Zelda II Deserves to Be Celebrated | Reflection

[@GamesAreCreative]

Thanks for supporting the channel! If you want to follow my journey, check out my Instagram: *@gamesarecreative*

[@Galfubo]

I know I’m a bit late but oh my goodness you make such quality content when I saw your channel for the first time I thought you at least had 10k but only 181 you have such a talent for this you make so much quality stuff it’s crazy definitely showing my friends this channel keep up the good work.

[@Canaris4]

Fuck. When I first saw him, he had 189 subscribers. When I first saw the number I thought it was a bug, since the latest Dark Simpsons episode I saw at the time had 189 views. I figured KZbin was broken recommending me a channel with seemingly so few subscribers.

[@Galfubo]

@@Canaris4 Its kinda sad that he has so few subs he should have way more

[@GamesAreCreative]

Thanks so much for y’all’s support and encouragement! This channel has brought me so much joy over the last year, and I love getting to share my experiences with people like y’all who love these games too. I’m grateful that my videos are starting to be seen by more people, and it really is thanks to friends like you!

[@doccampbell2006]

Another amazing video! Great editing and pacing. That part at the end where you thanked your wife was incredibly wholesome! I’ve played both the original Zeldas on the NES and one thing that really sticks out to me is how Zelda 2 flips around some of the ideas of Zelda 1. This comes from an idea called the “Narrative Reversal” where in order to keep things fresh you turn some things on it’s head. This prevents things from feeling like a carbon copy and can open new creative doors. With Zelda 2, the game is mostly linear instead of open world. Instead of collecting things you’re distributing them. Instead of finding Zelda you know where she is from the start (literally the first screen if I remember correctly). It’s interesting how changing just a few things like that can result in something vastly different. A great video exists called “How Empire Turns Star Wars On Its Head”. I recommend it if you’re interested in learning more about that kinda thing

[@GamesAreCreative]

Thank you so much for that encouragement! And solid observation, I can totally see that in Zelda II. One thing I’m excited to explore with A Link to the Past is how Nintendo saw what they had with the 2 polar opposites in Zelda I and II, and they blended the best parts of those to find the way forward. ALTTP obviously “looks” more like Zelda I, but when peeling back more layers of the onion, it’s cool to see just how much Zelda II gave the series by turning things upside down! Thanks for the recommendation, as well! Huge Star Wars fan, so that sounds fascinating. Adding it to my Watch Later list!

[@ptrcklgrs77]

Your channel came up in my suggestions, Quality Content!!!! Surprised you don't have more views by now! Look forward to the rest of your videos!

[@GamesAreCreative]

Thank you for your kind words! I know that content with low view counts can be kinda hit and miss, so I appreciate you checking out my video! Working on this channel brings me a lot of joy, and when people like you support me, it allows me to share this experience with a bigger audience. Appreciate you!

[@ptrcklgrs77]

@@GamesAreCreative It should, I'm so confused as to why your content is only pulling a couple hundreds/thousands, (not saying you should be in millions), but ive seen accounts with 1/10 as good content in at least 10,000s. I'm a programmer, you are added to my youtube studies list.

[@zak5972]

These videos are amazing, you gotta keep it up because this channel definitely deserves to grow. Just need to hit that weird little bit of the algorithm to get in the lime light lol

[@razbuten]

KZbin finally recommending videos to me that actually matter.

[@GamesAreCreative]

Thanks so much for watching man! I love your content and have been inspired by the level of work that goes into your quality videos. So it means a lot that you took the time to watch mine and that you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for your support!

[@razbuten]

You're welcome! You have a really great channel here. Feel free to reach out if you ever need something!

[@FaieyLight]

Keep up the good work, your videos are interesting and I have learned some stuff I didn't know before. This video in particular peaked my interest because I am a long time LOZ fan! Looking forward to more videos 😊

[@GamesAreCreative]

Thank you so much! Zelda’s so close to my heart too, but I just have never played this game all the way through for some reason! I was really fascinated by my experience with Zelda II, though, and learned a lot myself! Thank you for your support, and thanks for joining my journey!

[@ghosty3591]

Another great video! Your content is amazing and very well put together. Awesome job and keep up the good work. I definitely see you blowing up in the near future

[@nottrustworthy6361]

That ending was so wholesome omg 🥺 wonderful video!! I love Zelda 2!!

[@ZoGon2940]

Just got recommended this. Absolute banger video, gonna have to work my way through the backlog!

[@GamesAreCreative]

Thanks so much man! It’s been so fun learning and growing with each video I finish, and I’m grateful to have a growing library that I’m proud of. So glad to have you along for the ride!

[@HCN-002OldChannel]

The underdog of Zelda! I love this game so much, and seeing someone else who loves it as much as me is very heartwarming. I hope this video gets very popular not only so your channel can grow but also so other people can maybe warm up to this classic.

[@GamesAreCreative]

Agreed, it really did bring so much to the series. Glad I got to share my experience with you! Thank you so much for your support!

