Brutal Unleashed: Above the Claw

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Brutal Unleashed: Above the Claw
System(s): Sega 32X
Publisher: GameTek
Developer: GameTek
Sound driver: GEMS
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code US 1995-03 $79.9979.99 T-8301B

Brutal Unleashed: Above the Claw is a one-on-one fighting game developed by GameTek for the Sega 32X. It is an update to Brutal: Paws of Fury, released only in North America. Working titles for this game were Totally Brutal and Brutal: Paws Unleashed.

The scenery and graphics have been highly improved, making use of the capabilities of the 32X, changing drastically. The most notable change being in Leon Prince's stage, on which it was previously possible to push the rival off the bridge for a instant win.

Brutal Unleashed: Above the Claw introduces two new characters: Chung Poe and Psycho Kitty; and there are four more stages than the original game, totaling fourteen, although some of them are simply doubles with different palettes/shading.

Gameplay

The game is compatible with six-button controllers, with assigned for light kick, medium kick, hard kick, light punch, medium punch and hard punch. + performs a taunt, which also recovers your life gauge, but in turn makes you vulnerable for a little. If using a three-button controller  START  toggles kicks and punches, otherwise it pauses the game. To block rival attacks press +. Pressing any attack button while holding does a roundhouse attack, doing the same holding does a rear attack.

Like in the previous game, the characters only have regular kicks and punches at start, with special moves (taunt inclusive) and "katas" (sequences of moves) being unlocked after certain fights, following the game's "belt system" - to acquire new moves, you are given three chances to follow Dali Llama's instructions and if you fail it is not learned. Also similar to Brutal: Paws of Fury, this game has more stages than characters, making Pantha and Chung Poe appear to challenge you twice each.

On this version all characters are playable without the need of cheats, passwords or the like; and they were also placed at different stages than seen before.

Characters

"HOLD" means the button(s) must be held for two seconds.

	Chung Poe
	Chung Poe is 61cm tall, weighs 22kg and his style is Sabbaal. Move list (special moves) Name Command Description Fists of Death Space Warp Makron Overpower Move list (Katas) Name Command Description Hate of the Ancients HOLD The Dark HOLD Winter Storm HOLD The Faminewind holding +, press and hold it
	Dali Llama
	Dali Llama is 198.1cm tall, weighs 38.04kg and his style is Divine. Move list (special moves) Name Command Description Headbutt + Smoke Attack Move list (Katas) Name Command Description Mind of the Gods Apocalypse!
	Foxy Roxy (Indrah Prashmet)
	Foxy Roxy is 182.9cm tall, weighs 72.75kg and her style is Penjat Silat. Move list (special moves) Name Command Description Whiplash Kick + Spinning Attack Rolling Attack Move list (Katas) Name Command Description Kuntao ++ Call of the Lotus HOLD Pentjak Silat Mind Throw
	Ivan Bear
	Ivan Bear is 182.9cm tall, weighs 113.40kg and his style is Soviet Military. Move list (special moves) Name Command Description Big Belly Attack Earthquake Move list (Katas) Name Command Description Strength of the North Jab Al Nar HOLD Rage of the World HOLD ++
	Karate Croc
	Karate Croc is 182.9cm tall, weighs 131.54kg and his style is Street Brawler. Move list (special moves) Name Command Description Tail Whip HOLD + Torpedo Attack HOLD ++ Flying Tail Whip HOLD +++ Move list (Katas) Name Command Description Escrima HOLD The Swallow ++ The Path of the Empty Hand HOLD +
	Kendo Coyote
	Kendo Coyote is 188cm tall, weighs 90.71kg and his style is Kenjutsu. Move list (special moves) Name Command Description Slam Punch ++ Headbutt close + Cannonball! Spinball! Move list (Katas) Name Command Description The Five Rings Ki Force HOLD Hapkido HOLD
	Kung Fu Bunny
	Kung Fu Bunny is 177.8cm, weighs 45.36kg and his style is Relaxed Paw. Move list (special moves) Name Command Description Flash Kick HOLD Double Flash Kick Hi Flash Kick HOLD Scissors Kick + Move list (Katas) Name Command Description Dance of Death HOLD Iron Fist HOLD Devil's Kiss
	Pantha
	Pantha is 172.7cm tall, weighs 86.18kg and his style is Chin Na. Move list (special moves) Name Command Description Fireball Energy Drain HOLD Cloak Attack + Move list (Katas) Name Command Description The Gentle Path HOLD Serpents Kiss HOLD Summon Chi HOLD +
	Prince Leon
	Prince Leon is 182.9cm tall, weighs 113.40kg and his style is Tan Ku, the Iron Rage. Move list (special moves) Name Command Description Bite + Swim Attack Roar! Powerchord Move list (Katas) Name Command Description Rage Within close HOLD + Leon Experience HOLD Wild Side HOLD
	Psycho Kitty
	Psycho Kitty is 91.4cm tall, weighs 45.36kg and his style is Cat Fight. Move list (special moves) Name Command Description Catfight Fur Ball Toshidan + Move list (Katas) Name Command Description Too Much Whiskers HOLD Face Gouge HOLD Nine Lives HOLD Hacker HOLD +
	Rhei Rat
	Rhei Rat is 180.3cm tall, weighs 72.57kg and his style is Thai Boxing. Move list (special moves) Name Command Description Neck Choke close + Knockout Punch ++ Frenzy Attack Face Pull close Move list (Katas) Name Command Description Tsumai HOLD Berzerk! close HOLD Lightning Fury close HOLD
	Tai Cheetah
	Tai Cheetah is 188cm tall, weighs 63.50kg and his style is Tai Chi Chuan. Move list (special moves) Name Command Description Fire Kick Fire Run Fire Punch Move list (Katas) Name Command Description Divine Wind HOLD Fist of the North HOLD The Way of the Crane ++

