platform

Henry Hatsworth [DS – Beta & Concept]

Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure is a Nintendo DS action-adventure and puzzle game created by Kyle Gray, who founded the “Experimental Gameplay Project” with Kyle Gabler, the creator of World of Goo. Gray led a seven-man team at EA Tiburon to develop the game.  While the game is an action-platformer on the top screen, once enemies are defeated by Hatsworth, they are sent to the bottom screen as puzzle blocks. [Info From Wikipedia]

In the beta version of the game there were some differences in the HUD, levels and gameplay:

  • The Puzzle Meter was in the top screen.
  • Different icon for the Rifle weapon.
  • “Young” Henry had a full series of “silver hearts” to consume before return to the “old” Henry. In the final game, only half of the hearts are silver ones.  It was like to have 2 energy bars at once (making the game easier).
  • Some of the puzzle blocks had a different design / face.
  • Henry’s animations were still incomplete.
  • A couple of parts in the beta videos seem to be from a removed level or an early design of a final one.
  • The bouncing baloons were pink, instead of yellow.

Also, in the concept arts we can notice many Bosses that were cut from the final game, as the ones that look like Benjamin Franklin or the 3 muscle men from the circus. In the artworks we can even see early and unused designs for  the normal enemies, Henry’s ship (from one of the secret levels) and puzzle blocks.

Images:

Video:

 

Keeper of the Gates [G/MD – Cancelled]

Keeper of the Gates is a cancelled action game that was in development for the Genesis / Mega Drive by Razorsoft. This was meant to be a sequel to Stormlord, in which we would have played through 8 levels with hard puzzles and traps to resolve. Also, “six players would have been able to alternately compete in tournament play, to test their adventuring skills”. The project was never finished for unknown reasons.

Celine has found some screens of the Game in EGM 40 & 41, while Ross Sillifant found even more in Sega Force magazine, you can check them all in the gallery below!

Thanks to The Punisher we found out that Keeper Of The Gates was going to be a new game in the Stomlord series or a port of Stormlord 2: Deliverance. The screens from the Genesis / Mega Drive version look exactly like S2:D released for Amiga, as we can see at Hall of Light.

Images:
 

Galidor [PS2, GameCube, PC – Beta]

Galidor: Defenders of the Outer Dimension, also known simply as Galidor, is a show that ran on Fox Kids in 2002 with a total of 26 half-hour episodes. The show is centered around the journey of Nicholas Bluetooth, a 15 year old whose life is turned upside-down after receiving a strange floating alien map over his bed on the eve of his 15th birthday. [Info from Wikipedia]

In 2003 Asylum Entertainment developed and released (published by Electronic Arts for PC (and GBA) only) a platform / action game game based on the Galidor show. The early version of the main character was different from the one that was later used in the final game and even the hud was changed.

Whilst the PC and GBA versions were released, the PS2 version, as well as a GameCube release were cancelled, which was unfortunately due to financial problems.

Thanks to Celine and Vitas Varnas for the contribution!

Beta Version:

old-chara

Final Version:

new-chara

Images: 

Pandemonium [PSX / Saturn / PC]

Pandemonium is a 2.5D side scrolling platform game, developed by Toys For Bob and published by Crystal Dynamics, originally for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn. Celine has found some beta screenshots (20% complete?) of the game in GamePro #83 in which we can notice the early graphic and some possible other differences (sadly i don’t remember the game that well, if you find more changes, please let us know!).

It’s interesting to notice that Pandemonium was released in Japan by Bandai under the title Magical Hoppers, with story, cutscenes and characters completely changed with a more “japanese” style. [Info from Wikipedia]

Thanks to Celine for the contribution!

Images:

Alpha Stage – July 1996
Platform: PSX

This version contains some rather interesting differences. You can switch the characters whilst in-game unlike the final verison which doesn’t allow this. Most of the levels are there but they appear to be incomplete towards the end. The world map/level selection is also incomplete and very basic. The HUD is different from the final game and so are the collectibles which seem to be red gems of some sort.

August/Early September 1996 Beta Trailer

A trailer which shows footage of an unknown build of the game. My estimate is between August/Early September 1996. There are numerous differences, especially the HUD which has a picture of the character itself. I actually prefer it like this.