Yeah, the Streets of Rage game are better in my opinion, but they're also a lot easier I find as well (except SoR 3 which is pretty tough, ESPECIALLY that freaking final boss! I can get to him without losing a life, but I lose continues by the bagload to him =S). Of course, with no Final Fight, there'd be no Zangief in the Street Fighter games and we can't have that =O!

But yeah, in my eyes, Streets of Rage 2 = best side-scrolling beat 'em up ever, though Captain Commando comes close (Yet another freaking impossible final boss!) as does TMNT =P