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Zelda II: Being Unique Isn't a Bad Thing

I have a habit of looking at underappreciated or otherwise maligned games and finding them incredibly endearing, so maybe take this with a grain of salt, but I think I actually preferred going back to play Zelda 2 to doing the same for Zelda 1. Yes, Zelda 2 is the anomaly in the series, sticking out from all the others in terms of gameplay and design; but that, to me at least, is also why it’s so fun.

I like Zelda 1 a lot, and even now it’s worth playing it to see the origins of a lot of what was later iterated upon in further games. But the thing is that those other games did all of those things better. If you want a top down, 2D Zelda, you’re likely to look elsewhere. Even an abundance of non-Zelda games have advanced the formula at this point. But there’s nothing quite like Zelda 2, and when you play it, not only do you see some themes that would be picked up later in the series, but you also see a lot of interesting things that you can’t see anywhere else. It has a type of character progression you don’t get elsewhere in the series, with you putting together your build as you go based on your playstyle. It has unique abilities that no other game uses. Its combat is an entirely new challenge, even for series veterans. And for good measure, it has some really good music too.

This isn’t exclusive to video games, but we have a habit of looking at games that we perceive as different and jumping to the conclusion that they’re bad. But every time I go back to play one of these games, finally trying them despite the numerous people recommending against it, I have a lot of fun, and have some of the most unique and interesting experiences across their respective series. Zelda II is one of these games, and because of this, I honestly think that you should check it out. Not in spite of its differences, but because of them.