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.