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Proto:Crash Team Racing/September 3rd, 1999 build
This is a sub-page of Proto:Crash Team Racing.
The Review Copy prototype of Crash Team Racing is a review version of the game dated three weeks before the final NTSC release version. It was "officialy" leaked to the public in 2012 (although some videos show that it was already on the internet at least since 2009).
Though it's mostly complete, it features a lot of small differences from the final release, with some elements having been changed and others removed altogether. It's dated September 3, 1999.
Contents
Unused Audio
There are more unused voice clips of Aku Aku and Uka Uka found only in this prototype. These voice clips would have been played in the races but they were never programmed in.
Gotcha
This would have played if the player goes out of bounds.
Juiced up
Either they are going to be played if the player goes out of bounds or it could have been played when the player uses the mask item.
Oh yeah
These could be most likely played with the mask item.
That's the wrong way
An unused variant of "Wrong way!" voice clip.
Ugh!
Crash has a different pain sound that can sometimes be heard when firing bombs/missiles at him, which is never heard in the final game.
Startup/Intro Cutscene
- The startup sequence is animated the same way, but the music is a shorter, different version, and Clancy Brown doesn't announce the publisher and developer identities.
- The intro cutscene starts just after the Naughty Dog screen, instead of having to wait in the main menu.
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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- The SCE message is displayed separately from CTR, Naughty Dog and Universal trademark screen.
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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- There are missing "alien speakers" over Coco Park used by Oxide in the opening sequence to message Earth.
- There are no character voices or sound effects during the entire cutscene.
- Penta Penguin is missing during Polar's scene.
Menus
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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- The trademark symbol next to the game's logo is missing.
- Crash has bigger pupils and his eyes have a darker tone.
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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- Crash, Coco, Tiny Tiger, Polar, Pinstripe, N. Tropy, and Papu Papu have different icons.
- Crash icon is almost the same, although there are some texture differences.
- A small font is used for the character names.
- Pinstripe and Penta Penguin have switched places with each other.
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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In the "loading" screen, the Loading... is missing.
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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The cup names has a small font and the stars are inside the cups instead of being next to it.
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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- The menu would show the records of Fake Crash and Penta Penguin in the leaderboards, which were removed in the final version along with its epilogues.
- The menu also uses a small font for the character names.
Race Differences
- The lap counter used to be separated by a hyphen, whereas in the final version, it's separated by a slash.
- The lap time used to be recorded only after the lap was completed, while in the final version the player can check the time of his own lap while he is in it.
- There's no "checkpoint" sound effect for when you cross the finish line.
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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- The start lights differ in the prototype compared to the final version.
- Notice the long sentence referring to the demo mode.
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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- The position numbers are in red when the race ended.
- The menu placement was further down the screen.
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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Uka Uka's eyes have a different texture.
Adventure Mode
Character Selection
- The stats for each character are absent unlike in the final version.
- The entire character selection screen doesn't have any sound effects or voices.
- If you cancel after choosing a character, the screen won't flash white and instantly return the character to his/her position as usual. Instead, they actually reverse their animations for being chosen. This actually doesn't look too bad apart from N. Gin, who looks weird because his animation is hitting his thumb with a hammer.
- Pura turns a bit slower when he's running in circles.
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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Crash is looking to the right instead of focusing the camera.
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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Cortex has his model from previous games and in-game, changed to his actual model in the final version.
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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- The camera is too close to Tiny, making him doesn't fit the screen.
- Tiny's dumbbells are red instead of dark blue.
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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- N. Gin's rocket that he is shown hammering seems to be untextured.
- There's no smoke coming out of N. Gin's head missile.
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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Dingodile's kart position is different, pointing right, away from the screen.
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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- Polar's background ice seems to be much more dull.
- His model has different eyes.
- His kart moves position.
- There are no frozen ice textures and no boxes next to his kart.
World Map
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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The colored floor around some warp vortices in Adventure Mode has a checkered pattern. According to Rob Titus, former Naughty Dog developer, this was removed because it didn't look so well.
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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There was an additional extension on the bridge leading to Roo's Tubes.
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
| 384px |  |
- A directional sign pointing to The Lost Ruins was removed from the final game.
- The textures of the entrance to the ruins have been changed.
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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The warping particles create a bluish smoke coming out of the portal. The final version was changed to a shining light.
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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- The loading transition after entering a portal "pauses" the screen.
- A similar case occurs with every loadig transition. After finishing a race and returning to the game menu/world map, the race and camera will freeze while the background flag appears to cover the screen.
