• Hard-core console action: a powerful mix of pulse rifles, flame throwers and grenade launchers provide the offense as you explore full 3-D, expansive environments loaded with hidden areas, power-ups and dozens of hard-hitting opponents
• Industry-first real-time virtual partner: Bruce Willis' cyberscanned and motion-captured form backs you up every step of the way: he'll point out danger ahead, cover your sorry butt if you fall down on the job and help boost your trigger-happy mood
• Full 3-D control: Players have full control of a 3-D character - the Kid - in an explosive, go-anywhere, shoot-anything action environment
• Cinematic gameplay: a computer-controlled roving camera delivers over-the-shoulder, top-down, free-roaming, side-on and tracking views, while FMA cut scenes integrate seamlessly with gameplay.

The Low Down:
Apocalypse started out as being developed in-house at Activision Santa Monica.  The concept was to use Bruce Willis' likeness as a sidekick to the main character.  The original version was considered by industry veterans as over ambitious for the capabilities of the hardware.  An unnamed source claimed that the design document was basically a list of "it would be cool if ...", without any detail.  After months of work, management at Activision had decided to let the team go and use an outside developer to finish the game.  Scrapping the game was no option: Activision paid too much to use Bruce Willis' talent.

Activision approached Neversoft Entertainment and told them they needed the game out in nine months. It was obviously the "vision" had to be curtailed a little. So Neversoft basically went for a straightforward shooter style game, with a nice simple level progression, a variety of enemies, weapons, pickups and bosses. Neversoft "hit the ground running with a playable section of a level in one week that was a lot more fun than Activision had done in a year" according to unnamed sources within Neversoft..

Neversoft Entertainment did hire a couple of people from Activision.  Most notably Chad Findley, who turned out to be one of the best designers at Neversoft.

None of the original code was used in the final version of Apocalypse, although they did use a bit of their graphics for the initial rooftops level.  Check out the screenshots above and compare them to the retail version of Apocalypse.

Another point was that focus testing has supposedly revealed that people wanted to play as Bruce, which contributed to the whole AI-sidekick thing being scrapped.

The PlayStation Museum Opinion:
After playing two different versions of the original Apocalypse, I am impressed with the game overall.  There are clearly AI issues with Bruce Willis.  For instance, when jumping off the top of the building, Bruce will fall off and never appear although he still yells for help.  The original version seems very dark and graphically just needed a little bit of polishing to be top notch.  I was impressed with a hanging bloody dead body that your character could shoot and make it swing.  There are differences between builds that we previewed.  The first alpha build contained skeletons in the cemetery whereas the last build has punk rockers instead.  I can clearly see where the team was headed but understand that it may very well have been over-ambitious.  Had Activision scrapped the side-kick to being with, this game most likely would have been released and been an instant hit. 

After thoroughly playing the alpha builds, I picked up the retail version developed by Neversoft Entertainment and compared the levels.  The rooftop levels are very similar and I noticed right away some of the same textures and graphics.  It is an amazing feat that Neversoft was able to complete this game within 9 months and come away with a solid hit game.  This is a testament to the leadership and skills at Neversoft.

Stolen Thunder:
After a bit of research, The PlayStation Museum found out that Apocalypse was pretty much eclipsed by ASC Games' One which came out at roughly the same time. As a matter of fact, when Activision showed Apocalypse at E3, One ended up being right next to it in the Sony booth and no one at Activision had ever heard of the game before! The resemblance between One and Apocalypse was uncanny.

If you are able to obtain more information about this game, please contact the PlayStation Museum.