Prerelease:Croc 2 (Windows, PlayStation)

This page details prerelease information and/or media for Croc 2 (Windows, PlayStation).

Concept Art

Shown in certain magazines, the concept art for Lava Lamp Larry shows the level with less lava lamps.

Early Logos

The earliest logo, found on Argonaut's website, shows the original title of Croc 2: Kingdom of the Gobbos, using a very plain font. It bears no resemblance to other Croc logos.

A later logo featured roman numerals, with one of the letters having a chunk taken out of it. This one was featured at the back of the Sega Seturn manual for Croc: Legend of the Gobbos.

Similar to the above logo, only with different colours and the bottom shading on 'Croc' removed. It was found exclusively at E3 in 1998.

Promotional Artwork

This image was used to promote the game, and features a couple of scrapped characters and earlier designs.

In the top left a monkey can be seen. These critters can be seen in early Sailor Village screenshots.

Next to Croc's left foot is a Cowboy Gobbo, whose entire tribe was removed from the final game.

Soveena is blue and yellow in the final game. Here, she's more of a violet colour, which is a combination of her final colours and her early colours (pink and purple).

The Village Masher is completely organic, as seen in early screenshots. In the final release, he is part-machine.

Finally, Baron Dante has both of his eyes. Throughout the entire game, he wears an eye patch.

E3 1998

The earliest known footage of the game was available at the 1998 E3 event (Croc 2 starts at 59:13).

The footage shows the original version of Croc Vs. Dantini Boat Race, where Croc would race on a raft instead. The gorilla, which is removed for the final, was going to be able to hit Croc should he make a wrong turn.

After displaying an early logo, we see the original design for Soveena and her level. Croc doesn't interact with the Gobbo, though it's possible they have already spoken at this point.

Preview Trailer

This preview trailer uses a video from an earlier build, and all of the locations shown are different from the final in some way.

The level seems lighter, and the lava is pure black.
There's no Gobbo by the bridge, and the other Gobbo is more to the left in the final. It also appears to be the Sailor King who normally can be found fishing by a bridge. Speaking of bridge, the bridge here is open, and no such bridge like that exists in the final.
The final version of this level has no spikes.
This area doesn't exist in the final.
Footage from the first game?
The removed swimming level.
Level is darker in the final.
Mostly the same as the final, save for the camera clipping.
Baron Dante doesn't seem to throw fireballs.
No crystals on the monkey bars.
Mostly the same as final, fireballs a little different.
Level is darker in the final.
There's a heart pot here instead of a heart.
Door has a different model, hearts instead of the usual boss meter and the box reads TNT as opposed to the bomb picture in the final.
Early crystal, and there's no crystal or smash box here in the final.
The grey structure on the left is missing.
Unknown level; you only use the plane to defeat Baron Dante in the final.
No background, early item select, a strange green moon(?) and an unknown symbol on the right which seems to have a texture issue.
Different angle, and no background.

Trailer

A later trailer featured a combination of footage from the final and the above build. Although of a higher quality, some scenes were removed or altered.

The differences between this and the above video are as follows:

0:06: The unused swimming level was replaced with "Race Day at Goldrock".
0:10: The footage from "Find 5 Lost Treasure Chests" was reshot, with the logo appearing slower and, more importantly, the camera clipping removed.
0:24 The unused plane level was replaced with "Hang Glider Valley".
0:25: The early footage of "It's just Snowball Madness!" was replaced with "Croc Vs. Dantini Boat Race".
0:27: The box art was updated to show the final ESRB rating.

Early Unused Characters

Croc 2 features a few characters which have rendered images, but have not been found to have ever been included in the game.

"Cowboy" Gobbos

In several magazines (particularly those with early preview materials of the game), advertisments, and even the back of the instruction manual for the final game, there are pre-rendered images of a Sheriff Gobbo. Very little is known about them other than their early cancellation. The final game, as well as all known prototypes, make no mention or hint towards their existence.

The Fox Interactive website mentioned this village as part of their preview for the game back in December 1998: "Expect the unexpected at all times -- one minute fighting in a stone age village, the next battling in the wild west."

In Issue 2 of Official Sega Dreamcast magazine, producer Dave Stalker mentions adding a brand new tribe of Gobbos to the (cancelled) Dreamcast port of the game. It is speculated that this would have been the cowboy Gobbo's debut.

Something worth noting is that, even in the final game, the hidden level select actually allows you to go as high as Tribe 6, making it likely that they were planned from the very beginning.

Stegosaurus

In a very early preview, a Stegosaurus model was shown between a Gobbo and Cannon Boat Keith. This was likely going to be found in one of the Caveman Village levels.

