Proto:Tomba!/PrePre Demo Vol 9

This is a sub-page of Proto:Tomba!.

Volume 9 of the PrePreo Demo disc features another Tomba! demo, this one a little further along. The build date is 97/10/20 20:10, which places it ten days after the standalone demo's build. Despite this, there are several pieces of evidence to suggest that this build is earlier.

• The title screen is the same as the standalone, but lacks the extra movie demo.

PrePre 8	Standalone Demo	PrePre 9

• The cutscene plays immediately, but there are no vocals at this point. There are subtitles instead.
• The graphics and voice clips are the same as the ones found in the standalone.
• Curiously, the status screen is closer to that of the other PrePre demo instead of the standalone one (which is the same as final), despite the later build date. This is also the only build with a pure black background.

PrePre 8	Standalone Demo	PrePre 9

• Another reason why this demo appears to be earlier than the standalone is the events screen. The standalone demo shows more events and icons when compared to the PrePre demos, and you're allowed to read descriptions, something that has been blocked on both PrePre demos (despite 9's box no longer being crossed out). In addition to this, there are now placeholder icons in place for a couple of quests that are active on the standalone demo.
  • Placeholder events in this version are automatically completed whenever the 'Grandpa's Bracelet' event is complete. Towards the end of the list are several more placeholders that presumably refer to the Old Men. There are 104 events here, plus 16 placeholders. Like the standalone demo, they are bundled together and do not separate main events from side events.

PrePre 8	PrePre 9	Standalone Demo

• You start off at the Dwarf Elder's Hut, with a 3 minute time limit. You need to find four dwarves.
• The 100 Year Old Key is already in your items.
  • Speaking of items, anything that isn't used in the demo cannot be selected (excluding weapons).
• If hacked, an early version of the grapple is present. Tomba can grab onto things he can't in the final, and clip through walls.
• Places that lead to other areas are blocked off, and have no warp associated.

• The windows to the cottage still open, but as above, there's no warp.

• If you unlock the treasure chest at the same time as a Koma Pig hits you, the chest vanishes and so does the item inside.
• The Pump Rocks are the same color as they are in the other PrePre demo.
• Perhaps the most interesting thing in this demo is that you can actually interact with the infamous Doodle Rocks! The sound effect used here is different.

• The game offers the option to save, but you can't select it anyway. The buttons here are uncoloured in the final.