"NeverEnding Story 2"... Was That Supposed To Be... Good?

Okay, so I'm still on my journey through classic movies, and I decided to dive into "The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter" after FINALLY watching the original (which, btw, was awesome!). I had heard some rumblings that the sequel wasn't quite up to par, but I went in with an open mind. I gotta say... I'm a little confused. Did anyone actually like this movie? Like, the whole plot felt kinda forced, right? Bastian's back in Fantasia dealing with this Xayide chick who's basically evil for the sake of being evil? And the whole thing with him losing his memories every time he makes a wish? That felt totally contrived. I get that they were going for some kind of lesson about choices and stuff, but it just felt... clunky. Plus, Atreyu looked totally different! Was Noah Hathaway busy? (Seriously, what happened there?) The special effects seemed a little dated even for 1990. I am wondering if they were going for a different target audience, based on the differences. And am I the only one who found the rock biter's kid annoying? Every time he would say 'Rockbiter Junior! Rockbiter Junior!' I would cringe. It was as if they were trying to make him "cute" but he just wasn't. The Rockbiter was scary and cool, because he was big, strong, and remorseful. That character was the opposite! I don't mind child actors usually, but this one missed the mark entirely. I'm genuinely curious to hear what other people think. Am I missing something? Is there some hidden genius in "The NeverEnding Story II" that I completely overlooked? Please tell me I'm not alone in thinking this one didn't capture the magic of the first.