Alright, so here I am, pondering about Gex. Remember him? Not the GEICO gecko, but Gex — yeah, it’s Tail Time again after, what, 30 years? Kind of wild if you think about it. Anyway, they’re bringing back the Gex Trilogy. So, do these games still rock, or should we leave them in the past like those old-school dial-up tones nobody misses? Let’s dive in — or maybe not, but whatever.
First off, the OG Gex. Man, this guy started on the 3DO – remember that thing? It’s like your first car that barely ran but you loved it anyway. Gex is this 2D lizard doing his thing to take down Rez. And Rez? Wants to make Gex some TV mascot, which sounds kinda lame but hey, it was the ‘90s. Gex hops through channels like Cemetery and Kung Fuville – funky names, I’ll give ’em that. Collecting remotes, bouncing around, and munching on power-ups. The kind you wish existed because who doesn’t want invincibility on demand, right? Oh, and you can save whenever now. No more needing those random passwords. Wild stuff.
Now, the gameplay — where to start? You can run (sort of), but it’s clunky. I overshot jumps more times than I care to admit. Those enemies, with hit boxes from another dimension, I swear. Climbing is neat when you figure out where you can actually do it. And Gex talks. A lot. A chuckle here, a groan there, then “please stop talking.” Personally, this one’s not my fave in the trilogy.
Then bam, 3D era – Gex: Enter the Gecko. Rez is back, and Gex is swayed by cash (aren’t we all?). Controls are better but still floaty. Gex can long jump – not Mario 64 style – more like, “did I just do that?” The quips are switched up this time but prepare for endless “It’s Tail Time.” And that camera, ugh, just switch to manual, trust me.
In this game, there’s this hub world with TV screens leading to new places. I’m kind of lost, though, navigating it, since it’s a bit all over the place. In worlds, you grab remotes and find wacky collectables that change – like from carrots to TNT pliers. Was this genius? Maybe! Costume swaps for Gex too – rabbit, space suit, the whole shebang. It’s weirdly delightful, even if some areas are bafflingly interconnected. This one’s my top pick.
Finally, the trilogy closes with Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko. It’s ridiculous in a fun way. Some Baywatch star needs saving. Who scripts this? Really, who does? The hub’s a mess, unlike Gex 2, which got it right. Collectables? Meh, just coins now. But, bonus areas exist, though they bring this ticking clock sound that’s beyond annoying.
This game does connect worlds more fluidly. Gex even snowboards and tanks through stuff — exciting kinda, if you can get past the boss fights, which are at least more entertaining now.
The bottom line? The Gex Trilogy is vintage platforming. Limited Run tossed in cool features likes save states (saves my sanity) and rewinds (very helpful), sticking to original vibes despite flaws. With all the extras packed in, you get a neat time capsule of ‘90s gaming — far from perfect but, hey, it’s part of gaming history now. Doesn’t quite rival Mario 64 or Banjo-Kazooie, but nothing should vanish from gaming’s past. Well, almost nothing.
