interesting to come in here and read about some of the Zelda complaining. I will always revere it as one of the games that truly defined my childhood, and I remember how and why it was so exhilarating (compared to anything else I had ever played before). But I can understand how those just picking it up now can probably not get quite as "sucked in" as easily as kids dd those many years ago.
I am probably echoing what many others have said in this thread, but if you play through enough of the early part of the game, the rhythm will catch right up with you sooner or later (provided you can suspend your attention span from too many other games, long enough to let it!) and then you will very likely find what's so enjoyable about a game like this. It may be old and primitive, but a lot of the design and pacing still holds up very marvelously. Even as a kid, I remember just when the game started to get a little tedious, you'd suddenly start getting all the really cool items in your inventory and the design of the game really began to open up to support that. Because they never went overboard.. you always had "just enough that you needed" - the game never got too easy, it almost kept a step ahead of you, but the feeling of empowerment was very unique, and no other game truly matched it quite in that way (especially considering it's simplicity)
For those who actually can achieve their way to the 2n quest, you'll understand why it really felt like "2 games in one" and how that, on top of everything else, just made it all that much better.
and damn it, this reminds me that I really need to give Golden Axe Warrior a spin one of these days!