{"id":1872401,"date":"2026-04-08T15:21:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T12:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1872401"},"modified":"2026-04-08T15:21:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T12:21:07","slug":"previously-unseen-early-tomb-raider-legend-gameplay-footage-shows-unseen-areas-and-different-visuals-as-the-game-turns-20-years-old","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1872401","title":{"rendered":"Previously unseen early Tomb Raider: Legend gameplay footage shows unseen areas and different visuals as the game turns 20 years old"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"article \" data-ads=\"true\" data-article-type=\"news\" data-article-group=\"news\" data-paywalled=\"false\" data-premium=\"false\" data-sponsored=\"false\" data-type=\"article\">\n<header class=\"article_header\" data-component=\"article-header\">\n<div class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n<nav class=\"nav_breadcrumbs\" data-component=\"nav-breadcrumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\">\n<ul class=\"nav-links\">\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      Home<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/news\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      News<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/tomb-raider-legend\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      Tomb Raider: Legend<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n<div class=\"headline_details\" id=\"main-content\">\n<h1 class=\"title\">Previously unseen early Tomb Raider: Legend gameplay footage shows unseen areas and different visuals as the game turns 20 years old<\/h1>\n<p class=\"strapline\">&#8220;It&#8217;s a shame so much was cut.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"headline_asset\">\n<figure class=\"headline_image_wrapper\">\n<p>        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"headline_image\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Tomb-Raider-Legend_Lara-Croft-standing.jpg?width=570&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;dpr=3&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Tomb Raider: Legend - final Lara Croft model\" loading=\"eager\" data-uri=\"Tomb-Raider-Legend_Lara-Croft-standing.jpg\" data-lightbox width=\"570\" height=\"321\"><figcaption>\n          <span class=\"attribution\">Image credit: <cite>Crystal Dynamics<\/cite><\/span><br \/>\n        <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metadata\">\n<div class=\"avatar\">\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Fran Ruiz avatar\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/fran-j-ruiz-author.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\"><\/p>\n<p>  <img alt=\"Fran Ruiz avatar\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"fran-j-ruiz-author.png\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"byline\">\n                  <span class=\"article_type\" data-slug=\"news\"><br \/>\n                    News<br \/>\n                  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"by\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/authors\/fran-ruiz\">Fran Ruiz<\/a><\/span>                    <span class=\"job_title\"><br \/>\n                      Contributor<br \/>\n                    <\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"published_at\">\nPublished on <time datetime=\"2026-04-08T15:21:07+00:00\">April 8, 2026<\/time>              <\/div>\n<div class=\"comments\">\n      <a class=\"comments__link comments-bubble\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/early-tomb-raider-legend-gameplay-footage-unearthed?view=comments\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>\n          4 comments<br \/>\n      <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mypop-header-wrapper\">\n<p><button class=\"mypop-button button wide\" data-state=\"follow\" data-type=\"tag\" data-uuid=\"a672500a-bb91-4970-b39f-86aa67483b8d\" data-name=\"Tomb Raider: Legend\" data-follow-text=\"Follow Tomb Raider: Legend\" data-unfollow-text=\"Following Tomb Raider: Legend\" data-aria-follow-text=\"Follow Tomb Raider: Legend\" data-aria-unfollow-text=\"Following Tomb Raider: Legend\" data-popup=\"true\" data-force-login=\"true\" aria-label=\"Follow Tomb Raider: Legend\" title=\"Follow Tomb Raider: Legend\"><br \/>\n  Follow Tomb Raider: Legend<br \/>\n<\/button>          <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article_body\" data-component=\"article-content\">\n<div class=\"article_body_content article-styling\">\n<p>After years of relative silence, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/tomb-raider-games-order\">Tomb Raider<\/a>&#8216;s immediate future is looking busy with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/tomb-raider-legacy-of-atlantis\">Legacy of Atlantis<\/a> &#8211; a remake of the original game &#8211; arriving in 2026, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/tomb-raider-catalyst\">Catalyst<\/a> following in 2027. Today, however, we&#8217;re briefly revisiting its past.<\/p>\n<p>This year marks the 20th anniversary of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/tomb-raider-legend\">Tomb Raider: Legend<\/a>, Crystal Dynamics&#8217; first take on the famous adventurer. To celebrate the occasion, the official Tomb Raider accounts and website have shared a never-before-seen look at the PS2-era game mid-development.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<div class=\"video_wrapper youtube\">\n<a aria-label=\"Tomb Raider: Legend Turns 20 | Never-Before-Seen Early Gameplay\" class=\"video-facade full-size\" data-platform=\"youtube\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jeM36NFBLYA?autoplay=1\" title=\"Click to play video from YouTube\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cover image for YouTube video\" class=\"video-facade__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/jeM36NFBLYA\/hqdefault.jpg\"><span class=\"video-facade__title\">Tomb Raider: Legend Turns 20 | Never-Before-Seen Early Gameplay<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"button video\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=jeM36NFBLYA\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/figure>\n<p>As explained by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tombraider.com\/news\/video-games\/tomb-raider-legend-turns-20-celebrating-20-years-with-uncovered-early\">the post on the Tomb Raider site<\/a>, a striking difference is this early gameplay demo features Crystal Dynamics own version of Lara Croft&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/tomb-raider-the-angel-of-darkness\">The Angel of Darkness<\/a> model. &#8220;This model was used as the base model for early concept art and gameplay testing before Toby Gard joined the team and played a major role in Lara\u2019s redesign along with character artist Kam Yu,&#8221; the post explains.