BRUTAL: PAWS OF FURY
Endings FAQ
by Sephiroth Katana (
http://www.rpgclassics.com)
INTRODUCTION
============
Brutal: Paws of Fury was a fighting game released for the Super
Nintendo in 1994 to very little critical and commercial success. The
most notable thing about it was the cast: instead of the usual Bruce
Lee and Arnold Schwarzenegger lookalikes slugging it out on the streets,
Brutal's characters were anthropomorphic animals (e.g. "Kung-Fu Bunny").
The game was made in Europe, so the artwork had a visual style that was
quite different from the anime-influenced look of Japanese fighting
games. Thus, when I saw a two-page feature about it in Nintendo Power
many years ago, the name stuck in my mind.
Unfortunately, Brutal is not an unsung classic. It has bad reviews on
this site, and for good reason: the play control is absolutely terrible.
The hit detection is atrocious (sometimes you can hit your opponent
from half the screen away, and sometimes you miss even when you're
standing right next to him), the moves are even more difficult to
perform than in other fighting games, the computer uses numerous cheap
shots, there's not a whole lot of variety to the action, and the
characters aren't very well balanced. Nonetheless, the game is actually
quite easy if you know what to do, and one can beat it on the highest
level of difficulty in ten minutes or so, with some characters. So,
as you can see, it's not a very fun gameplay experience.
So why did I bother with this FAQ? Well, simply put, Brutal is a game
with a philosophical air. It's like the game designers knew that their
game wasn't going to be very good, so they sought to alleviate their
own boredom by imbuing the game with a whole lot of Eastern-sounding
reflections. So, when you select a character to play as, the game
tells you a whole bunch of background information about that character.
But it's not just background information: the game actually attempts
to analyze the character's "personality," and moreover, it meditates
about the kind of person who might want to play a certain character.
When you beat the game, it gives you additional philosophy in the
form of a screen of scrolling text.
It's very goofy stuff, but the apparent irrelevance of all these
musings is precisely what makes them interesting. Now, it's a bit of
a chore to play through the whole game in order to see these things
(especially since it's very hard to win with some of the characters),
so I wrote this FAQ in order to save you the trouble. I preserved any
spelling or grammatical mistakes contained in the original, so you can
read the designers' profound thoughts in all their unedited glory. In
order to fully appreciate them, you may want to play the game for a
little bit and see what all the characters look like.
CHARACTER PROFILES
==================
1. Kung-Fu Bunny
Right Understanding
Quote: "To know fear is courage."
Style: Relaxed Paw
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 100 lbs.
Background:
Spent 15 years at a Shaolin temple studying the art. There he set
new standards and was known for kicks which clock at 120 MPH! His
agility and speed make him a tough opponent. However he cannot take
too much punishment due to his small frame.
Favourite Attack: Tobi Mashawigeri
Philosophy:
Who plays Kung Fu Bunny?...... You are kind and considerate. Nothing
gives you greater pleasure than seeing how you helped another
succeed. However you have difficulty making personal decisions and
keeping them. Your desire to help others comes from your desire for
someone else to give your life direction.
2. Prince Leon of Kenya
Right Effort
Quote: "I have only one judge: the world."
Style: Jah the Righteous Path
Height: 6'
Weight: 250 lbs.
Background:
Leon fights to avenge an insult from Tai Cheetah and Kendo. His
greatest weapons are his roar and his razor sharp claws.
Favourite Attack: Righteous Roar
Philosophy:
Who plays Leon?...... You never forget a debt for right or wrong. You
stop at nothing to even up the score. Your willpower is indomitable
but you find it difficult to focus on more than one thing at a time.
3. Tai Cheetah
Right Mindfulness
Quote: "To teach someone is to be responsible for them."
Style: Tai Chi Speed Through Wisdom
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 140 lbs.
Background:
He has perfected his own style over years of solitude. Kendo Coyote
is his erratic but brilliant student. Tai Cheetas greatest wish is for
Kendo Coyote to succeed him. Tai Cheeta mixes a graceful poise with
lightning fast blows.
