the cutting room mirror

Tak and the Power of Juju (GameCube, PlayStation 2)

Unused and Early Levels#

Numa Bay#

Although it appears in the Game Boy Advance version of the game, the mysterious Numa Bay was removed very early on from the main console versions and all that is present in the final game is the accompanying music (which is used during the credits). There are also unused audio files that were meant to be used as tutorials in the level.

Audio

Usage

Was supposed to play upon loading into Numa Bay.

Tutorial for an unused animal.

Tutorial regarding an unused animal, the lobster.

A tutorial for the unused puffer fish suit. This would have been the only way to go underwater.

Regarding an ability the unused puffer fish suit would've had.

While this audio is from a cutscene that IS used in-game in Tak's Village, it has the same prefix as all of the other Numa Bay dialogue files, perhaps meaning it was originally intended for that level.

Would've played upon first seeing yorbels underwater.

Would've played when Tak first puts on the puffer fish suit. As a side note, a lot of unused audio in this game uses this "oombogwa" chant.

In reference to unused swimming nerbils.

Unused Objects#

Mountain Top#

There is a fence placed waaaaayyyy outside Mountain Top North, which is impossible to see without hacking.

Unused Audio#

Tak and the Power of Juju has a PLETHORA of unused audio clips, mostly unused tutorial dialogue wherein Flora pesters the player even more than usual. Here are some of the more interesting audio clips.

Health Shrine#

Originally, you couldn't heal Tak by just picking up feathers. You would have to cash in feathers you've collected at designated health shrines. Does that sound unintuitive? Because it was.

Above is an audio clip of Flora discussing feathers and how they are used with health shrines, meant for the tutorial.

Button Prompts#

In the final game, Flora refers to the buttons universally by giving each button a name for what it does. For example, what the game refers to as the jump button is the A button on GameCube and the X button on PS2. While they are still separate buttons in text, the voice actors never differentiate them. However, this wasn't always the case.

GameCube

PS2

It's interesting to note that the PAL PS2 version actually has Flora refer to the buttons as they are on a PS2 controller, but the PAL GameCube version just uses the universal terms. Strange.

Miscellaneous#

Audio

Usage

While it's unclear what this would've been used for specifically, the last part IS used whenever Tak picks up a tiki or other important items.

Upon completing the tutorial level, you would've been given the Restoration Dance juju spell. In the final game, you have to find it in the Burial Grounds.

Audio for an unused cutscene after the Spirit World portal is opened.

In reference to an unused mechanic in the Sun Temple.

The original command for using Juju Spells. What the "shift" button refers to is anyone's guess.

A welcoming clip that would've played upon reloading your save file and spawning in.

This clip suggests that you wouldn't have started your adventure in the tutorial level, but rather in Tak's Village.

Unused banter between Flora and Tak on the way to the then-called Burial Mound (later Burial Grounds).

Suggests that at one point, you could revisit the tutorial and attempt to beat it as fast as possible. Would've been a neat bonus.

References an unused Sun Temple mechanic that lets Tak float over a fan.

Unused dialogue for a gameplay element in Upper Tree Village where you would use fireflies to guide your way. While the fireflies do appear in-game, they don't do anything.

This intro for Upper Tree Village goes unused for unknown reasons.

Unused Juju Powers#

Tak and the Power of Juju has a total of 16 juju spells for Tak to utilize, but unfortunately, some didn't make it into the final game.

Audio

Usage

Spirit Lift would've allowed Tak to have more height in his jumps. In the final game this would've been useless as Crazy Feet allows Tak to run faster AND jump higher and farther, as does the Champion's Amulet.

Lullaby would've allowed Tak to put any animal to sleep. Sounds useful. It's a shame it was scrapped.

Difference between the GameCube and PlayStation 2 version#

As a reward for collecting every yorbel you're rewarded with a video of the game's storyboard but only in the PlayStation 2 version. On GameCube, collecting every yorbel only grants you the satisfaction of a job well done.