Ringmaster Dantini

This unique Dantini appears in the same magazine as the Stegosaurus. Little is known about him, and it's not entirely certain where a circus themed enemy would actually fit.

Early Character Models

Swap Meet Pete

Swap Meet Pete was going to be even smaller than Croc at one stage. His icon is also that of an older build, which was left in the final. Speaking of icons, the final game uses a Swap Meet Pete card instead of a crystal. And speaking of crystals, when Croc can't afford an item in the final, he tells Pete that it costs too much. Lastly, the shop is empty here, the camera zooming is a little different and the mat is jagged instead of straight.

Inca Gobbos

Some early renders of the Incan Gobbos shows that they went through a rather big overhaul. In the final, their eyes aren't soul-sucking and remain the same as the other Gobbos, and the outfits are different. The golden Gobbo here has no equivalent, though perhaps had some link to the "Golden Gobbo" collectible. The other Gobbos shown at the time of these renders resemble their final models.

Removed Mechanics

In two of the earliest known screenshots, Croc can be seen performing actions that didn't make it through to the final. In the first, he is seen walking backwards. In the second, he is seen swimming underwater. Both of these moves exist in the first game, but were ultimately removed in the sequel.

Levels

Sailor Village

Screenshots of Sailor Village in a rather primitive state, which feature huts not found in the final game. One of the huts has a sign up, with the bottom text reading "Bongo Bob", which is probably an early name for Swap Meet Pete.

A close up of one of the above screenshots, from an unknown source. There seems to be an out of place blue plane here, perhaps meant to be a water tile.

This screenshot from Argonaut's website shows an angle of the entrance that is not possible in the final. There's a large door here instead, which never opens. There also appears to be the earliest known HUD, but unfortunately the screenshot is too small to decipher most of the words (save for "Hearts 3" at the top left).

Although the screenshot is cut off in the magazine, you can still see the older icons. You can see a crystal behind the Gobbo, which is smaller and further away compared to the final. The terrain here is grassy, but the final game uses mud. The Gobbo's apparel is also different, and his hat is white in the final. The text is also different. The final text (at this point) is as follows:

"Hide 5 boxes in scary mine. Gobbo in big trouble now!"

"Croc help Gobbo! Croc find treasure! Gobbo not be in trouble!"

Early icons. If you look closely, you can see a gate behind the Gobbo, suggesting that this level was originally found at the end of Sailor Village. The boat is also more traditional and there are no decorative stones in the water in the final. Text has a spelling mistake that is repeated twice (loose instead of lose) and the text in general varies to the final:

"Want Gobbos to race but Gobbos always lose. Croc not lose, though!"

"Ok, how can Croc help?"

Find the Key! Save the Gobbo!

The platforms in the final are more of a dull, swamp green color.

Find 5 Lost Treasure Chests

The TNT boxes originally wrote their contents clearly. In the final, an image of a bomb is shown instead (perhaps to avoid similarities with the similar functioning boxes found in Crash Bandicoot).

Demo Mode is shown at the bottom instead of the top. Croc uses his idle pose instead of his 'surfing' animation.

Save the Bird from the Thief

This early version still remains in a Croc 2 prototype.

Screenshots from a very early version of the level, with no background implemented, and the old monkey enemies still present.

This image also exists, but unfortunately, the higher resolution image is currently lost.

An entrance to a sub area. Also of note is the different gems, found only here.

Unknown Mine Area

The enemy is internally listed as "Drill Bit Doormouse" in the prototype. It is not found anywhere in the final game, nor has it been left in the code.

The level itself bears a resemblance to "Find 5 Lost Treasure Chests".

Unknown Sailor Village Area

This 'level' appears in the Dummy file of the early prototype. It's currently unknown if this was a minigame or a unique cutscene.

Croc Vs. Dantini Boat Race

As seen in these screenshots and an E3 demo, this level originally included a raft rather than a boat. Once upon a time, primates were part of this level, hindering Croc's journey.

This later screenshot from GamesMaster magazine (August 1999) is cut off due to the character images overlapping, but Croc uses a different boat to the final.

The second boat once again, with less detailed textures and a slightly different water mill.

Soveena the Squid

Soveena herself is red pinky-purple instead of the yellow and blue she is in the final game. She also appears to have a red substance on her head. Her eyes are also menacing instead of the neutral eyes she normally has. Interestingly, even though her model was updated, her boss icon in the retail game is that of this design instead.

The final level has a more detailed water texture, and the level is surrounded by an actual wall rather than barrels. There are also barrels and boxes leading up to her in the final.

Much like the TNT boxes found in "Find 5 Lost Treasure Chests", the TNT boxes here were also changed in the final to include a picture of a bomb.

