Hey there — so, you remember Gex? Yeah, that lizard dude from the mid-90s. The one before the GEICO gecko took over everyone’s TV screens. Anyway, they’ve decided to bring him back. Not sure why now, but hey, nostalgia sells, right? The Gex Trilogy’s back again—new consoles, some new tweaks. But, does it stand the test of time, or have our standards just grown up? Let’s dive in.
Okay, first up—OG Gex. Man, the memories. Originally for the 3DO, then they slapped it onto Sega Saturn and PlayStation later. It’s all 2D. Rez, the baddie, yoinks Gex into a TV. Classic, right? Simple storyline, but effective. Gex rolls through channels—like a Cemetery, New Toonland, and some place called Kung Fuville. Each level, you snag a remote to move on. Powers? He’s got some: tail whip, and this bouncy tail thing. There are power-ups floating around—fire shots, invincibility, kinda fun. Saving the game is a breeze now, which is cool, avoids that panic of losing progress.
What’s it like? Hmm, tricky one. Gex runs—almost too much. Couldn’t land a jump right sometimes. And enemies are… how do I say it? Their hitboxes felt off. And climbing, is it climbable? Not always clear. And Gex? Man, he talks. A lot. Funny at first but man, it gets repetitive—real fast. Creative levels but could be hit or miss on style. Honestly, it’s the weakest of the lot for me.
Now, onto Gex: Enter the Gecko, where he jumps into the 3D realm. Rez’s back to his shenanigans, and Gex? Only moves ‘cause he gets paid. Relatable. Controls are better but still, Gex kinda floats. A long jump that… well, it’s no Mario, let’s be honest. Quips are more varied, but, “It’s Tail Time” is etched in my brain after the hundredth time. Switch the camera to manual—trust me, you’ll thank me later.
There’s this hub world. You wander through it, choosing adventures from TVs. You collect remotes, which isn’t a spoiler, to anyone. Gex runs around in various costumes — rabbit suits, disco outfits. It’s quirky, but navigation sometimes leaves you guessing. Still, I liked this one best.
Alright, last one: Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko. Starts off wild—some actress from Baywatch gets nabbed. Gex needs to rescue her. The hub? Kind of a mess. The second game did it better. Collectibles look dull now. There’s this ticking clock sound in timed areas that made me cringe. At least levels are more cohesive, and Gex grabs a snowboard or tank for fun breaks. Bosses got a bit more entertaining, thankfully.
After all that, the Gex Trilogy? Not too shabby. The folks at Limited Run did right with their Carbon Engine—rewind and save states put out those old fires of frustration. They tried to keep it real, flaws and all—which I dig. Extras like retro commercials and interviews are a nice touch. But as I played, comparing it to the giants like Mario 64 or Banjo-Kazooie? Gex kinda falls short. Still, glad they’ve brought it back for the new generation. Because, well, every game’s got its chapter in retro history, especially the ones that ooze 90s charm.
Rating? Six outta ten. It’s giggles and glitches. Fun but not mind-blowing. Overall, a big nostalgic nod to the era when a chatty gecko ruled the screen.
