Prerelease:Day of the Tentacle/Character Differences

This is a sub-page of Prerelease:Day of the Tentacle.

Removed Characters

Several characters are mentioned in the original design document that don't appear in the final game at all.

Much like the original Maniac Mansion, Day of the Tentacle was originally going to allow the player to choose from a range of different characters to play as. Bernard and Razor would be the returning characters from the original game, while Hoagie, Laverne, Chester and Moonglow would be the new ones.

Razor (Player Character)

Razor is described as the lead singer in a punk-rocket nostalgia band that opens for Wayne Newton in Vegas, who hangs around with Bernard because he's rich from programming the original Maniac Mansion game. Like Bernard, she is one of the playable characters from the original Maniac Mansion. This concept art by Larry Ahern appeared in the July 1993 issue of Video Games and Computer Entertainment magazine, in an article which claimed Razor was cut because she was "too dull" (get it?).

Chester (Player Character)

Chester is described as a beatnik artist dressed entirely in black. "Too hip." According to the Developer Commentary in Day of the Tentacle Remastered, his design was reworked and used for the twin brothers, Ned and Jed Edison. Why do the work again?

The original concept art of Chester and Ned/Jed found on The International House of Mojo and Unseen64 shows a cappuccino which ended up being used in the finished game, during the cutscene where Jed comforts Ned after Ned destroys the Statue.

Concept Art	More Concept Art	Concept art of Ned/Jed

Moonglow (Player Character)

Moonglow is described as a lovechild of the sixties, and was apparently removed from the game for being "so mellow", according to the design document. She would have carried a crystal shard as a pendant, according to concept art found on The International House of Mojo.

Pigeon

The Hamster that delivers the letter at the start of the game was going to be a carrier Pigeon, which Bernard would tip for delivering the letter.

Members of Congress

Two unspecified members of Congress are mentioned, that were to be hanging around with George Washington and John Hancock. Concept art shows some rough ideas of what they may have looked like.

Cold Guy

The Cold Guy is mentioned separately from John Hancock in the design document.

Fire-Building Guy

The Fire-Building Guy is mentioned separately from Thomas Jefferson in the design document.

Disappearing Ink Salesman

The Disappearing Ink Salesman isn't included in the game at all. He's described as a shifty figure in a dark trenchcoat who says "'Pssst. Kid. Come over here,' like the guy in Monkey Island." It's possible his design was recycled into the Guy In Ski Mask seen in the final game, who also wears a trenchcoat and has an unused face design visible in some concept art found in Day of the Tentacle Remastered.

Novelty Good Salesmen

More Novelty Good Salesmen are mentioned, who are described as standing around, squirting each other with fake buotonnieres, zapping each other with joy buzzers and putting whoopee cushions on chairs.

There is only one piece of concept art which seems to show one of the removed salesmen. Much like how the Exploding Cigar Salesman is based on Benjamin Franklin, and Harold the Human Show contestant is based on George Washington, it appears his design was going to be based on Thomas Jefferson. This is further evidenced by him being included on a concept art page otherwise covered in drawings of Thomas Jefferson and John Hancock.

Car Guy

A character referred to as the Car Guy is mentioned. He would be the owner of the Filthy Old Car present in the game, and would explain to the player that he doesn't wash it because if he did, it would only rain.

Washer Guy

The Washer Guy is described as a guy who monopolizes the Washing Machine so you can't use it, who then asks if he can throw his jeans into the Dryer with your Sweater.

Building Superintendent

The Building Superintendent is described as a tentacle who would give Laverne the Extension Cord in exchange for the Trophy.

Harold's Owner

Harold (described as Poodle Boy) would also have had his owner present, who is described as incredibly smug.

Human Owners

Various tentacles entering their humans in the Human Show. They're described as spending their time primping and pampering their poodle-like people.

Character Differences

A fair amount of characters mentioned in the original design document have some notable differences from their incarnations in the finished game. Concept art from various sources shows some interesting design changes too.

Bernard

Bernard was going to be rich after having received the royalties for writing the NES version of Maniac Mansion. He was to believe the cut character Razor was attracted to his intellect.

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson is said to stay in his room the whole game putting together a Time Capsule, rather than hanging out in the Main Hall as he does in the finished game, according to the design document.

John Hancock

Concept art shows a few different sketches of what Thomas Jefferson and John Hancock may have ended up looking like.

Betsy Ross

Concept art from Day of the Tentacle Remastered finally reveals what Betsy Ross' face may have looked like. She is seen facing her sewing machine for the entire game.

Horse

Concept art from Day of the Tentacle Remastered shows a few different sketches of what the talking Horse may have ended up looking like.

Tentacles

There is some concept art from Day of the Tentacle Remastered for some different looking Tentacle characters. This gangly design is closer to their appearance in Maniac Mansion.

IRS Agents

The IRS Agents were going to look like Dave and Sandy from Maniac Mansion, according to the design document. There is some concept art from Day of the Tentacle Remastered showing different IRS Agent designs, but none of them look very much like Dave or Sandy.

Guy In Ski Mask

It appears the generically named "Guy In Ski Mask" originally wasn't going to be wearing a ski mask at all. Concept art from Day of the Tentacle Remastered shows him with his face fully exposed, revealing some slicked back hair and an unsettlingly thin mustache. He still has the same eyes though.

Smiling Contestant

The Smiling Contestant from the Human Show was originally going to literally have a beehive for hair, according to concept art from Day of the Tentacle Remastered.

Ved Edison

It appears Ved Edison was originally going to be a completely different character, according to concept art from Day of the Tentacle Remastered. He bears a striking resemblance to Ben Franklin and the Cigar Salesman.

Grandfather Clock Guard

According to a concept found on The International House of Mojo, the Grandfather Clock Guard (or "Tentacle Human Hunter") was originally going to wear sunglasses instead of a mustache. It somehow looked even sillier than the finished character.