Brutal: Above the Claw is set in an island inhabited by anthropomorphic animals, where martial arts have become the dominant form of combat. The game takes place at the prestigious tournament, organised by the Dalai Llama himself. Players can choose from a selection of 12 unique characters, each with their own fighting style and storyline.
The gameplay involves one-on-one battles in a variety of arenas, with an emphasis on mastering each character's moveset. As players progress through the game, they unlock new moves for each character, adding depth to the combat experience. The progressive conquest mode offers an additional challenge, where players must take over the entire Brutal: Above the Claw -themed island.
Brutal: Above the Claw was released in 1995 for the Sega 32X console.