Proto:X-COM: Terror from the Deep

This page details one or more prototype versions of X-COM: Terror from the Deep.

This article is a work in progress. ...Well, all the articles here are, in a way. But this one moreso, and the article may contain incomplete information and editor's notes.

X-Com: Terror from the Deep was a surprise sequel released shortly after the first game. The setting was changed to an aquatic environment and the difficulty was increased. This is an early pre-release demo with quite some differences. Normally you can only play a single battlescape map versus Tasoths. But there are files for other things.

General Differences

• A lot of the item inventory sprites have extra pixels to the right that have been cut off in the final game.
• The tank sprites have some pixels recolored
• Some of the weapon's held sprites are shifted some pixels.

Promo Pictures

When quitting the demo, a series of screenshots advertising the final game are shown. These screenshots are from an even earlier build with even more differences.

• 

  The first picture shows an Aquanaut on an Island tileset, of note is the much earlier inventory sprite for the Jet Harpoon.

• 

  This picture shows an interception of a USO. The sprite for the USO itself is different from the final version.

UI Differences

Dashboard Icons

Some of the buttons are missing in the lower left, and are replaced with buttons showcasing an older design. The X-Com logo is also missing.

Demo	Retail

Battlescape Map UI

The map UI is basically the same except for the X-Com logo being missing.

Demo	Retail

End Turn Screen

Just like with the map UI, the biggest difference is the lack of an X-Com logo.

Demo	Retail

Inventory Sprite Differences

Some of the inventory sprites have significant differences from the final version.

Aquanaut

In the demo the Aquanaut inventory sprites are significantly different. The suit design is slightly different, the helm is opaque, and in some cases there are what appears to be rank markings on the helmet itself. Some of the faces also appeared to be slightly touched up between the demo and the final version.

Demo	Retail

Demo	Retail

Demo	Retail

Aquaplastic Armor

The Aquaplastic armor has several design differences. In addition to different pants and boots, the helmet is not black and appears bright. This is even reflected in the final battlescape sprite.

Demo	Retail

Demo	Retail

Medkit

The Medkit has a different sprite, it resembles a more standard Medkit similar to the one from the last game.

Demo	Retail

Particle Disturbance Sensor

It has a smaller design, The design somewhat resembles the motion sensor from the last game, but the color scheme and detail is different.

Demo	Retail

Battlescape Sprite Differences

Only the Tank, Aquanauts, Tasoth, Aquaplastic Aquanauts, and Ion Armor Aquanauts have sprites in the demo. The Ion Armor Aquanauts are unused, and their sprites are slightly shifted, the levitation device on the back is also missing, but otherwise they are the same as retail. However there are leftovers of other alien species in other files such as the Floorobject file which contains a rendition of all inventory items in the floor including corpses.

Lobsterman Corpse

The Lobsterman Corpse is completely different.

Demo	Retail

Aquatoid Corpse

The Aquatoid Corpse is particularly interesting, as not only is the sprite different, but the coloration of the Aquatoid is also different. The bright green color resembling the Ufopaedia color of the Aquatoid more than the muted color in the final game

Demo	Retail

Floor Items

The Floor sprite for the Particle Disturbance Sensor and for the Medkit are also different. This matches their inventory sprite in this version.

Demo	Retail

Demo	Retail

2x2 Alien Corpses

All of the 2x2 Alien Corpses have a more full and detailed sprite compared to the final game.

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  Proto Hallucinoid Corpse

• 

  Proto Triscene Corpse

• 

  Proto Xarquid Corpse

Terrain Graphic Differences

When it comes to terrain there isn't much. The demo only has the bare minimum needed for the included mission. Atlantis, the Triton, and an USO. However there are still some differences from the final.

• The Ufobits folder has some odd beams of lights that got turned into single pixels in the final version.

• One of the USO walls looks different in the folder UEXT3. The Prototype version appears to be broken. In the final game no such thing is present, the USO simply has a clean hole.

Demo	Retail

Demo	Retail

Gameplay Differences

• Sometimes when crouching the legs will crouch in a different direction from the one you are facing, giving the impression of a twisted spine.

To do: Play it and fill it in.