The list of things that were taken out of Tomb Raider Legend

[LaraCablara]

Update

2/8/10- Many pictures restored! All information that came directly from Crystal Dynamics is highlighted in dark blue!. Links to very interesting things are in dark red! Videos have been added! Any missing pictures in links are due to outdated/broken files, sadly nothing can be done about that.
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Over the course of 2004-2006 we were all anticipating a new Tomb Raider game. With hopes it could be lengthy, difficult, fun adventure with improved controls. We were given 2 trailers that won most of out hearts...but we were shocked only to find nothing much remained of those trailers in the final game. I decided to make a list of screens and info from those two trailers as well as concept art and magazine scans throughout the game's development in hopes of making a giant thread featuring all the things that were taken out or changed. Please, if anyone has anything to add just say so.

- The interview regarding the forest level could be found -here-

- A very interesting review regarding cut out content from Legend (and a bit of Anniversary) could be found -here-

-Fan Q&A with Eric can be found -here-, has some information regarding cut material from the past 3 Tomb Raiders (including Legend), somewhere in there.

Screenshots of Interest from the Early Gameplay Trailers (continued on second post)



Some short of shore line was supposed to be included in the game. Why was it cut out? Well who knows? You can see a beach chair near the far left.

Immortalis08 added "I am positive the first image was from croft manor. The sunset matches that of the courtyard's sky"

Maximum_123 also believes "The first image is Croft Manor, the sky matches and also Lara's home was originally meant to be set on a beach."

Zebra emailed Daniel Cabuco who works for Crystal Dynamics and he has said

"The building on the beach was a test room. I don't think it was ever meant to be Croft Manor proper, but a beach house. Didn't really matter, since it was only used to test some streaming and possible environments. 'Twas a hub for various test worlds/environments."



I think this was cut from the so called Rain forest level. A level that was supposed to be in the game according to an interview (posted above). It was replaced with the Kazakhstan one.

RockSteady101 believes- No, This Is From The Early Bolivia! Early Bolivia Had The Golden Disk Buzzle And Such In The Excalibur Dias Obelisk, Right? Well, It Also featured That Statue Which Is Still Remnant In The Final Version, But You Cannot Reach Or Slide On It That Is One Of Them, Which Originally Was Used In The Slide Puzzle



The first model of the motor cycle we saw in Japan. It looks a lot more futuristic here



According to the Tha_Mattster-
"She was going to jump from the first building roof, over to the second area that now has the red trees and lamps. The pool in the above pic is where we now have the small garden where lara fights the guards and dogs, she crashed the motorbike and that is the wheel of it. "



The rocket launcher in the Japan level. It was taken out because it was buggy and didn't work properly. Also, how on earth was Lara expected to lug around that heavy thing in a tomb.



If you look in the background you’ll see a castle like tomb! Maybe another level that didn’t make it in legend? What ever it was its certainly not playable now.

Also according to tha_mattster
"Firstly it is not south American architecture, secondly look at the supporting poles against the wall. I think it is a Dam, for controlling water flow. And she is knocking that statue over the poles to break open the dam and release the water as part of a puzzle."



Lara could have possibly used flares instead of the portable light. This doesn’t look like the flash back sequence though.



I haven’t seen any enemies sporting these clothes; I wonder why they were taken out. These could have added so much more variety to the enemies.

[LaraCablara]

Now this I think is for SURE the rain forest level that was taken out of the game. Correct me if I’m wrong but I haven’t seen this tomb anywhere. Note the mountains in the back.

According to Five By Five "Those buildings in the background look like Mayan Ruins in Mexico." I honestly have to agree!

According to AnthonyShock1515 "This is actually the temple in Bolivia, but in the final game they placed a mountain over it."



I haven’t seen his puzzle anywhere in the game. Again it was probably from the cut out rain forest level.

According to AnthonyShock1515 "This is ahead of the dais at the end of Bolivia, except the dais is covered here instead of open like in the final version."



Take a close look at the back rounds, they are now where to be found in the final game What a shame. But the one on the far right looks a lot like the window in Nishi's office.

According to AnthonyShockl1515 "The right screen is Nishimura's office, the far left is some kind of tunnel in Tokyo, originally Lara had to battle a poltergeist here. The middle shot I'm sure was her manor. Her manor was originally on a beach, as seen at the beginning of that trailer. Judging by the orange light on her I'd assume this is her manor."