Stages

	Beach
	Pantha's first stage.
	Waterfall
	Psycho Kitty's stage.
	Idol
	Ivan Bear's stage.
	Swamp
	Karate Croc, introduced in the previous Mega-CD game, earned his own new stage.
	Point
	Tai Cheetah's stage. The background is the same seen at "Beach", with different color palettes.
	Bridge
	Prince Leon's stage. Like "Point" and "Beach", "Bridge" and "Waterfall" share the same scenery.
	Courtyard
	Kung Fu Bunny's stage.
	Screens
	Kendo Coyote's stage.
	Dojo
	Foxy Roxy's stage.
	Battlements
	Rhei Rat's stage. A double of this stage features in "Battle mode" under the name "Tower", although unlike the other clone stages it has no difference.
	Pass
	Pantha's second stage.
	Volcano
	Chung Poe's first stage.
	Cavern
	Chung Poe's second Stage.
	Boat
	Dali Llama's stage.

Production credits

Team Brutal

• Design: Rod V. Humble
• Artwork and Animation: Andie Gilmour, Dave Hall, Juan Sanchez and Eurocom Entertainment
• Program: Dave Exile
• Music: ppdix
• Creative Director: Steve Curran
• VP of Product Development: Liz Curran
• Project Coordination: Charlene Carty
• Sound Editing: Larry Pacie
• Special Thanks to the Following: Sherry Kross, John Tombley, Wendy Weber, Executive King, Travis Williams, Stacey Ruderman, All at G.T.U.K
• Annoying: William B. McCormick

Source:

In-game credits

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Team Brutal

• Programming: Dave Lincoln

Additional Support

• Creative Direction: John Tombley
• Testing: Travis Williams, Larry Pacey
• Music: Doug Brandon, Robin Heifitz

Packaging/Manual

• Art Director: Dwight Alnor
• Writer: Rod Humble
• Design: Dwight Alnor
• Technical: Sherry Kross, John Tombley
• Illustration: Mark Fredrikson
• Calligraphy: Glen Yoshiyama

Source:

US manual

Magazine articles

Main article: Brutal Unleashed: Above the Claw/Magazine articles.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U 58 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) 64 Game Players (US) NTSC-U 79 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 88 Game Informer (US) NTSC-U 58 Next Generation (US) NTSC-U 50 Ultimate Gamer (US) NTSC-U 80 VideoGames (US) NTSC-U 80

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Brutal Unleashed: Above the Claw

32X, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Technical information

Main article: Brutal Unleashed: Above the Claw/Technical information.