Zelda II - The Adventure of Link (Zelda 2) Walkthrough on Nes: From Parapa to the Midoro Palace
Map of the first island of Hyrule

Exit the palace and cross the cave to the west to return to the Rauru village area. Head west below the starting point and enter the cave. Cross it while killing the red Octoroks. To do this, crouch down and hit at the right moment, anticipating their jumps. Take the magic container and exit the cave.

Then go north to visit the isolated cave in the desert. Cross it while killing the Aches (bats), Octoroks, and the red Moblin that block your way. For the latter, move towards him while parrying or avoiding the incoming boomerangs and hit him when you are close while parrying the boomerangs he throws and those that return (you can see if he throws up or down). Remember not to hit to parry a blow because Link pulls his shield away to hit. Then take the Ruto Town Trophy (the statue with wings) and go back out.

Now head west and enter the town of Ruto. After crossing the first part of the village where a young girl in red and an old lady in orange can restore your life and magic respectively, you will see another girl in red come out of a house. She tells you that you have saved the trophy and that you should go see her uncle. Enter her house with her and go to the very end to reach the cellar (where the girls of Hyrule store old things) and speak to the old man who will teach you the "Jump" magic.

Go to the south of the village and enter the cave. Cross the first part while killing the Octoroks and the red Goriya. Then cross the second part where you will see some Lowders and another red Goriya. In the 3rd part of the cave, you will need to use the Jump spell and get some momentum to be able to exit on the right after killing the Aches (be careful, the red Ache (Acheman) turns into a small dragon when it touches the ground). If you have lost life, go just to the right to be healed by the fairy in the forest tile. Then go straight down into the swamp while trying not to encounter a hard monster (the one with arms) and go to the tile just to the bottom left of the big stone that blocks the cave (right frame of image 3). You will find your first extra life there.

Get out of the swamps as quickly as possible and head east on the road. Go back up to the level of the swamp and go look for the red vial on the small piece of road (on the right on image 1). Then cross the swamp towards the west (passing through the narrow passage) and enter the Midoro Palace (save).