Brutal Unleashed: Above the Claw

From Sega Retro

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BrutalUnleashed title.png

Brutal Unleashed: Above the Claw
System(s): Sega 32X
Publisher: GameTek
Developer:
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega 32X
US
$79.9979.99[2] T-8301B

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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 A assigned for light kick, B medium kick, C hard kick, X light punch, Y medium punch and Z hard punch. A+B 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 Down+Left. Pressing any attack button while holding Left does a roundhouse attack, doing the same holding Right 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". 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

{{{imagewidths}}} Chung Poe
Height: 61cm (2')
Weight: 22kg (50lbs)
{{{imagewidths}}} Dali Llama
Height: 198.1cm (6' 6")
Weight: 38.04kg (150lbs)
{{{imagewidths}}} Foxy Roxy
Height: 182.9cm (6')
Weight: 72.75kg (160lbs)
{{{imagewidths}}} Ivan Bear
Height: 182.9cm (6')
Weight: 113.40kg (250lbs)
{{{imagewidths}}} Karate Croc
Height: 182.9cm (6')
Weight: 131.54kg (290lbs)
{{{imagewidths}}} Kendo Coyote
Height: 188cm (6' 2")
Weight: 90.71kg (200lbs)
{{{imagewidths}}} Kung Fu Bunny
Height: 177.8cm (5' 10")
Weight: 45.36kg (100lbs)
{{{imagewidths}}} Pantha
Height: 172.7cm (5' 8")
Weight: 86.18kg (190lbs)
{{{imagewidths}}} Prince Leon
Height: 182.9cm (6')
Weight: 113.40kg (250lbs)
{{{imagewidths}}} Psycho Kitty
Height: 91.4cm (3')
Weight: 45.36kg (100lbs)
{{{imagewidths}}} Rhei Rat
Height: 180.3cm (5' 11")
Weight: 72.57kg (160lbs)
{{{imagewidths}}} Tai Cheetah
Height: 188cm (6' 2")
Weight: 63.50kg (140lbs)

Special moves

Name Command
Chung Poe
Fists of Death Down Right
Space Warp Left Down
Makron Overpower Right Down
Hate of the Ancients Kata HOLD B 2sB A
The Dark Kata HOLD A 2sA C
Winter Storm Kata HOLD C 2sA C
The Faminewind Kata HOLD B+C 2sRight
Dali Llama
Headbutt B+C
Smoke Attack Left Down Right
Mind of the Gods Right Down Left
Apocalypse! Down Right B
Foxy Roxy
Whiplash Kick B+C
Spinning Kick Left Left C
Rolling Attack Down Right
Kuntao Kata A+B+C
Call of the Lotus Kata HOLD C 2sC C
Pentjak Silat Mind Throw TODO
Ivan Bear
Big Belly Attack Right Down Left
Earthquake Left Down Right
Strenght of the North Kata Down Left Down Left B
Jab Al Nar Kata HOLD C 2sA A
Rage of the World Kata HOLD B+C 2sA+C
Karate Croc
Tail Whip HOLD RightB+C
Torpedo Attack TODO
Flying Tail Whip TODO
Escrima Kata HOLD AA A A
The Swallow Kata A+B+C
The Path of the Empty Hand HOLD B+C 2sC C
Kendo Coyote
Slam Punch A+B+C
Headbutt B+C
Cannonball! TODO
Spinball! Down Right
The Five Rings Kata TODO
Ki Force Kata HOLD A 2sC C
Hapkido Kata HOLD B 2sA A
Kung Fu Bunny
Hi Flash Kick HOLD DownBBBBB
Flash Kick TODO
Double Flash Kick Left Down Right
Scissors Kick B+C
Dance of Death Kata HOLD A 2sA A
Iron Fist Kata HOLD C 2sC C
Devil's Kiss Kata Right Down Left
Pantha
Fireball TODO
Energy Drain TODO
Cloak Attack B+C
The Gentle Path Kata HOLD C 2sC C
Serpents Kiss Kata HOLD B 2sC C
Summon Chi Kata HOLD A+C 2sC C
Prince Leon
Bite B+C
Swim Attack Right Down Left
Roar! Down Right B
Powerchord Left Down Right
Wild Side Kata HOLD A 2sA A
Rage Within Attack Close HOLD A+C 2sB
Leon Experience Kata HOLD B 2sCCCCC
Psycho Kitty
Fur Ball Right Down Left
Catfight Left Down Right
Toshidan A+C
Too Much Whiskers Kata HOLD B 2sB C
Face Gouge Kata HOLD C 2sB A
Nine Lives Kata HOLD A 2sA A
Hacker Kata HOLD Down 2sA+B
Rhei Rat
Knockout Punch A+B+C
Frenzy Attack Left Down C
Face Pull Down Right
Neck Choke Close B+C
Tsumai Kata HOLD CB B
Lightning Fury Kata Close HOLD AA A
Berzerk! Kata Close HOLD BA B
Tai Cheetah
Fire Punch Down Right
Fire Kick Left Down
Fire Run Right Down Left
The Way of the Crane Kata A+B+C
First of the North Kata HOLD AA A
Divine Wind Kata HOLD BB B

Stages

BrutalUnleashed 32X Stage01.png Beach
Pantha's first stage.
BrutalUnleashed 32X Stage02.png Waterfall
Psycho Kitty's stage.
BrutalUnleashed 32X Stage03.png Idol
Ivan Bear's stage.
BrutalUnleashed 32X Stage04.png Swamp
Karate Croc, introduced in the previous Mega-CD game, earned his own new stage.
BrutalUnleashed 32X Stage05.png Point
Tai Cheetah's stage. The background is the same seen at "Beach", with different color palettes.
BrutalUnleashed 32X Stage06.png Bridge
Prince Leon's stage. Like "Point" and "Beach", "Bridge" and "Waterfall" share the same scenery.
BrutalUnleashed 32X Stage07.png Courtyard
Kung Fu Bunny's stage.
BrutalUnleashed 32X Stage08.png Screens
Kendo Coyote's stage.
BrutalUnleashed 32X Stage09.png Dojo
Foxy Roxy's stage.
BrutalUnleashed 32X Stage10.png 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.
BrutalUnleashed 32X Stage11.png Pass
Pantha's second stage.
BrutalUnleashed 32X Stage12.png Volcano
Chung Poe's first stage.
BrutalUnleashed 32X Stage13.png Cavern
Chung Poe's second Stage.
BrutalUnleashed 32X Stage14.png 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
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 credits

Magazine articles

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

Sprites

Screenshots

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
88 №70, p60[2]
60 №6, p103[3]
Sega 32X
74
Based on
2 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
58
[4]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US)
64
[5]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
79
[6]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
88
[2]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
58
[7]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
50
[3]
Ultimate Gamer (US) NTSC-U
80
[8]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
80
[9]
Sega 32X
70
Based on
8 reviews

Brutal Unleashed: Above the Claw

32X, US
Brutal Above the Claw 32X US back.jpgBatC 32X US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Brutal Above the Claw 32X US cart.jpg
Cart
Brutal 32x us manual.pdf
Manual

References