Brutal Unleashed

You sit alone on the bow of the ship, contemplating your total victory over your adversaries. They just couldn't compete against your power. As the waves lap gently against the hull of the boat, you consider whether it's worth it to attack a second time. Yes, you decide, now that you have knowledge of all of your special abilities, you can bring your full power to bear against your opponents one more time ... in Brutal Unleashed: Above the Claw!

FIRST IMPRESSION

My first impression was that this was a cute idea that didn't go very far. The graphics were moderately impressive, and it seemed nice to have so many characters to choose from. Other than that, it didn't strike me as particularly impressive.

BEST FEATURE

The best feature could also be considered its worst feature. In order to leam your special moves, you need to win matches. While this can be rewarding, it can also be frustrating, considering you start the game with no special moves and the computer has all of its attacks.

WHATS MISSING

The most important test of a fighting game (no, not blood!) is how well it controls. Brutal lacks a crisp feel.

WILL YOU LIKE IT?

Possibly. Gore fans won't like it (no blood) and fighting game purists probably won't either (playability isn't great), but if you want something a bit different, give it a shot.

MANUFACTURER - Gametek

DIFFICULTY - Short

THEME - Fighting

NUMBER OF PLAYERS - 1 or 2