Zelda II - The Adventure of Link (Zelda 2) Walkthrough on Nes: Dungeon 1 - Parapa Palace
Parapa Palace map

Go down the elevator at the end of the corridor and head left. Pick up the key at the end of the path after killing the stalfos. To do this, I advise you to advance on him quickly, then crouch down and strike when you are close to him. After taking the key, go back to the right and continue past the elevator.

Continue straight ahead at the elevator that goes down and take the elevator at the end (note that there is a fairy straight ahead; it is only useful once, so don't waste it). Follow the path to the right, picking up the key along the way. At the end, you will meet a red monster that throws maces. You will have to jump on the block just as it takes a short "break". Once you are close to it (inside the semicircle formed by the maces), strike continuously while moving forward slowly. Take the key and retrace your steps to the elevator that goes down and take it.

Go left, being very careful of the skulls that drain your magic. Initially, it takes a hundred hits to kill them (it's very easy to do as they stay blocked when you hit them) and it is certainly the least dangerous and most profitable way to pass. Otherwise, you can pass through them just after giving them a hit (when they are blocked). Go through the left door and cross the next room, trying to pick up the 50-point bag on the crumbling bridge (crouch, strike, and jump immediately after). Continue left and kill the cyclops (if you don't stop when entering the room, you should pass under his shots without getting hit). Then kill the ironknuckle. To beat him, try to strike where he doesn't have his shield, and don't hesitate to stand in front of his sword without striking to parry his blows.

Open the door, take the candle and go all the way back to the right, take the elevator up, continue to the right, and go down the elevator. Go to the left, kill the ironknuckle, then the 2 stalfos (stay on the floor below him and strike straight ahead, hugging the right side) and continue to the right. Kill the cyclops and the orange ironknuckle and continue to the right.

Use the shield magic (press "start", select the magic, press "start" again, and press select), then move to the end of the corridor. To beat the boss (horse head), position yourself a little way from him, then move in on him and jump while striking at the right moment, then immediately move back to stay at a good distance from his blows and repeat.

Horsehead, like all bosses, leaves behind a key. Take it, activate the statue by placing the diamond in it, and exit after choosing or not to increase the nearest stat. Placing the diamond in the statue will increase your point total up to the next threshold. If, as in the image, you are close enough to that threshold, you can return to the left and kill 1 or 2 skull balls for 50 (even if it takes 80 hits) then come back to place the diamond. In my example, this would have allowed me to increase attack "normally" (by killing enemies) and then the diamond would have brought me to the next level in magic (which is worth 700 points). I advise you to do this if you are having a little trouble playing Zelda 2. You can now continue the adventure by exiting the palace to the right. If you have activated the stone, the palace will be sealed (save) .