[@omeganappie]

Damn. That bit at the end turned this video from a chill Zelda II essay into something that hits close to home

[@GamesAreCreative]

Appreciate you watching til the end man! I feel like a lot of times, I’m already ready to move on by the time a video starts to draw to a close. 😂 But it’s been cool to reflect on how each of these games that have been special to me have impacted the way I see the world. Glad it connected with you too!!

[@tharagz08]

Thanks for the fresh look at Zelda 2!

[@GamesAreCreative]

For sure man! Thanks for your support!

[@tharagz08]

@@GamesAreCreative I particularly liked how you brought the perspective the creators had at that time in the late 80s, and where the industry was. We can be pretty harsh on older games, but when you think of those kind of factors, it was a completely different time

[@GamesAreCreative]

Totally. I think it’s super fascinating to try and understand where the developers were at when they were making the game. Games like Breath of the Wild don’t come from nowhere, and even though I can’t argue that Zelda II is my favorite by any means 😂, it is cool to see what it gave to the series!

[@iyziejane]

Zelda II was great and playing it as a kid I felt like it was popular (based on magazines, guide books, rentals and store shelves, etc). I think it got overshadowed and forgotten when Link to the Past was released and solidified the formula of Zelda 1.

[@GamesAreCreative]

For sure, I totally agree. While I’m glad the Zelda series stuck with Zelda 1’s mechanics, it’s a bummer to me that this game has been overshadowed and even forgotten by a lot of people! Such a unique hidden gem that deserves more love!

[@RestlessWandererOriginal]

Let's watch your channel grow

[@maxapplays4525]

Great video and awesome channel keep it up!

[@GamesAreCreative]

Thank you so much!!

[@thecreepyconnoisseurs21]

never played Zelda II - but after this video, i might have to pick it up. thanks!

[@GamesAreCreative]

For sure! I’ve been a Zelda fan my whole life but never finished it until now. There’s some derpiness that hasn’t aged well here and there, but it’s a super inventive game and was a blast to experience!

[@GwydionAE]

I have very little attachment to this game - saw someone play it for, like, 5 seconds as a kid, said "that's not Zelda", and wouldn't try it again until I got my 3DS. But even so I had a lot of fun with it once I finally gave it a shot. Different? Absolutely! Bad? Absolutely not! Sure, maybe not everything works perfectly, but nice to see you highlighting some of its good points! Keep up the good work!

[@GamesAreCreative]

Haha, I can totally relate. In fact, playing it for this channel is the first time I’ve ever finished it! I’ve tried so many times throughout my life but never been patient enough for the difficulty and frustrating parts. This experience has given me so much appreciation for the game though!!

[@zacharyrollick6169]

I spent so many hours on this game when I got it for the advance. I maxed my attack my killing slimes for countless hours in the field. Killed the first boss in two strikes. I was max level by the second palace. Also, it seems they rewrote the prologue in the Advance port's manual.

[@majingazetto4146]

I always loved this game and I’d like to see a remake of it in its concept art art style. I love its Ancient Greece touch. Thanks for this nice tribute.

[@GamesAreCreative]

Agreed! This game is so underrated, and it would be cool to see what a remake would look like today. Appreciate your encouragement; so glad you enjoyed it!

[@dragnus12]

When I played as a kid, got too frustrated, lost and confused. After beating it as an adult I can respect it as it's own game and as a zelda game. Honestly it has my fav combat system for a NES sidescroller

[@GamesAreCreative]

I’m right there with you. Growing up, I never had an appreciation for what Nintendo was going for with this game, and since I had easier and more accessible Zeldas to play, it never kept my attention for long. But dang, the innovation and depth in this game is fantastic! So grateful to fully experience it for this channel, and glad I get to share it with y’all!

[@jonmongeau5039]

Good vid man, keep it up

[@GamesAreCreative]

Thank you so much!

[@DJNoelNice]

Great work!

[@DougUnfunny]

I loved that Smash put Zelda 2 temple theme in it. I wish Tears of the kingdom would bring back some of the bosses like the Horse Head guy.

[@GamesAreCreative]

Totally, this game deserves more love! I would love to see ZII enemies and bosses get the updated treatment that Lynels and Hinoxes got in BotW. We’ll see here in just a couple months!🤞

[@desertwhaler]

Completely underrated game. Its one of my childhood favs even though it was nearly impossible for me at the time!

[@GamesAreCreative]

For sure, I totally agree! And yes, it’s so hard!! I played it on Nintendo Switch Online with save states and the rewind feature, but even as an adult, I don’t know if I’d have the patience to grind through it on original hardware without those modern additions. Grateful I got to enjoy the best parts of this game in a way that wasn’t overshadowed by frustration though!

