Yup, the GBA one is the version I tried. They are more user friendly but it's really tough to get back into those games. The thought of trying to do things like grind enough spells so Ultima does decent damage is...meh.
You're playing it wrong, man. Here is what you do: The minute you can go outside you head east and south to Mysidia. You make it to Mysidia alive and you stay there, carefully and jealously hording the gil you make from successful victory in battle to use the inn and to purchase EVERYTHING that they can give you. You stay in Mysidia until you have bought their spells and weapons. Then, and only then, do you dare venture back toward the first town to resume the game. By the time you can afford everything in Mysidia you will likely be far stronger than more or less the first half of the game requires you to be, and you will have equipment so much better than anything prior to Mysidia that it will all be laughable.
The kicker, though, is that because it is FF2 and EXP isn't a thing, you will NOT stop gaining strength as you continue through the game, meaning that by the time you reach Mysidia anyway, it will be obsolete and you can march onward in the game. You will further save yourself sufficient money for a fair portion of the game, too.
What's more, the only offensive magic you will EVER need is Toad. Toad is a better spell than Ultima for pretty much the entire game.