Boss Cutscenes
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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- Ripper Roo's cutscenes lack subtitles.
- His kart is blue instead of orange.
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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- Papu Papu's hair is untextured.
- His kart is blue instead of yellow.
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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- After beating Pinstripe, the following cutscene shows him talking to you in front of Oxide's Ship, while in the final version he's in a different angle.
- He is always facing to the right.
- This particular cutscene has some graphical errors in the background.
- His kart is blue instead of black.
Aku Aku/Uka Uka Hints
- It's impossible to skip Aku Aku/Uka Uka's hints during Adventure Mode.
- There is no sound effect when the mask shows up or goes away.
- The message "To hear this hint again ..." is never displayed.
Pause Menu
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
| 384px |  |
- The pause menu/inventory has a key in Oxide's challenge instead of a star.
- Levels and boss names use a small font.
- The gems are placed one after the other, instead of being in a zigzag.
- The Paused text has been removed from the final version.
- The text box is bigger in the final version.
Relic Race
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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- The requirements for Gold and Platinum relics are placeholder times. They are exactly 10 seconds less than the Sapphire records for Gold, and 15 seconds less for Platinum, meaning that getting all Platinum relics is insanely easy.
- The relic obtained at the end of the race appears next to the track times instead of the bottom of the screen.
- The Platinum relics are dark grey instead of light grey/white.
- Regardless of the relic you get, the podium always shows a Sapphire.
| Level | Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|---|
| Crash Cove | 1:17:00 1:07:00 1:02:00 |
1:17:00 1:05:00 0:52:00 |
| Roo's Tubes | 1:15:00 1:05:00 1:00:00 |
1:15:00 1:05:00 0:55:00 |
| Mystery Caves | 1:55:00 1:45:00 1:40:00 |
1:55:00 1:44:00 1:32:00 |
| Sewer Speedway | 1:33:00 1:23:00 1:18:00 |
1:33:00 1:05:00 0:37:00 |
| Coco Park | 1:35:00 1:25:00 1:20:00 |
1:35:00 1:12:00 0:49:00 |
| Tiger Temple | 1:20:00 1:10:00 1:05:00 |
1:20:00 1:02:00 0:43:00 |
| Papu's Pyramid | 1:29:00 1:19:00 1:14:00 |
1:34:00 1:09:00 0:42:00 |
| Dingo Canyon | 1:25:00 1:15:00 1:10:00 |
1:25:00 1:09:00 0:53:00 |
| Blizzard Bluff | 1:30:00 1:20:00 1:15:00 |
1:30:00 1:08:00 0:43:00 |
| Dragon Mines | 1:28:00 1:18:00 1:13:00 |
1:28:00 1:11:00 0:54:00 |
| Polar Pass | 3:00:00 2:50:00 2:45:00 |
3:00:00 2:33:00 2:05:00 |
| Tiny Arena | 3:45:00 3:35:00 3:30:00 |
3:45:00 3:22:00 2:58:00 |
| N. Gin Labs | 2:15:00 2:05:00 2:00:00 |
2:15:00 1:34:00 0:53:00 |
| Cortex Castle | 2:35:00 2:25:00 2:20:00 |
2:35:00 2:04:00 1:32:00 |
| Hot Air Skyway | 3:05:00 2:55:00 2:50:00 |
3:05:00 2:34:00 2:02:00 |
| Oxide Station | 3:17:00 3:07:00 3:02:00 |
3:17:00 2:56:00 2:34:00 |
| Slide Coliseum | 1:55:00 1:45:00 1:40:00 |
1:55:00 1:45:00 1:40:00 |
| Turbo Track | 1:45:00 1:35:00 1:30:00 |
1:45:00 1:32:00 1:19:00 |
N. Oxide's Challenge
- When you race against Nitros Oxide, he uses a variety of different weapons like in the final version, but after the second lap, he starts using bombs only.
- He doesn't spin out of control when you hit him with a weapon, making the race harder.
101% Completion
Instead of getting a star for beating Nitros Oxide and another star for beating him after getting all the relics, you are apparently awarded with a single boss key instead. This means that when you complete everything, you will only get 100%, as opposed to the 101% that is achievable in the final game. The game doesn't count that 5th key, though.
Track Differences
Dragon Mines
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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There are no Wumpa crates on the track.
N. Gin Labs
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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- These tall, yellow laboratory devices could be seen in N. Gin Labs. They're not present in the final version, but they can be seen in the track preview.
- There also used to be three directional arrows in this part of the track instead of two in the final.
