Zelda 2: Adventure of Link is one of the first games I remember playing. It doesn't get enough recognition or love. I have Ganon's evil laugh seared into my brain. I would love to get a new Zelda in the sidescrolling style. Link's Awakening had a few callbacks with the side scrolling sections, but other than that, nothing.
Some of the cool elements of Zelda 2 that I haven't since in Zelda games since:
- Levels and XP for Link: You can customize your Link as you progress through the game, increasing attack, defense or magic efficiency.
- Sword combat and shield positioning: The vertical position of the shield matters. Some enemies attack high while some attack low.
- Really tough enemy AI: The Darknut's AI is almost diabolical. They can parry your attacks intelligently without it feeling like they are cheating. Dark Link is probably the hardest boss in Zelda's history.