Well, first off. Zelda II was VERY different, and it was new to the players that it was a side scroll. Because it was the second zelda EVER made, nintendo was trying to incorporate new ideas into zelda. I think the only bad thing about it is that it was HARD, and the side scrolling made it even harder. Because the original zelda was all a top view, so when fans where put to the test of top view, with a mix of RPG, and side scrolling. It made some people think that it wasn't that good. Zelda II has a Love it, or Hate it way to it. So me personally, I really liked it's difficulty and how it made a new feel to that game. But yet....It's not my favorite.
But yet it being the TRUE zelda game....well, that's a bit odd. It was the ONLY zelda with side scrolling (apart from the CDI series) so if you think it's the only true zelda, well that's just your opinion. I think that the TRUE zelda is Ocarina of Time. But yet, it's only my opinion. See, their are ALOT of people who think that zelda II was pretty bad. But I'm with you bud, I think game was pretty cool.