Tomb Raider Beta [PSX / Saturn / PC]

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Scans of a gamedesign booklet from early 1995 arrived on the internet a few years ago. This booklet shows a similar storyline, featuring a character named ‘Lara Cruz’, she was supposed to activate the Pyramid using the Scion she was supposed to find in the first 3 levels of the game. It also explains that Natla used to be a male character named Hamilton who sent Lara Cruz on this path to retrieve the artifact.

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Early Alpha Stage – Date, ???? 1995
Platform: PC

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The first video on this page, is the earliest known build of Tomb Raider. It was compiled some time 1995, apparently used to show Eidos the progress of what Core Design had made. The video, shows early footage of the first installment of Tomb Raider, it seems that she has a braid. It is also confirmed fully that the braid was removed because it caused lag within the game which was then remastered for the next game. Also, her main weapon is the ‘Magnums’, Core Design originally planned for Lara’s main weapon to be the Magnums, rather than the pistols. In this build, Lara’s model is different, along with some animations. It appears, that Lara Croft has the Sunglasses on her face which was removed from the final version but she has them in FMVs. The levels are currently unknown, the textures resemble the second level (City Of Vilcabamba), it looks more like a test level. The build comes with a debug feature, it allows you to pause, change the camera angle and even zoom to take a look around in other places. The enemies are barely different from the final version, it seems that the AI is less challenging. The locations, while only early placeholders, already display complex and haunting environments.

Similarly, in an late 1995 Sega Saturn magazine, it shows a very similar build to the one explained above, it contains screenshots, of a more complete build for the Sega Saturn. It also shows a level which isn’t shown in the video above. It could possibly be the last, and final version of this prototype, before they changed the game drastically, resulting in what we play now. CORE had already named Lara Croft ‘Lara Cruz’ in this version.

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Early Alpha Stage CUTSCENES – Date ???? 1995
Platform: Sega Saturn / PC

These videos apparently come from a simmilar or possibly the same prototype or presskit as the one above. They show a completely different intro to the game with a brand new ambigious storyline. The Scion, whilst looking the same is also very different from the final one.

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Early Alpha Stage – Date, October/November 1995
Platform: Sega Saturn

A more complete version of the prototype shown above, it has dual aiming as shown in the screenshots, it is unknown if the braid is still broken but it does look asif it no longer flickers. The screenshots come from a Sega Saturn preview magazine which also claims the game was supposed to be released ’1st QTR 1996′ it seems that CORE must’ve scrapped this nearly complete version of the game and remastered it ready for the year after! The levels look early, huge and the models all seem to be different, Lara, bear, wolves etc. The simplicity of the levels may have a negative impact in comparison to the final release. But I find it quite intriguing and it’d be great to see more of this prototype! Magazine scans are from both an October/November issue.

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Alpha Stage – Date, Before May 1996
Platform: PSX/SATURN

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These are magazine scans taken from a 1996 magazine. You can see Lara using the deleted jump animation, there is no water in this version so we know it’s before the alpha shown below where Lara cannot swim. There are several early areas, you can see parts of the underwater part have climable rocky surfaces not seen in final (second batch of screenshots)

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Alpha Stage – Date, Before May 1996
Platform: PC

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This alpha version of Tomb Raider is before May 1996, the May 1996 version has the ability to swim. Therefore, I can tell this was compiled before May 1996, the Diary, Dynamite and placeholder inventory items are included in this build, along with the May 1996 version. It’s the first level, ‘The Caves’, it seems that Lara spawns later in the level, Lara’s model is final, the animations are still different in some cases such as climbing up and jumping. She also has the ability to aim on 2 targets also show in Tomb Raider Anniversary Edition (CORE). The skulls in the pit, are also not present in the final version. Also, the gun fire effect is different, they are like stars, Identical to the one shown in the DOS July 1996 rolling demo (ECTS) and May 1996 Alpha. Finally, Lara doesn’t have the ability to swim in this version, she continuously walks rather than swimming, but the effects of water are still there so they were already working on water physics.

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Alpha Stage – Date, Before May 1996
Platform: Unknown, Looks like PSX?

Here is a video similar to the alpha above this, it could be the same. However, it was shown at an E3 expo video and looks like it’s for the playstation 1. It ends with and unused intro/cutscene deleted sometime in August to make way for the final cutscenes/FMVs
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Alpha Stage – Date, May 1996 (E3 Build)
Platform: PSX

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This is the build shown at E3 1996 and is similar to the build shown above. It contains delted diary and dynamite, it seems that dual aiming has been removed. There is still no sound in this version and a lot of the swimming animations are different, exiting water is different. Items on the floor are way larger than the final version. Dynamite icons are only seen in this version of the game so far. It is barely functional and has many minor bugs. There are different animations like the vaulting and land from jump animations. Lara cannot dive or roll, the circle button is used to swim. Lara cannot shoot without being locked onto an enemy, the controls are slightly different since circle button is walk rather than R1.

Video 2 also shows footage of the ending of the level which required Lara to be ‘moved to the next room’ in order to get there since the trap door causes a crash. They must’ve been out of time and hadn’t finished the trap door features.

Video 3 shows the early ‘prototype’ jump in action, it was activated by manipulating the E3 version. It also features a new animation where Lara crosses her arms. The jump animation is exactly the same as the ones shown in the first two videos, but was removed later in the June/July versions.

Video 4 shows a series of animations, there are several unused animations, it’s fun to watch.