Like Fondantcookie mentioned, Japan was supposed to have a longer Motorcycle scene but sadly it never made it in and was cut out for unknown reasons.

According to AnthonyShock1515 "Lara would have had to topple that platform to ride the bike over."

Zebra emailed Daniel Cabuco who worked for Crystal Dynamics and he said

"The Bike scene was originally set up as the storyboard and completely animated. There were supposed to be a couple ways around the Tokyo towers area, but that got consolidated into the bike jump as it stood in the game. I invented a design for a spokeless bike that used a
magnetic rail to hold the rear wheel in place with zero friction. Then when the bike crashed, the magnet would launch the wheel straight back at Lara. It was fun, but ultimately changed in favor of the Ducati Monster bike scene with the super action. This was because the first
path was super short, and the second was very long (lots of traversal). The risk/reward wasn't balanced properly, but I still had fun thinking up the sequence and seeing it animated in game. I
think they even used a quick shot of it in an early trailer"



Looks like Lara is taking some ancient elevator up into a Tomb.

Maximum_123 "Thought this was a weight mechanism like the one in Nepal, just put in Bolivia on the way to the climbable chains."



Looks like the mercenaries lit a fire. Maybe they were cold? Or were they camping? Well whatever it was we shall never know

[fondantcookie]

We've had a few threads like this....but this is the first one to compile everything into one thread, pictures included...

Makes you realise just how much better legend could have been !!! STUPID CD/EIDO$....

Mind you, saying that...if these levels had the same linear layout then they would have no doubt received the same criticisms. Eitherway though, would have been nice to have a longer game..

[LaraCablara]

Cosmetic Changes and Random information/findings+Videos

In early screen shots Lara has a braid instead of a pony tail.

Lara seems to have flash grenades on her backpack

There was a rumor going around that Tomb Raider Legend was going to be called Tomb Raider: Forest Of Crows.

Apparently the Rocket Launcher is within the games coding. You can unlock it using the gameshark/action replay.

Here is the code for the Rocket Launcher, from Code Junkies

All Weapons (Including Rocket Launcher-Press Down to activate)
0NCK-RNC1-3P94V
GGJV-ZR76-6N964
MPX2-14DM-N2G2G



The old selection menu
Left- Flares?
Down- Grenade?
Up- Light?
Right- Heath?

The Wall Jump



This is one of Lara's moves that never made it in the final game. She was originally able to jump off walls. (See this)

There is a magazine scan showing Lara using this in game in Peru, it could be found in the Magazine Scan Section a few posts below.

Concept art of it could be found in the Concept Art Section as well.

-Lara originally had the ability to shoot WHILE crouching, just like in Underworld! (Again, founded by Philip)

-Lara also had a different handstand animation that can be found in the Playstation Demo

-Lara was supposed to make another motorcycle chase, to end the England level as she saves Zip and Alister (this was from the Official Legend Walkthrough Magazine)

Courtesy of Terminatorvs (who found this)-

Crystal Dynamics Angel of Darkness Model was found buried face down in the Peru Flashback Scene, for some odd reason...



-According to Philip's findings, Lara was originally supposed to have a revolver!



Early Legend Lara

Here is some excellent quality pictures (from the trailers) of Early Legend Lara taken by Zolee






Various things taken out of Legend including some old cut scenes, characters, and enemies could be found -here-

Also a ton of cut out movements could be found -here-, on the same web site.

Deleted enemy found by Badboy70 -here-

Tons of deleted 3D concept designs and various other things can be found -here-

Various old screenshots/scans (some not working) can be found on this fan made website from 2005 -here-

Possible footage of AOD Lara in Legend? Or fan made.



Here is a video showing off a possibly deleted level that took place in the Himalayas!



Early Trailer



Strange Promo with demon in Japan and various other things



Trailer that started it all!



Beta Ghana Gameplay! (Flares, glitchy moves, etc)



Rocket Launcher!

[Immortalis08]

I am positive the first image was from croft manor. The sunset matches that of the courtyard's sky.

[Immortalis08]

*sigh* Sorry double post

[LaraCablara]

Screen Shots, Note: Work in Progress

Note: There are a lot of Screen Shots and I don't see a point in thumb nailing ALL of them, so if you have a comment for a screen shot that's not listed here (or is on a different web site) please provide it to me or check Tomb Raider Chronicles.com to see if its there.



