It’s always interesting to see how games look like before they make the final cut, at least for those who are curious about those kinds of things. Now the original Tomb Raider is still considered by many to be a classic, and while the reboot is off to a great start, obviously there is still some magic about the original that we’re sure many old school gamers can agree on.
That being said, it looks like footage has made its way online that shows off pre-alpha footage from the original 1996 Tomb Raider. This is essentially footage from 20 years ago, or maybe even more given its pre-alpha stage, and obviously it looks nothing like the games we have come to expect and play these days.
According to fansite Planet Lara who released the footage, “This is the pre-alpha build of the original Tomb Raider. It’s not a level as such, rather a collection of vast chambers and chasms styled in what would later become the Vilcabamba level textures. It is believe that it was produced to give Eidos a preview of what the game engine was capable of.”
They also note that the pre-alpha footage shows off a different game from the final, “Lara was sporting her iconic braid, which was later removed as it added too many polygons to the game. Not only that, but Lara is also sporting her iconic sunglasses too! Other unique and interesting features included in the pre-alpha were the ability to dual aim – Lara is able to target two different enemies at once.” If you are curious and have a couple of minutes to spare, check it out in the video above.