[@leviwarren6222]

Apparently looking up low viewer number Zelda videos pays off. Here's a fun anecdote: when naming our first daughter, I suggested to my wife we name her after a lake where I spent a lot of time as a kid: Hylia. She agreed. Hylia is four now and is playing A Link Between Worlds right now. This game series means a lot to many people. Edit: Mad respect for your wife letting you spend the weeks it must take to produce one of these videos.

[@GamesAreCreative]

Oh my goodness, that’s wonderful! Aside from Zelda, that’s honestly just such a beautiful name in general, but it’s really sweet that you are getting to experience a series you love alongside her! Thanks so much for sharing! And yes, my wife is the real MVP. Back in 2020, I had bought some equipment and started creating plans for my channel, but along the way, I honestly just got overwhelmed and decided it was too much. Then a year and a half ago, when I was literally about to sell this equipment I hadn’t even opened yet, she was the one who encouraged me to go for it. She’s not even a gamer, but she supports me in the things I love. So grateful for her!!

[@WestmarchMedia]

Need my Twilight Princess fix!

[@jeremyjamesdewitt]

Zelda 2 is an amazing game. It was my favorite as a kid.

[@wjr4700]

Honestly when I think Hyrule, I think Zelda II. The music, the visuals and the sound effects.

[@GamesAreCreative]

That’s so cool that this game carries such weight for you! I can’t say Zelda II is the first game I think of when it comes to Hyrule, but after completing this game and reflecting on it, I appreciate the heck out of it and what it brought to the series. The Zelda fan base needs more people like you who will ride hard for this game!!

[@wjr4700]

@@GamesAreCreative Ill be the first to admit that its totally nostalgia. It hit me at the right time in childhood for sure. When I play it now it really feels like antient Hylian history even though it technically takes place later in the timeline. Thanks for responding!

[@tasoganedude]

Thanks for telling me the story of Zelda 2. It's pretty cool lore as to why the name of the game is The Legend Of Zelda (even though it was Link who was doing the questing.) One of the things that I feel like Zelda 2 revolutionizes (but no other RPGs follow) is how it handles "Random Encounters". We all hate random encounters in RPGs, right? It stops you every 5 seconds until it becomes annoying to explore and traverse. Plus, you don't get to choose your fights. But with Zelda 2, monsters appear but you get a chance to avoid them.

[@GamesAreCreative]

Of course! And thank you for your support! I totally agree on random encounters. I love RPG’s, and I grew up thinking that random encounters were just a necessary evil of the design philosophy of those types of games. Like, no one loves them, but I hadn’t really seen any good alternatives! You’re right though, Zelda II showed back in 1987 that there really is a better way to handle these sorts of battles! Other games like Pokémon and Dragon Quest are starting to catch on with similar systems, but I’ve gotta respect this game for making it happen 3 decades earlier!

[@kleev6576]

Finally someone talking positively about this game. Man I hate the bandwagon trend that gives this game bad credit. If we're gonna bandwagon against a game, can it please be Breath of the Wild?

[@GamesAreCreative]

Thanks for your support! I know, it’s super frustrating to hear people continuously hate on something without actually having personal experience or legit reasons to back it up. I will admit that as a huge Zelda fan, I look for reasons to enjoy every game and might be wearing rose-tinted glasses at times. But with all their successes and faults, Zelda II, Ocarina, Skyward Sword, Breath of the Wild, and even less renown titles like Phantom Hourglass, all bring me so much joy to experience. I believe there’s totally a time and place for being critical, but more than anything, I like to look for ways to celebrate these adventures! Glad to have you along for the journey!

[@Paradox-xm9zq]

I don't get all the hate this game gets. Nothing about the game is bad or even flawed, just different. Imo the gameplay of Zelda 2 holds up much better than Zelda 1 because combat in Zelda 1 is a bit clunky with only being able to move in four directions, whereas Zelda 2 plays like a classic Castlevania game

[@GamesAreCreative]

Totally get where you’re coming from. I still have a lot of love for Zelda 1 even if it is a bit clunky feeling, but Zelda 2 has so much depth and mastery potential that no one gives it credit for! I’d be interested to see what the legacy of this game would be if it wasn’t attached to the Zelda franchise. It’s been overshadowed, but it deserves so much more credit!

[@XMonument]

great video! u earned a sub from me!

[@GamesAreCreative]

Thank you so much for your support!

[@soylentgreenb]

Zelda II was a good game, but it "wasn't really" a Zelda game (just like Ocarina of time wasn't either).

[@GamesAreCreative]

Solid point. I really do appreciate all the small ways this game has influenced the future of the series, but it really does feel a lot different than other Zelda games!

[@cindelynvaldovinos6101]

🙏 p̴r̴o̴m̴o̴s̴m̴

[@khukri_wielderxxx1962]

This is still one of my favorite games of the series. VERY underrated

[@GamesAreCreative]

For sure, I totally agree! I didn’t really play it all that much growing up (not the best reflexes as a kid and it was so hard!), but I have enjoyed the heck out of returning to it as an adult. There’s so much to love here that is easily overshadowed by other games in the series. Grateful Zelda took this step!