These two later screenshots show an earlier boss health meter.

Cannon Boat Keith

Cannon Boat Keith had an overhaul. In the final game, there is unused text that mentions Cannon Boat Keith attacking the village, but he's actually fought in a cave.

Part of the level featured a raft, a small island and several barrels. It seems as though Croc would sail out to get close enough.

In the retail game, Keith is on his boat and the level is inside a cave.

The bridge is also a little different, and there seems to be only one path as opposed to the three in the final.

Cossack Village

These huts are never seen anywhere in the final. There's a throne for the Cossack King which isn't also doesn't make it through to the final.

This hut is nowhere to be found in the final. The closest thing to it is the waiting area of the train station.

Save the Ice Trapped Gobbos!

The Smash box that is usually ahead of Croc is absent.

The barrel here has TNT written on it, as opposed to the picture of a bomb found on the final.

Croc is much smaller here! He towers above Gobbos normally.

It's Just Snowball Madness!

The background is missing.

Same as above - the background is missing.

Kaboom! It's Roger Red Ant

A much earlier version of the level, with a different Roger model standing on a fairly primitive platform. When you finally reach Roger, there's no track to stand on, and Croc never gets this close to him. The level is red in the final, as opposed to the regular cave-style level it is here. You also never see Roger from the side.

In the retail release, Croc can't travel here. It's only the Clockwork Gobbo that gets to move in this area. The platform is also darker in the final.

Demo Mode is shown at the bottom instead of the top. This area resembles the level enough for it to have likely been part of the stage at one point, but this particular area is not seen in the final version of the level. This level is also never seen during the demonstrations.

Hang Glider Valley

This area is missing from the final entirely.

Shown with a camera angle not possible in the final, this screenshot shows the level with an open cave, likely the original exit.

Flavio the Thermal Fish

This boss level is darker in the final, and the walls aren't visible. The textures are all different, and there's no snow here, making it look as though it may have been the boss for another world at one stage. The smaller water containers also have a different model.

Lava Lamp Larry

The two lamps are much dimmer compared to the retail version.

This guy has no hole like he does in the final.

Caveman Village

This screenshot, revealing a strange entrance in the small lake, could be part of the removed swimming level (see below). Croc is much smaller.

This screenshot, along with some others, was included on the demos, including the later ones. It shows Croc closer to the possible mine entrance.

The rocky entrance is not present in the final. Likewise, the small platforms leading over there have also been removed.

An unknown area, probably from one of the huts in the village.

The platforms are smaller and different in the final, and they don't hang over the edge like they do in this screenshot.

Another look at the more precariously placed platforms.

A very small difference - the clump of weeds just outside the area is missing. There's also an earlier crystal counter.

Save 50 Trapped Gobbos!

This screenshot from Fox Interactive's old site shows an early crystal counter, which can also be seen on some other screenshots. A similar counter can be found in a prototype of the game.

Race Day at Goldrock

This screenshot shows a path leading inside the bone cage. Although not present in this screenshot, there's usually a red crystal inside.

A closer look at the area in the above screenshot, with a better look at the path leading in.

The barriers at the sides are missing.

Underwater Level

Seen in a preview video and an early screenshot is a level that takes place underwater. Unlike in the previous game, Croc is unable to swim underwater in the final version of Croc 2.

This level features items found only here, as well as an underwater enemy that (obviously) doesn't appear in the final.

It's worth noting that an early prototype contains assets from this level in an earlier game format, as well as a song which would fit the level.

The Village Masher

The level design and textures are different, though still manage to resemble the final.

An old heart system and inventory icon can be seen. The lookout post is on the opposite side in the final, and the grass pattern underneath it is different. The Village Masher itself lacks the metallic jaw, and the nostrils don't seem to be there just yet. The (early) TNT boxes are not used for this battle in the final.

A later screenshot, with the second known boss health bar. The Village Masher is still fully organic, and there's a strange banner in the background.

Venus Fly Von-Trappe

The background is pure black in the final. The floor shown here appears to be grassy, whereas in the final, it's lava.

Inca Village

The screenshot is unfortunately cut off by the magazine's use of stock art, but there are several differences. For one, the Gobbo that announces this is outside the Inca Village, and this particular area doesn't have a cobblestone path in the final. The Gobbo isn't actually an Incan Gobbo here but a Sailor Gobbo. The old Gobbo icon is here and the text is different to the final:

"Dantinis have kidnapped the Gobbo babies! Find them and put them back in the playpens! But make sure they don't cry!"

Plane Level

Seen in an early trailer. The plane is only used to defeat Baron Dante in the final game, and the boss begins immediately. This could mean that you originally had to go through a regular level first, like with most other bosses.