System: Swap
Launch date: June 15, 2025
Developer: Restricted Run Video games / Crystal Dynamics
Writer: Restricted Run Video games
The Gex sequence is one which has been out of the limelight for a very long time. Whereas seen as distinctive and unconventional in his pomp, Gex has pale into obscurity. The gecko is greatest recognized today as a little bit of an web meme, seen extra within the ilk of Bubsy than of Sonic or Crash Bandicoot. Even nonetheless, the character had a number of big-time sport releases and was the poster boy for Crystal Dynamics for fairly some time, and that staff has gone on to make some actually good titles. Over time, the franchise has change into more and more much less accessible, and so individuals who could need to check out Gex’s titles to see if possibly time has handled him too harshly. Fortunately, Restricted Run Video games has seen that cult want for the wise-cracking TV addict to make a comeback, and have obliged with a trilogy assortment of three adventures with the very first entry plus Gex: Enter the Gecko and Gex 3: Deep Cowl Gecko. Prior to now, I had solely performed Gex 2, and I used to be very younger on the time, so when this assortment was introduced, I used to be very excited to play it once more, in addition to what got here earlier than and after. How do they maintain up practically three a long time later?
The plot of the unique Gex title is as easy because it will get: Gex the Gecko is a literal lounge lizard, sitting on a big household inheritance, he spends his days watching nothing however telly and movies. Sooner or later, an evil mastermind by the title of Rez decides he needs Gex as his new mascot character, and thus sucks Gex into his tv set and lands him in a spot often known as The Media Dimension. Right here, Gex wants to make use of his huge TV and movie data to get by means of the completely different worlds, defeat Rez and make it again residence. Whereas the plot is unremarkable, the cutscenes are fairly entertaining and fairly spectacular for the time of launch.
Now, not like the 2 sequels that adopted it, the unique Gex sport is definitely a 2D platformer. On this sport, Gex has to make it to the tip of every degree and in addition discover inside it, a TV distant. These are very important for development, as with each he finds, he beneficial properties entry to a different degree inside The Media Dimension. Merely ending the stage gained’t unlock the following one. There are 5 completely different worlds for Gex to traverse by means of, and a number of other boss fights for him to tackle in his efforts to beat Rez and make it residence. When it comes to skills, Gex makes use of all his expertise as a gecko to the fullest; together with utilizing his tongue to seize far-reaching objects, climbing on partitions alongside the stage in addition to within the background, and whipping enemies together with his tail in addition to bouncing on them, a bit bit like Scrooge McDuck within the NES DuckTales sport. He can sprint fairly shortly when the participant holds the run button down. Inside levels are additionally power-ups that may assist the gecko on his quest, together with velocity up, invincibility, flame and ice breath, amongst different issues. Exterior of TV remotes, Gex also can gather bugs to munch on, and upon discovering 100 critters, he will get one other life. In every degree, Gex opens with three hit factors, and if he’s harm thrice, he loses a life. Checkpoints exist inside ranges, so ought to your gecko meet his demise, he can soar proper again into the fray to attempt once more. There are specific objects Gex can choose as much as replenish his hit factors, and in reality, there are some that may prolong these hit factors to a most of 6.
Gex also can discover video tapes in ranges with passwords on them to save lots of your progress, however due to this new assortment; the participant can save their progress by urgent down the precise management stick (R3), as this opens up a brand new menu obtainable in all three video games, the place it can save you progress on three completely different information, load saves, change the display screen filter, change display screen dimension, and different useful quality-of-life additions. This was very welcome, and a unbelievable choice from the builders, as the unique trilogy nonetheless operated on the password system. All titles assist full display screen and management stick assist too, for the primary time in Gex 1’s case.
I actually like Gex 1 – it’s a stable, enjoyable platformer with distinctive visuals and difficult gameplay. I do assume the abundance of bottomless pits will get fairly egregious within the latter half of the journey, and the boss fights generally is a little too straightforward with a comparatively forgettable soundtrack, however I’m grateful I bought the chance to lastly play it; I’m blissful to provide it a thumbs up.
Now, there’s something I haven’t talked about about Gex but that can closely influence your enjoyment of his titles; he talks. Lots. You will discover his fixed jabbering both charming or infuriating, and I don’t assume there may be a lot of an in-between. Possibly as a result of I see a bit of myself in him, I fairly like Gex. You’ll hear him reference Scooby-Doo fairly a bit within the first world. Something from popular culture is sport; he does a Rocky impression, he references Elvis not being with us-even TV commercials aren’t protected from his repertoire of gags. Dana Gould voices him in all three video games within the USA. I grew up with a special voice in Gex: Enter the Gecko (which Restricted Run Video games has mentioned will likely be patched in as an possibility in a future replace), so his voice was unfamiliar to me, however I discovered him fairly humorous. His line deliveries are diverse, and though I won’t get every part he’s saying, the gags are wackily delivered sufficient it made me crack a smile anyway.