Favourite Attack: Fist Whirlwind
Philosophy:
Who plays Tai Cheetah?...... You are devoted to those who are close to
you. Yet you are cold and unfeeling to those who you regard as enemies.
Your abilities are second to none and yet you lack the self motivation
to exel. Often you are happy with your lot and see no need to change.
Too often you have seen others succeed only to change into an
unpleasant character. Your aims are modest but your happiness will be
grand.
4. Rhei Rat
Right Speech
Quote: None available.
Style: Thai Boxing
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 160 lbs.
Background:
Rhei is the most successful Thai boxer in the world. He answers to no
one. He despises fools.
Favourite Attack: Choking Neck Punch
Philosophy:
Who plays Rhei?...... You despise fools. You want them to be
humiliated. You are the one who can stand up to the bullies and shame
them. You find it difficult to make friends as often they make you
cringe with their ignorance and inability. You speak very little as
you can normally answer your own questions much better than most other
people. Strangely you have found it difficult to succeed in life
whereas others with much less ability succeed.
5. Kendo Coyote
Right Resolve
Quote: "Im baaaack!!"
Style: Tae Kwon Do
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 200 lbs.
Background:
Kendo is the pupil of Tai Cheetah. However he has none of the wisdom
or subtlety of Tai. Kendo sees fighting as a path to riches.
Favourite Attack: Aerial Back Punch
Philosophy:
Who plays Kendo?...... You are a winner. No matter what happens you
know eventually you will succeed. You are undaunted by problems and
any setback merely makes you seek another solution. Your confidence
makes you reckless. You indulge yourself totally and never cheat
yourself of any pleasure.
6. Foxy Roxy
Right Livelihood
Quote: "To care for others is to care for yourself."
Style: Penjat Silat
Height: 6'
Weight: 160 lbs.
Background:
Foxy is known to the world as Indhra Prashmet. She is a well known
and successful U.N. executive. She is also a master of the Indian
martial arts.
Favourite Attack: Parang Malat
Philosophy:
Who plays Foxy?...... You a capricous and playful soul who loves to
see joy and happiness. You are unable to take anything seriously for
too long however and you also have a strong need for diversion.
7. Ivan the Bear
Right Action
Quote: "You rest when you are dead."
Style: Soviet Military
Height: 6'
Weight: 250 lbs.
Background:
Ivan is an ex Soviet military comando. There he became a hand to hand
combat expert. He is the strongest fighter in the world.
Favourite Attack: Hitting the opponent. Hard.
Philosophy:
Who plays Ivan?...... You are a down to earth kind of person who stands
for no nonsense. Almost any problem can be overcome by a bit of common
sense and hard work. You hate to sit still for any length of time and
you are unable to see why some people want to do nothing all the time.
8. Dali Llama
Right Perfection
Quote: "I have only begun to learn."
Style: Divine
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 150 lbs.
Background:
The Dali Llama is the greatest mortal alive. He may soon not be mortal
anymore.
Favourite Attack: To not fight at all.
Philosophy:
Who plays the Dali Llama?...... What do you do when you are the best
there is?..... All that is left is the knowledge that one day someone
will be better than you and then what have you achieved?.... You need
peace of mind more than any riches and yet you have discovered that it
is much harder to find.
ENDINGS
=======
1. Kung-Fu Bunny
Looking out from the back of the ship he started to
contemplate the waves as they lapped against the
keel.
He could now return and save the monastery with
the riches he now had.
The belt of Heaven hung around his waist.
He felt a surge of pride as he looked back on each
of the opponents that he had defeated.
Two seagulls flew overhead.
He laughed out loud and took off the belt of
Heaven. Pride was the fools refuge and the belt
represented pride in his victory.
He threw it far into the ocean and was still
laughing as it sank to the bottom.
Overhead the seagulls flew on ignoring him.
One thousand miles away some butterflies did
the same....
2. Prince Leon of Kenya
He knew he won as he must.
The cheetah and Kendo had been shamed before him and
his honor was restored.
He had defeated the best warriors in the world and
now he wore the belt of Heaven.
Yet now he had no score to settle. Nothing to
prove.
He was the greatest in the world.