According to a fan interview it was stated that this is part of Nepal that was removed because it didn't fit in with their level goals.



Heres a nice view of the entire area.



A closeup view of the puzzle from the trailer from the possible Rain forest level. Looks like it didn't have anything to do with blocks or pressure pads.

AnthonyShock1515 made a very good analysis of this screen "Lara would have to run up to the puzzle, activate it. Then run along the side to the slopes, jump on the first one, back flip onto the one behind her then onto thr steps, she would go up, vault up onto the ledge then use the wall jump to get to the higher ledge then escape out a opening which I think would lead to the sliding door for her to slide underneath then into the enemies camp.
And that bit with the statue and the dam is what would have been before the Ghana level, the final version had Lara star at the waterfall but in truth she would have went through this lot first. She would have had to climb onto the cliff, jump onto the rope, swing and kick that statue and it would have broken the supports for the dam, releasing the water to start the river flowing."



Lara posing near a bridge in the Rain forest level




These are screens of a test room, found by RockSteady101 and -Debug-.



Here is a few screens of early Japan, founded by Philip



Here is another screen of the deleted Nepal Area, posted by Zolee



A screen shot of a Test Area, not seen in the final game. Posted by Jungle Raider



A screen shot of a possible battle with the Unknown Entity in Japan, Posted by Zebra

Several Screen shots as well as a few concepts have been compiled -here- and also -here-

[LaraCablara]

Early Scans



A very interesting scan of the Japan level. According to grenade, Crystal used Lara with the AOD outfit as a base model early in development. Her hair doesn't seem right in this screen shot.



This scene doesnt seem to belong with either our current Japan or any of the scenes that didnt make it in the game.

According to aussie500 and RockSteady101 this could very well be the Petrona Towers!



Again, she wears the AOD outfit. Take a close look at the enviroment, it doesnt seem to look like anything in the game. Another possible level that didn't make it in?


Dont mind the comment on the bottom. An even better look at an enemy using the rocket launcher! Toward the far right you can even see the rocket fire out. The light icon on the top left looks different also.



Also here is an EXCELLENT picture posted by Grenade showing all the different models created prior to the Lara Croft in Legend we know today.



An article regarding an underwater level in Legend, dubbed the 'Underwater Halls'. It sort of looks like Cornwall.



Here is scan of Lara using the deleted wall jump in Peru, and another move cut out from Legend! Posted by Dark Lugia 2, scan by Philip




Here are two scans showing concept art of the Sea Serpent from England, again founded by Dark Lugia 2.



Yet another one of Lara's deleted moves! The pistol whip! Courtesy of Trigger_happy

[LaraCablara]

Concept Art

Note: There are a lot of Concept Art and I don't see a point in thumb nailing ALL of them, so if you have a comment for a concept art that's not listed here (or is on a different web site) please provide it to me or check Tomb Raider Chronicles.com to see if its there.

Gambit37 posted some really cool screens of concept art he extracted from Tomb Raider Legend using a graphics ripper. I posted the ones I found interesting, the rest could be found -here-



It’s the Rain forest, looks very lush and deadly



More of the Rain forest concept art. Judging from screen shots, and the trailers it really seemed like a big level! But then again, so did all the others.



In my opinion I think Lara was supposed to go visit an underwater temple in Greece to find another sword piece.

Once again, I thank tha_mattser for posting a great article about this on page 18



Before Toby Gard joined the party Crystal starting modeling Lara by updating the current Angel Of Darkness model. I personally like the old one better.



On the first page, I wrote about a move that never made it into the final game. Well here is concept art showing how it was going to be used. It seems much more deep then the wall jump in Prince of Persia.

Fondantcookie posted a nice explanation about how this move might have worked in Ghana here



I think this might have been the Logo before Crystal thought of the name Legend.



I have no clue what this is. Maybe this was the interface of a phone device that allowed Lara to contact her Tech Team? Also near the left there is a strange guy and written underneath is "Skip- Camera 2". What he the Zip of the past?

Mr K posted an analysis on here

Aussie500 posted an analysis here



This is a render of what seems like King Arthur's Tomb Founded by george_croft



Here are some excellent concept arts posted by Jungle Raider

Here are some concept art that MeLikeLara managed to dig up from the big files
(Photobucket Account is no longer active, sadly!)

[Immortalis08]

Thanks for the info! Its very interesting and sad to see all that we could've done in legend.