and my next level is after 1000 EXP.
Things are rolling right along at this point; I just need to remember to level up at least once per session.
That's why you save the palace gems for late in the game.
That's exactly what I'm doing.
I just had an awesome run, actually. Leveled up twice, so my attack is way more effective now. The game really does ease up a bit as you level up. I'm getting much better at beating those boomerang guys, lol.
just don't go to the mash, face a large encounter, and leave your turbo controller running while your back is in the corner, causing you to kill unlimited birds... Actually, learning to. kill bubbles with rapid downstabs is the fastest way to level up
I did that to reach 400 (level 4) for about 20 minutes, and I'm never doing that again. I got much, much better at fighting larger, more experiencing-yielding enemies in the caves, lol. I'm at level 8 now, and my next level is after 1000 EXP.
Things are rolling right along at this point; I just need to remember to level up at least once per session.
So I started my save file over, and did things differently right out the gate. I've been focusing on leveling up primarily, and all I can say is I'm absolutely destroying this game now.
Seriously. Why the hell hasn't anyone ever just said "Get to level 6 or 7 as fast as possible, and then you're set"? Lol.
Just destroyed the second palace in like five minutes flat. This game is officially fun now!
BUMP!
So I started my save file over, and did things differently right out the gate. I've been focusing on leveling up primarily, and all I can say is I'm absolutely destroying this game now.
Seriously. Why the hell hasn't anyone ever just said "Get to level 6 or 7 as fast as possible, and then you're set"? Lol.
Just destroyed the second palace in like five minutes flat. This game is officially fun now!
We have been saying it for years. This game is GOOD. People just don't grasp how to play it and judge it unfairly.
Stack a few levels of "attack" power and sail through the game!
It is an awesome sprawling world with secrets, monsters, temples and the best sidescrolling 8-bit sword fighting experience ever programmed.
The Zelda franchises unwillingness to deviate from tradition makes for very same-y games. The franchises history is like a ball a chain around its ankles keeping it from growing and doing new things. Zelda 2 was a clear attempt to do something new. Gotta respect it.
Interesting, I thought the series has always been known to change things up. Starting with Zelda 2, then MM, WW, the DS titles, and Skyward Sword all are met with mixed opinions because of it. There's even multiplayer focused ones. To me the 3D games are a natural progression from Zelda 2's combat, so taking the whole series into account Zelda 2 isn't too different any more (aside from levels).
BUMP!
So I started my save file over, and did things differently right out the gate. I've been focusing on leveling up primarily, and all I can say is I'm absolutely destroying this game now.
Seriously. Why the hell hasn't anyone ever just said "Get to level 6 or 7 as fast as possible, and then you're set"? Lol.
Just destroyed the second palace in like five minutes flat. This game is officially fun now!
We have been saying it for years. This game is GOOD. People just don't grasp how to play it and judge it unfairly.
Stack a few levels of "attack" power and sail through the game!
It is an awesome sprawling world with secrets, monsters, temples and the best sidescrolling 8-bit sword fighting experience ever programmed.
It really is. It's friggin' night and day when you level up. When you start, the game is an "Oh shit!" endurance fest. Now, it's like it takes me an entire hour to get a single game over, even when exploring new areas.
Heading towar the third Palace now. I absolutely intend on completing this game.
BUMP!
So I started my save file over, and did things differently right out the gate. I've been focusing on leveling up primarily, and all I can say is I'm absolutely destroying this game now.
Seriously. Why the hell hasn't anyone ever just said "Get to level 6 or 7 as fast as possible, and then you're set"? Lol.
Just destroyed the second palace in like five minutes flat. This game is officially fun now!
We have been saying it for years. This game is GOOD. People just don't grasp how to play it and judge it unfairly.
Stack a few levels of "attack" power and sail through the game!
It is an awesome sprawling world with secrets, monsters, temples and the best sidescrolling 8-bit sword fighting experience ever programmed.
It really is. It's friggin' night and day when you level up. When you start, the game is an "Oh shit!" endurance fest. Now, it's like it takes me an entire hour to get a single game over, even when exploring new areas.
Heading towar the third Palace now. I absolutely intend on completing this game.
Good Luck. The final palace is legitimately hard no matter how much you level.