Instead of joy he felt empty as if robbed of his
will to live.
He had become the champion that all others had to
beat.
Now he was the king who could loose his crown.
He hung his head in despair.
'In winning all, so I have lost. What else is there
to win?
The belt of Heaven is not a victor's trophy but a
slave's chain.'
And so it was that the bravest fighter in the
world learnt despair....
3. Tai Cheetah
Tai was bothered by the belt hanging around his
waist.
It was heavy and uncomfortable.
He took it off and was happier.
It had been nice to see everyone again, especially
Kendo who had grown strong in his absence.
He purred in contentment.
It would be good to see his wife and children
again. In his mind he thought of them and within
a few seconds he had forgotten all about the
belt that lay thrown away at his feet...
4. Rhei Rat
Rhei folded his arms and allowed himself a smile.
They had all fallen before him with their fine words
and little action.
He knew better and had proved it....
5. Kendo Coyote
Kendo examined the belt closely.
Yup, that was real gold alright!
He was rich again!
But this belt was worth much more than its
physical value of course.
It meant endorsements from footwear companies,
breakfast cereal advertisements, movie
deals, and maybe even his own chat show!
'I'm baaaaaaaack!!!!'
6. Foxy Roxy
Indhra thought of the aid that the money could buy.
All over the globe she would see to it that the
money she had earned from this competition would go
to those who needed it nost.
And yet it was much more than aid.
She would encourage real trade between the poor and
the rich.
Respect for cultures no matter how different....
It was only then that she realized that her greatest
battle was yet to be fought.
But that was for tomorrow.
Today she was the champion of Heaven...
7. Ivan the Bear
Ivan felt the belt tight around his ample frame.
He slammed his hand down on the rail and felt it
nearly give way.
He enjoyed the feeling of power that it gave him.
He had won.
He could win again...
8. Dali Llama
The llama was disapointed.
Once again he had failed to find a champion worthy
of wearing the belt.
Perhaps there could never be one as great as himself.
Was he doomed to be undefeated?
He sighed.
Well, there would be another year.
Maybe then he would find one worthy....
SPECIAL ENDINGS
===============
1. Obtained by beating the game on the difficulty level, "Black Belt"
A voice from all around speaks...
'This one shows such promise!
Can it be that you are the one?
I must find out!
Here is the code that allows you to use my powers
as if they were your own!'
On the title page where the word 'Brutal' appears
press the following:
X,A,B,A,Left,A
There is still one more treasure to find on the
highest level. Win the game on 6th Dan difficulty
and you will receive the ultimate prize!
2. Obtained by beating the game on the difficulty level, "6th Dan"
You a grand master.
You are now beyond all others in your abilities.
Do you expect a code to play all other characters?
You are now beyond that.
Here is the final gift that Brutal has to offer.
And remember that the master does not speak of it.
These are the five rings of Brutal.
Each line contains the lifetime wisdom of each
member of the Brutal team.
Dave. E
"Believe in yourself"
Dave. H
"The best things happen at the wrong time. The rest
happen not at all."
Andy. G
"Simplicity is difficult in itself."
Juan. S
"Appreciate the efforts of others."
Rod. H
"Be your own best friend."
You are a grand master.
We have no more to teach you.
Live your life.
Be glad.
CREDITS
=======
Team Brutal
Design
Rod V. Humble
Artwork and Animation
Andie Gilmour
Dave Hall
Juan Sanchez
Program
Dave Exile
Music
Doug Brandon
........................
Special thanks to the following.......
Steve and Liz Curran
Sherry Kross
John Tombley
Wendy
Annoying
William B. McCormick
.......................
Brutal SNES developed by
Eurocom Entertainment Software
Senior Programmer
Jon Williams
Additional Programming
Tim Rogers
Neil Baldwin
Graphics
Steve Bedser
Pete Lyons
Adrian Mannion
Music and Sound
Neil Baldwin
Project Management
Hugh Binns
.......................
THE END
=======
Brutal: Paws of Fury is copyrighted by Gametek, 1994.
This FAQ is copyrighted by Sephiroth Katana, 2007.
