Croc: Legend of the Gobbos Prototypes
This page is a list of all pre-release and betas of Croc: Legend of the Gobbos. There are many YouTube videos on the beta game, which are posted onto this page. Many of the levels have bugs and glitches which prevent the player from completing the levels.
Tech Demo
Not to be confused with the later released Demos.
This was released on 8th November 1996 and is the earliest release of the game. This is the only early release on this page that can still be downloaded online.
The tech demo and the released game have many differences, including other Croc sounds, including jumping, running and climbing. The demo does have a few levels similar to some of the retail ones. To complete a level, you need to get ALL Gobbos, and there are 3 in a level. This is different from the final game, where you can advance without collecting all the Gobbos hidden throughout the level.
The first level in the tech demo is named "Nice And Easy".
Differences
- The company logos etc. look different, there aren't any Gobbos inflating the Fox logo.
- You cannot save the game, which is common for most demo games.
- You cannot go back or forward a level unless you complete it.
- When Croc dies after losing all lives, the game is over and Croc must start from the first level.
- The island hubs are named only Island 1, 2 etc. and players cannot go back levels after completion.
- Sound Effects
- Loading screens are different and seem to take longer than the final version. They are not animated.
- There are more glitches and graphic errors in the game.
- There are no bonus areas or sparkling stars in the game.
- There are no Guardian levels.
- When climbing monkey bars, you must hold down X while climbing or Croc will let go. It also seems to take longer to climb on them.
- The HUD always shows the crystal/life count and the 3 Gobbos, when each is rescued they will carry a white flag.
- There are fewer doors in the level, except the door at the end of each level. The game also takes a little longer to load each part of the level.
- Animations: Crystals are static, Gobbos do not move.
- Level Titles
- Some buttons unlock (and remove) cages instead of requiring a key.
- There are no Beany Gongs and therefore no Beany Bird.
- There are no Dantinis in the game.
- Push boxes are actually brown and stripy in the demo version.
- 3 Gobbos per level instead of 6
- Cannot proceed to next level without all Gobbos
- There are no Coloured Crystals and therefore no Crystal Doors.
- Smash Boxes have no question mark, are grey, bigger and crystals appear spread out.
- The animation when Croc climbs up from a ledge is longer.
- When Croc is hurt he will flash for about 5 seconds, during that time he cannot be hurt again.
- Crystals do not dissapear when Croc is hurt.
- Croc slides on ground easily just like on ice in the final game, especially when running.
- The camera angle isn't as user friendly as the final release.
0.12 Version
This version was released as a gift in a magazine but only a few people still own it. This was likely given to a game magazine for reviewing the game, although this isn't certain. The level select menu differs significantly to the final version. Other Differences include:
- The loading screen for levels actually depicts a silhouette of Croc staring into the sunset.
- Instead of Coloured Crystals, there are actually letters B O N U and S which have the same colours to unlock the Crystal Door at the end.
Testing Level 'Script Hack'
This beta version seems to have the same level select menu, except the levels are completely different. For example, some levels are unable to complete and some have areas never included in the final game. The video shows that if some levels are played, Croc is able to walk on the actual islands shown in the level select menus. It's possible that this is played using a scripting hack (due to the comments on the video) in order to reach the testing levels. The uploader of the video has said that someone called Andre from the defunct website Croc Fan Forums created these levels.
'Mr. Gimmick' version
This version is even rarer than the 0.12 version, and is assumed that it was given to Fox employees to test, and compares significantly to the beta 0.12 version. It's currently owned by Wiki member Mr. Gimmick. There are a number of interesting differences - some of the level titles are slightly different, the backgrounds are different in some areas, different enemy and item placement, etc.
This prototype is still being investigated for further differences and more info will be added to this page as it becomes available.
