I just finished up Dragon Warrior 2. I was good with the game up until you get the ship. Once that happens, it literally doesn't tell you where to go. Each town has some rumor or hint about things, but it usually refers to something you haven't even arrived at or left a long time ago. So from that point on, I used a guide as it didn't tell me at all how to proceed.
This game was brutally hard in many ways. Lots of grinding, no ethers so everything you do has to be doable with the MP you have. Once I got to the Road to Rhone, the game got insanely difficult. At this point I used the Game Genie to just get to the end of the game.
Good story, GREAT music, but the pacing, difficulty, required grinding, and lack of direction got to me after a while. Still, glad I played it. I'll have to play 3 at some point here. Maybe after I play something else to take a break from RPGs. Maybe Shovel Knight!