Video 5 shows the unused sprites.

Video 6 shows the unused ingame models.

Video 7 shows an unused Lara croft model found ingame with no braid. Must’ve been used for testing at one point in time.

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Beta Stage – Date, Late May/June 1996?
Platform: PC

This beta shows Larson in the second level of the game. He normaly appears in the fifth level of the game, Tomb Of Qualopec. You can see his gun is untextured, the star sprites are still present when Lara Croft shoots. They must’ve been experimenting with Lara competing against Larson in the first level so that Lara would get the scion before Larson, ordered by Natla would. You may have had to kill Larson before he kills Lara of course.

Also, in the Lost Valley, you can see that there are crocodiles which were deleted form the final. There are some minor level differences like the bridge debris, waterfalls in different places and missing dinosaurs.

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Beta Stage – Date, Early July 1996 (ECTS Build)
Platform: PC

This build, is similar to the one above in some aspects, it still contains the star gunfire. There are several texture issues which can be seen throughout the rolling demo. In this build, the Diary was replaced with the Passport, the fonts are different, and the Golden Idol is positioned above the collapsible ledges where a health kit is in place in the final version. It also contains a debug option, the map allows the user to explore a birds eye, view of the entire level. It is currently unknown if it features anything else since it’s a self playing demo. Similarly, in the inventory, the Grenade is present, Core design decided they’d like to replace the Dynamite with a more modern explosive device, ‘The Grenade’. Also, the doors which open to the Caves aren’t actually there.

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Beta Stage – Date, Late July 1996
Platform: Sega Saturn

In the first video, there are several differences. Lara has her original costume (not gym), she has the ability to shoot. The level is called ‘Gym’, rather than Lara’s home, there is no voice overs, several collision issues (Lara can walk into objects), and there is no end trigger so the level cannot end. There is a bear in the gym room which isn’t there in the final version. In addition, it features a record demo option, this option isn’t functional like some of the other place holder options in the inventory screen. Level select is automatically unlocked like most other Tomb Raider Betas, however, this is only a 2-Level build. Notably, her footstep sounds are different, when she draws guns, multiple annoying sounds are played which is a glitch and was only fixed Late August 1996.

In the second video, there is pistol ammo. Core Design, planned for the Pistols not to be unlimited, there is ammo placed in various places of the level. The health bars are also different, the level is pretty much the same, just that the Golden Idol is placed elsewhere and that there is no end trigger. This version, also has the Grenade feature, once selected, it does not work since it’s a place holder option. Core Design, decided to scrap it, it is no longer present in builds after July 1996, removed possibly due to time running out.

In the third video i show you some unused models from the game including the doppelganger which shouldn’t even be in this level. She’s quite different as she moves a few seconds after Lara Croft.

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Beta Stage – Early August 1996
Platform: Sega Saturn

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Tomb raider development continues, this build still contains no Cut scenes, no FMVs. The grenade is also removed from this version, Pistol ammo is still present, they scrapped the Pistol ammo late August 1996. Again, the first video, is very similar to final, there is a missing slope, missing darts, and the buggy weapon draw issue is still present. Other than that, it’s pretty much the same as the final build. It is only a 4 level build.

Very similar to the final version, the doors have finally been added, where the Golden idol should be, the items from late July 1996, have been removed. It’s just an empty room.

In the third video, there is no entrance to where Lara comes from in the FMV, Pierre is missing from the game, Lara doesn’t have the ability to jump off slopes, the first secret at the top is missing. Some of the rooms such are very unfinished. Thor doesn’t have lightning, nor does the hammer appear to be there. In addition, the Damocles room has no swords which are supposed to drop then kill Lara.

In the fourth video, this level is also very similar to the final build, but it is also very buggy. Accessing certain parts of the level will result in a crash, some of the objects are texture less especially doors. Pierre still isn’t on this level either. When you complete any of the levels, it shows a deleted stats screen which shows how many rooms have been explored.

In the fifth video, I demonstrate the debug option camera freeze. It allows you to change from an automated camera to a frozen camera to check out Lara or play with a fixed camera etc.

In the sixth video, I show another hidden debug option which allows you to place the camera where ever you like.

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Beta Stage – Late August 1996
Platform: Sega Saturn

This is a demo, from the Sega Saturn preview vol, series. It is similar to the August build above, some bugs have been fixed, the weapon draw issue is no longer present, health bar colour is now final. All pistol ammo has been removed from the stage. The level ends after pulling one of the blocks. This is actually identical to the final version now. Just the ammo display text is different.

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Beta Stage – Early September 1996
Platform: PSX

This is a video of a PS1 beta which is close to final. There are several differences such as names, inventory items missing etc. The controls are also similar to the Saturn to some reason.

Editors:
1. SquarePulse
2. Gh0stblade – Gh0stblade@live.co.uk

Change Log:

Gh0stblade – Added new footage, layout changed. 19/08/11
Gh0stblade – Added E3, August video footage + descriptions. 23/10/11
Gh0stblade – Added 12 videos, edited spelling errors and mistakes. 21/11/11
Gh0stblade – Added 2 new videos, screenshots. 24/11/11
Gh0stblade – Added 1995 images, Merged October/November, Fixed mistakes. 05/12/11
Gh0stblade – Added new alpha magazine scans (before May), changed date 08/12/11
Gh0stblade – Added Concept & Design 20/3/95, changed May/June 10/12/11

Images:

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