Wow! This is great! I always kind-of liked Final Fight, but thought Streets of Rage to be somewhat better. I did wonder if a super-deformed version, on the NES, would actually be any good. And it is!
It’s a bit simple, but there’s actually more to it than the original game, as there are more moves and you gain experience points and levels improving your strength, health and move-set. It’s a bit hard though, as a continue sends you back to the beginning of the level rather than just let you carry on like the original did.
I played as far as the boss at the end of Stage 4, where I died.