Beneath

Beneath is a cancelled PS1 and PC game by Presto Studios. It is like Tomb Raider but set in the far icy north.

Plot
Beneath is set in 1906 in the Arctic. You play as Jack Wells, on a quest to find his missing father.

There are 12 large complex levels to explore. As you venture into the mountains you will find a lost civilisation, a real Shangri-La.



Gameplay
The gameplay is in line with a Tomb Raider game or even pre-Uncharted. Jack wears a motion-powered lamp on his shoulder. Keep moving to keep the light on. Some creatures, like spiders, are triggered by the light.

Jack's trusty rope is also an essential tool. Like Indiana Jones, he can use it to whip foes and swing across chasms.



Development
Beneath was to be Presto Studios' first 3D game. It was an ambitious project. The rooms were not based on a 90° angle grid, allowing for more natural environments. Texture wrapping ensured better looking objects, especially models.

A PS1 version was worked on for a while before resources focused solely on a PC version.

Beneath kept getting delayed. At first it was because of game engine issues. The next delay came from Activision, who didn't want the game's release to conflict with a similar game, Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine.

Cancellation
Ultimately, Beneath was cancelled due to scheduling conflicts. A lack of proper scheduling led to slips in development and then its demise. A shame because this game could have been fun.

Videos
Trailer from 1999.