Holy cow how much of an improvement this was over Zero 1. Mostly fixed the cyber-elf system, brought back actual upgrades, and is just all around a more polished game.
Its not even that the game is particularly bad. I mean, it is, just based on it having level design so bland and punishing you'd think they pulled it straight from Mega Man 1 on the NES. More than anything, its just boring and lacking inspiration.