In Gex: Enter the Gecko, Rez is again, and the US authorities enlists our hero to return to The Media Dimension to complete him off as soon as and for all. After some contract negotiations, he agrees to get again into motion, and this time he’s going 3D. Now an official spy for the nation, Gex makes his approach by means of some new worlds in addition to some which can be much like the primary sport; he’s additionally picked up just a few new tips – certainly one of which is a flying kick akin to Bruce Lee’s that he can set off from a run and crouch button mixture. It’s nonetheless tail time, and Gex’s catchphrase nonetheless holds true, as in 3D your principal methodology of attacking remains to be tail whipping and bouncing off enemies. Every world has distinctive collectible objects versus simply bugs like in Gex 1; within the Chinatown degree, he collects Chinese language takeout cartons and Yin/Yang logos; within the Looney Tunes-style world, you get carrots and TNT. Nonetheless, identical to Gex 1, TV remotes are nonetheless the goal of the sport for development. This time every degree is finished in a mission choose fashion, like selecting a star to try amassing in Tremendous Mario 64. These are crimson remotes; and the standards for incomes them is completely different for every mission. It may be discovering a sure variety of objects, defeating specific enemies, or reaching the tip of the extent. These are necessary if you wish to face off with Rez. There are additionally non-compulsory silver and gold remotes. Silver remotes are hidden in ranges, and gold remotes can solely be earned in bonus rounds discovered inside worlds.
Gex’s transfer record in Gex 2 is noticeably less complicated; he can not cling to nearly all surfaces-there are solely particular partitions inside ranges he can climb alongside. The facility-up bugs additionally don’t return from the primary title, so no flame breath or tremendous leaping right here. Gex: Enter the Gecko is an easy however playable 3D platformer that largely rides on the charisma and attraction of its worlds and its principal character. Gex has much more jokes this time round, and the improved sound solely provides to Dana Gould’s already good performances from the earlier sport. Whereas this expertise has much less depth of gameplay than the titles that got here earlier than and after it, there’s sufficient right here to warrant a playthrough and it deserves its place on this assortment. This sport was one which I performed in widescreen and I had a enjoyable time enjoying it and taking Rez down as soon as once more.
But nonetheless, that nefarious Rez has come again to trouble Gex again-this time, for revenge! In Gex 3: Deep Cowl Gecko, Gex has to return to The Media Dimension as soon as extra in an effort to save his fellow authorities operative Agent Xtra (performed in dwell motion by Baywatch’s Marliece Andrada) from Rez’s evil clutches. Now together with his personal Not-Batcave hub world to enter completely different ranges with, Gex 3 follows an identical format to Gex 2, however this time round, the overworld exterior the primary levels have been considerably expanded to incorporate objects and platforming challenges inside them, and whereas this will appear to be a small change, it provides a number of depth to the expertise and life to the world. Gex 2’s worlds typically felt like there was a number of empty areas, and this definitely held by means of for the hub world you accessed levels in, however that isn’t the case in Gex 3, and it’s one thing to be recommended. One other enchancment from the earlier sport is the 3D digicam management, which is loads simpler to govern and much more helpful to find completely different objects and collectibles. Crystal Dynamics clearly felt the identical away about Gex feeling a tad extra restricted in Gex 2, as a result of a number of components from the unique Gex return right here; together with the normal collectible bugs fairly than a bunch of various objects, and fireplace and ice breath power-ups return too. Gex’s animations have additionally seen an improve. He had degree particular animations within the second sport, however in Gex 3, that is cranked as much as 11 and he is stuffed with persona. Now his actions match up together with his motor-mouth, and extra of his attraction shines by means of.
I feel that Gex 3: Deep Cowl Gecko is an enchancment throughout the board. Phases are higher, the hub world is best, Gex has extra fashion and talents than earlier than, and the mission construction is streamlined too. Gex 2 was a stable base, and Gex 3 constructed on It so nicely that I feel this sport is the definitive Gex experience-Combining the perfect components of each earlier titles to make one thing I’d classify as legitimately nice. My solely gripe with the game-and it’s small-is that generally the sport’s body charge will drop and the sport will decelerate as a result of a lot is happening at one time; it was pushing the PlayStation’s limits. This small challenge is one thing I’ll have to notice in my general ideas on this assortment: this trilogy can’t be checked out as a set of remasters, as a result of they aren’t. These are the unique three Gex titles as they have been launched, with some quality-of-life modifications for contemporary play. As I discussed earlier, the saving and completely different show and filter choices, in addition to analogue management are welcome additions, however these modifications don’t repair the inherent points these video games have. Further options for this assortment embrace a jukebox mode that includes all three video games’ soundtracks, the trilogy’s instruction manuals, and a gallery with a number of Gexcellent art work. There are additionally trailers for the video games included right here, together with a really humorous Scream spoof selling Gex 2, interviews with Gex’s voice actor Dana Gould (with appearances from his very cute canine!), and uncommon footage of the cancelled Gex title: Gex Jr. That is all very cool stuff and add real worth to this assortment.
Gex Trilogy is a enjoyable assortment of three respectable platformers that deserve the highlight. Whereas I’d have appreciated Restricted Run Video games to go in and individually enhance every title’s flaws fairly than offering one set of choices for all three video games, these enhancements are welcome, and the extras for this package deal make it essential for Gex’s fellow lounge lizards on the market. I do assume the value could also be a bit excessive for what’s on offer-especially for 3 titles which haven’t been remastered however fairly given enhanced ports-these video games have been faithfully restored and on these deserves should be performed. This assortment is price a go if you’re even the teensiest bit inquisitive about why, at one level, individuals couldn’t get sufficient of Gex-even if he quotes Austin Powers just a bit bit an excessive amount of.
Gex Trilogy copy supplied by the writer for the needs of this overview.
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