FFII is often tedious, but I wouldn't call it necessarily difficult. You just run out of items alot and have to walk through a very lengthly dungeon, made even more so by trying to complete the item collection (at least in Origins).

On the Famicom, probably even more tedious. (You have to walk, etc.)

As compared to later FFs, well, after V they kinda lost any difficulty, really. (Abusable systems, free items and healing, and whatever-else-have-you.) I'd say it's probably one of the 'tougher' ones in the series. (I still think III is the only truly difficult one, for reasons I've stated in other threads.)

And the wacky equipment. wtf was with the way they handled that. I usually look forward to getting anything with 'Genji' in the title, not the other way around.