Published in 1997, Turok has been one of the first Ultra 64 titles to be developed for the console. The game is based on the homonymous comic series, about a native american and his fights between evil cyborgs and dinosaurs. Thanks to its famous fog effect, which covered almost every part of the immense game levels, the game became an icon of the “fog problem” but it surely marked the hearts of many Nintendo 64 owners for its fun gameplay.
Proto / beta:
Final Version:
Before the release, the game has been shown in magazines with some pics taken from the early prototype. One of the images show a very raw 3D model of a T-REX: this enemy should be the “alpha” version of Thunder, a genetically modified dinosaur, which later has been used as a boss. The proto differs from the final version by the absence of the metallic parts covering the head and the foot of the dinosaur. Also, the polygonal model was less detailed. At any rate is difficult to note any other details, due to the blurryness of the image. The prototype colors are less shiny and “realistic” than the final version. It’s interesting to note how the fog effect was allready present: this makes us to wonder if Acclaim really intended to use that effect in the game and not just to cover eventual pop-up problems.
Surely the images in the gallery below represent an early beta stage of development, in wich they were still creating the 3D models and the scenario with not much gameplay finished. Do you know if some of these models were not in the final game? Acclaim begun to work on Turok in 1995, initially thinking to make a third person shooter, but later they chosed a first person view, in order to make it more involving.
Thanks to Linkx111 for the contribution!
Images:
Videos:
What do you think about this unseen game? Give your vote!
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading...Would you like to add more info, screens or videos to this page? Add a comment below!
- Dragonkind [XBOX/PS2 – Cancelled] - 02-12-2023
- Damnation: Hell Breaks Loose [PC – Prototype] - 07-10-2023
- Marvel 2099 : One Nation Under Doom [PC, PSX – Cancelled] - 03-06-2023
translation:
Published in 1997, Turok has been one of the first Ultra 64 project games. The game is based on the homonymous comic, which speaks of an american native indian and his fights between evil cyborgs and gargantuan dinosaurs.
Thanks to his famous fog effect, which covered almost every part of the immense game levels, the game became very famous and surely marked the hearts of the first Nintendo 64 owners.
Before his launch, the game has been presented with some pics taken from the prototype.
The image shows a very raw model of a T-REX; This enemy should be the Beta version of Thunder, a genetically modified dinosaur, which later has been used as a game boss.
The proto version differs from the final version by the absence of the metallic parts covering the head and the foot of the dinosaur; also, the polygonal model was less complex. At any rate is difficult to note any other detail, due of the blurryness of the image.
The prototype colors are less shiny and “realistic” than the final version. It’s interesting to note how the fog effect was allready present, this makes us think how acclaim really intended to put that effect in the game and not just to cover eventual Pop-up effects.
Unfortunately, we don’t have any more information about the origin of that image, and we r investigating to find out more about it.
Surely the image of th T-REX (and the other one under this article) represent an early stage of the game development, considering the other beta image seems to come from a much more evoluted version of the game.
Acclaim begun to work on Turok in 1995, initially thinking ideas for a third person Shoot em Up, but instead deciding next to use a first person view, in order to make it more involving.
Thanks for the translation Linkx! I’m going to add it in the article :)
I remember seeing pictures from Nintendo Magazine System before this was released. They were from the tree-city level, and you could see the head and neck of a brachiosaur in the background. Shame it didn’t make it into the final game, as it looked pretty awesome.
@Gwyn: if you could find that magazine and scan the page, it would be nice!
OK, so I literally just sat and played the finished game today. I could be wrong, but here are some things I’ve noticed.
The animal (sabretooth tiger?) in picture number 15 (turok64scan99) doesn’t exist in the final game.
There is no Tomahawk weapon in the final game. Which is strange as I’m sure Turok uses it in promo material.
The Dimetrodon shown here is red, but it’s green in the final game.
Just to let you know, somebody uploaded a 20 minute long alpha gameplay video on YouTube about a year ago. Some lucky bugger has it. But, either way, it’s a good video and you should consider putting it up on here.
Some things shown in the video are the Tomahawk in action, early weapon models, almost every enemy from the final game (with differences), a completely unused map, different HUD, interesting graphic effects that I’m sure were removed (grass being burned by the green laser) and much MUCH more. Please, check it out if you get the chance!
Not to put anyone’s work down as you’ve done a magnificent job, but if you’d like me to re-word this article a bit so it makes more sense (there are a few spelling errors), please let me know. :)
Thanks Kevin! If you’d like to rewrite the description for this Turok beta page I’ll be happy to update it! This one was originally written in Italian about 20 years ago, it really needs an update :) Feel free to send us an email to [email protected]