This is one of the most popular platformers for the NES
This game is so difficult, I never made it past the first level when I first tried it, back when I was about 8. I bought it from a Game Stop many years later to try and finish it; and I did. But not after going through a very trying time. The fighting mechanism isn't the best one out there, taking a very similar approach to the other brawling games back then like Double Dragon. The hit detection is a bit off, so it's 50/50: you can either hit or be hit. More often that not, you get hit, as it's generally 3 against 1, the maximum amount of enemies in the screen at the same time. Weapons used are knives, sticks, whips, and a pistol, which has very few bullets to be used a lot, forcing you to use sticks and whips for most of the game. Learning how to perform the jump kick becomes an obligation, as you will not finish the game without it. The shooting and driving levels feel a bit tacked on, but changes the pace of the game a bit.
If you want to try an old school brawler, you could do better with other games. If you have nostalgia for an 80's brawler, you will immediately pick this one up.