<\/p>\n<p>Though the official description of the footage doesn&#8217;t say much more, it confirms fan suspicion that this was indeed an early version of a traditional jungle level that would be turned into the final game&#8217;s Bolivia. &#8220;The level opens with Lara leaping from a helicopter into a warzone territory, searching for a map hidden inside a temple,&#8221; the website post explains.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"1\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Veteran fans of the series seem to be enjoying this birthday gift, at least judging from the comments on the YouTube video: &#8220;The devs were doing a fine job at this, It&#8217;s a shame so much was cut. The way Lara moves and interacts with the environment is so satisfying.&#8221; Eagle-eyed players are even pointing out the footage includes sections previously shown only through screenshots.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/retrospective-tomb-raider-legend-article\">Tomb Raider: Legend was a decent start for Crystal Dynamics<\/a>, bringing the famous series back from almost total extinction after The Angel of Darkness. Let&#8217;s hope Crystal Dynamics can flex all it has learnt in the time since in the Tomb Raider remake and Catalyst.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"preferred-source\" data-component=\"preferred-source\">\nLove Eurogamer.net? Make us a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\">Preferred Source on Google<\/a> and catch more of our coverage in your feeds.  <\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"article_body\" data-component=\"article-content\">\n<div class=\"article_body_content article-styling\">\n<p>After years of relative silence, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/tomb-raider-games-order\">Tomb Raider<\/a>&#8216;s immediate future is looking busy with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/tomb-raider-legacy-of-atlantis\">Legacy of Atlantis<\/a> &#8211; a remake of the original game &#8211; arriving in 2026, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/tomb-raider-catalyst\">Catalyst<\/a> following in 2027. Today, however, we&#8217;re briefly revisiting its past.<\/p>\n<p>This year marks the 20th anniversary of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/tomb-raider-legend\">Tomb Raider: Legend<\/a>, Crystal Dynamics&#8217; first take on the famous adventurer. To celebrate the occasion, the official Tomb Raider accounts and website have shared a never-before-seen look at the PS2-era game mid-development.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<div class=\"video_wrapper youtube\">\n<a aria-label=\"Tomb Raider: Legend Turns 20 | Never-Before-Seen Early Gameplay\" class=\"video-facade full-size\" data-platform=\"youtube\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jeM36NFBLYA?autoplay=1\" title=\"Click to play video from YouTube\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cover image for YouTube video\" class=\"video-facade__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/jeM36NFBLYA\/hqdefault.jpg\"><span class=\"video-facade__title\">Tomb Raider: Legend Turns 20 | Never-Before-Seen Early Gameplay<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"button video\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=jeM36NFBLYA\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/figure>\n<p>As explained by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tombraider.com\/news\/video-games\/tomb-raider-legend-turns-20-celebrating-20-years-with-uncovered-early\">the post on the Tomb Raider site<\/a>, a striking difference is this early gameplay demo features Crystal Dynamics own version of Lara Croft&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/tomb-raider-the-angel-of-darkness\">The Angel of Darkness<\/a> model. &#8220;This model was used as the base model for early concept art and gameplay testing before Toby Gard joined the team and played a major role in Lara\u2019s redesign along with character artist Kam Yu,&#8221; the post explains.<\/p>\n<p>Though the official description of the footage doesn&#8217;t say much more, it confirms fan suspicion that this was indeed an early version of a traditional jungle level that would be turned into the final game&#8217;s Bolivia. &#8220;The level opens with Lara leaping from a helicopter into a warzone territory, searching for a map hidden inside a temple,&#8221; the website post explains.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"1\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Veteran fans of the series seem to be enjoying this birthday gift, at least judging from the comments on the YouTube video: &#8220;The devs were doing a fine job at this, It&#8217;s a shame so much was cut. The way Lara moves and interacts with the environment is so satisfying.&#8221; Eagle-eyed players are even pointing out the footage includes sections previously shown only through screenshots.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/retrospective-tomb-raider-legend-article\">Tomb Raider: Legend was a decent start for Crystal Dynamics<\/a>, bringing the famous series back from almost total extinction after The Angel of Darkness. Let&#8217;s hope Crystal Dynamics can flex all it has learnt in the time since in the Tomb Raider remake and Catalyst.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home News Tomb Raider: Legend Previously unseen early Tomb Raider: Legend gameplay footage shows unseen areas and different visuals as the game turns 20 years old &#8220;It&#8217;s a shame so much was cut.&#8221; Image credit: Crystal Dynamics News by Fran Ruiz Contributor Published on April 8, 2026 4 comments Follow Tomb Raider: Legend After years [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,253],"class_list":["post-1872401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-eurogamer-net"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1872401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1872401"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1872401\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1872401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1872401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1872401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}