Core Design

Download the PSX prototype
(on hiddenpalace.org)
28 August 1998

Download the PSX ECTS demo
(on Tomb of Ash)
September 1998

Download the PSX beta demo
14 September 1998
187 Mb

Download the PSX beta demo
2 October 1998
169 Mb

Download the PSX beta
5 October 1998
169 Mb

Download the PC beta demo
6 October 1998
4.23 Mb

Tomb Raider III's Area 51 demo level is almost synonymous with the Sony PlayStation where at least two versions of the level were released publicly. Then there's this third PC version which was relatively unknown until it was brought to light in 2014.
As far as is known, this PC version of the Area 51 demo was released exclusively on an Eidos Interactive demos disc which was included with some copies of Tomb Raider III in the USA. Notably, no mention of Tomb Raider III is made on the disc.

At the title screen the only item available is Lara's passport which allows you to either start a new game or exit the demo.

The level is dated 6th October 1998, making it the latest released version of the Area 51 demo. It is roughly the same as the other PlayStation demos. As usual, Lara begins in a cell rather than the back of a truck. Lara's model, unlike earlier Area 51 demos, is the final version but still possesses the pre-release sprinting animation. This demo reveals different uniforms for the prisoners, their clothing of a light grey including long-sleeved shirts instead of the sleeveless ones which the retail prisoners wear. Unused objects comprise of a mysterious opaque red box and an underwater propeller.

Inside the title screen file are numerous models not found in the retail version. Among these are an untextured Lara model, the Croft Manor polaroid from Tomb Raider II and a PlayStation controller in place of the keyboard arrows. The previous game's set of weapons can also be found here along with 2D versions of Tomb Raider III's weapons that were probably intended to be sprites before 3D display models were introduced. Both were ultimately scrapped and the 3D models were later perfected for the next installment.

Below is a list of different changes in the 3D models from this Area 51 beta demo. Screenshots taken with TRViewer.


Automatic pistol ammo (inventory) Automatic Pistol ammo as in inventory. Found in title screen file in Desert Eagle ammo slot.	Automatic pistols Automatic Pistols from TR2 found in title screen file in Desert Eagle slot.	Automatic pistols (on ground / inventory) Automatic Pistols from TR2. Found in title screen file in Desert Eagle slot.

Controls PlayStation controls instead of keyboard arrows.	Desert eagle (2D) Probably intended as a sprite.	Desert eagle ammo (inventory) Slightly differently textured.

Flares (2D) Probably intended as a sprite.	Grenade launcher Grenade Launcher from TR2 found in title screen file in Rocket Launcher slot.	Grenade launcher (on ground / inventory) Grenade Launcher from TR2. Found in title screen file in Rocket Launcher slot.

Lara Untextured Lara model found in title screen file.	Lara with shotgun Lara wielding TR2 Shotgun.	Large medi pack (2D) Probably intended as a sprite.

M-16 M-16 from TR2 found in title screen file in MP5 slot.	M-16 (on ground / inventory) M-16 from TR2. Found in title screen file in MP5 slot.	M-16 clips (inventory) M-16 clips as in inventory. Found in title screen file in MP5 ammo slot.

Movable block #1 Found in Area 51.	Movable block #2 Found in Area 51.	MP5 (2D) Probably intended as a sprite.

MP5 ammo (inventory) Slightly differently textured.	MP5 ammo (on ground) MP5 ammo looks like M-16 clips from TR2.	Pistol / Desert Eagle ammo (on ground) Look like Automatic Pistol ammo from TR2.

Pistol ammo (inventory) Looks like Pistol ammo from TR2.	Pistols (2D) Probably intended as a sprite.	Polaroid Photo is same as in TR2.

Prisoner Prisoners wear different uniform.	Red box Strange red box in Pickup 1 slot.	Rocket (2D) Probably intended as a sprite.

Rocket launcher (2D) Probably intended as a sprite.	Shotgun (2D) Probably intended as a sprite. Looks like TR2 Shotgun.	Shotgun (on ground / inventory) Looks like TR2 Shotgun.

Shotgun shells (2D) Probably intended as a sprite.	Small medi pack (2D) Probably intended as a sprite.	Static block Found in Area 51.

Underwater propeller Unused propeller in Area 51 file.	Uzis clips (2D) Probably intended as a sprite.	Uzis (2D) Probably intended as a sprite.