Hot Air Skyway
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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- In Hot Air Skyway, when positioned at this part of the track, there seems to be a blimp missing where there is one present in the final version.
- If you fall down during the big jump near the beginning of the Hot Air Skyway, the fall lasts a lot longer until your mask comes to rescue you.
- The track has lot of Wumpas around the track that have been removed.
- A Wumpa crate is missing at the beginning of the level.
Oxide Station
| Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|
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- The tunnel leading to the big fall used to be entirely covered in Turbo Pads.
Turbo Track
- The turbos on Turbo Track are not animated.
Podium
- There are no voice and sound effects during the podium celebration.
- Cortex uses his in-game model from previous games.
- Ripper Roo has more jumping animations.
- Penta Penguin doesn't have a victory or defeat model.
- The unlock message for a new battle arena has a typo.
Sound Effects/Voice Clips
- There are no lines when a character jumps from a great height. For example, Dingodile never says "Woah, baby!" when flying through the air (although these lines are already present in the files).
- A different sound is heard when the player gets a power-up or collect 10 Wumpa Fruits.
- The game plays the hurt voice clip instead of the dizzy one when a character bumps into a Beaker.
- A lot of sound effects are missing.
Credits
- In the final version, during the ending, is told about what all the characters did after the game, except Penta and Fake Crash. Interestingly, in the prototype version, both have their own story that was removed from the final version.
- Their animation is frozen and cannot be seen, like the other characters in the prototype version, so their animations are their victory dances from the final version.
- The music is completely absent.
Scrapbook
- The Scrapbook didn't yet exist in this version, although a menu option has already been added as placeholder after defeating all Oxide ghosts. However, the game will take you to the credits if accessed.
- After skipping or waiting until the credits end, you will be softlocked into a glitchy Adventure Mode while falling forever into a void on Gem Stone Valley hub. In addition, the game loads the latest selected character in Arcade/Time Trial modes, so you can access this glitch as any unlockable character. Lastly, the game disables automatically the sound effects, leaving only the music.
Cheat Codes
- Cheat codes imputs are totally different from the final version. They always end in Square and don't require you to hold down L1 and R1.
- Penta Penguin and N. Tropy don't have a cheat code combination to unlock them, making it impossible to play as Penta without hacking.
- A lot of cheats codes are missing, such as Infinite Masks, Super Engine, Turbo Counter, 1 Lap Races, etc.
| Cheat | Review Copy | Final |
|---|---|---|
| Spyro 2 Demo | L1, R1, L1, R1, Left, Right, Left, Right, Square | Down, Circle, Triangle, Right |
| Unlimited Wumpas | Up, Up, Down, Down, Square | Down, Right, Right, Down, Down |
| Ripper Roo | Up, Down, Left, Right, Square | Right, Circle, Circle, Down, Up, Down, Right |
| Papu Papu | Down, Up, Right, Left, Square | Left, Triangle, Right, Down, Right, Circle, Left, Left, Down |
| Komodo Joe | Left, Up, Right, Down, Square | Down, Circle, Left, Left, Triangle, Right, Down |
| Pinstripe | Right, Up, Left, Down, Square | Left, Right, Triangle, Down, Right, Down |
| Fake Crash | Right, Right, Down, Down, Square | Circle, Down, Down, Up, Circle, Circle, Down, Left, Right |
Glitches
- There are several minor glitches throughout the game, from graphical ones, to sound and sometimes even gameplay.
- Sometimes, the game can crash randomly.
- Pressing Start during a demo reel will pause the game and you will be softlocked in the Main Menu as the title screen will also be in a "paused" state.
- Pressing Start during the Podium after N. Oxide's battle will also pause the game and you will be able to access the Pause Menu during the final cutscene. If you exit to map, you will be softlock in a void in Gem Stone Valley (like the Scrapbook bug).
- There's a glitch in the Credits that Crash will appear in a different pose. The rest of the cast won't appear and you will be stuck on this screen forever.
"Playable" Nitros Oxide
 | To do: Figure out the exact reason why this happens. |
Through hacks it's possible to play as Nitros Oxide. However, this version seems to keep most of Oxide's data intact, since he can be played in almost every level. You can almost play the entire Adventure mode as him, unlike the final version where he can only be loaded in the Citadel City hub. However, Mystery Caves, N. Gin Labs and Oxide Station still can't be loaded properly. Apart from that, the rest of the game can usually be played as N. Oxide, while in the final version there are a larger number of tracks that would crash instantly while trying to load him, including the red death screen that appears in the level selection screen, while it doesn't happen in this build.
