Play Brutal - Paws of Fury Online

Brutal: Paws of Fury is one of those weird, charming SNES fighters where a bunch of animals beat each other up under the watchful eye of the Dalai Llama. Yeah, you read that right. Pick your fighter—a kangaroo, a tiger, even a little mouse—and brawl your way across an island full of increasingly tough opponents.

At first, you’ve got basic punches and kicks, but after every few wins, your character learns a new special move. The computer version skips this, which is a shame, because half the fun is figuring out how to pull off a flaming uppercut as a rabbit. The stages are bright and cartoony, with waterfalls and temples, and if you’re getting wrecked, you can taunt to regain a sliver of health (though good luck pulling that off mid-combo).

It’s not Mortal Kombat—no spines get ripped out here—but there’s something oddly satisfying about roundhouse-kicking a llama into next week. The two-player mode’s where it really shines, especially when you realize your friend’s wolf has way better reach than your poor little hedgehog. Just don’t expect deep lore—the endings are basically a still image and a "good job" from the Dalai Llama.