Over the last few years, several “infamous” games from the 90s have made a comeback in surprising ways. These are titles that became well-known due to their poor quality or iconography that has persevered through internet culture. Two notable examples are the Bubsy franchise, which received a modern-day sequel and will soon return via a brand-new collection, and the Zelda CDi games, which received a spiritual successor in the form of Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore.
Both of these titles are the product of Limited Run Games, a company known for resurrecting beloved classics in the form of physical and digital re-releases. Its latest collection brings back one title from the 90s that has somehow managed to stick around in the cultural zeitgeist: Gex. Gex is a trio of platformers that started out as a 2D side-scroller, before transitioning into a 3D collectathon. It is considered a cult classic due to its humor, pop culture references, and satisfying gameplay.
While many considered it lost to time, Square Enix has worked with Limited Run Games to bring back the trilogy for modern audiences. Has Gex made a smooth transition to modern platforms? Has it managed to stand the test of time compared to other platformers from the 90s? While the Gex Trilogy has made some great adjustments in its re-release, it is still a hard game to justify purchasing due to the dated gameplay and lack of quality-of-life adjustments.
“Lock and Load, Little Lizard!”
Gex is a hard franchise to explain. There aren’t really any games like it from the 90s, and there still isn’t anything like it to this day. The best way I can describe it is that it’s a platformer that went through a similar transformation to Rayman, as in it started as a 2D side-scrolling game before becoming fully 3D. Unlike Rayman, though, Gex has a very specific style that is meant to call back to pop culture references from the era.
Every level throughout all three games is based on a specific film genre, trope, or archetype. The first game has horror and sci-fi-themed levels, the second game (Gex: Enter the Gecko) has levels based on Looney Tunes and Godzilla, and the third game (Gex: Deep Cover Gecko) features levels themed around war, superhero, and mystery films. This trend helps to establish the identity of the Gex franchise. Another piece of that identity is the dialogue.
Unlike a lot of platformers from the era, Gex has a greater emphasis on dialogue. All of the opening cutscenes are fully voiced, and Gex himself will frequently narrate the gameplay with random comments and quotes from other films. For instance, in the Christmas level in Gex: Deep Cover Gecko, he will say comments such as “We’ve knocked down the generator Lord Vader, you may start your landing…”
On the one hand, if you haven’t played Gex in the past, you will quickly grow tired of the constant banter and comments from the protagonist. Part of the series’ infamy is that Gex won’t keep his mouth shut. That being said, that annoyance is part of the series’ charm. It took me a while, but I soon got used to his reference-filled dialogue and found it endearing in many ways. Sure, it is a bit frustrating when he repeats the same lines over and over again, but that’s more a byproduct of the game’s age, rather than a serious flaw.
However, I do wish that there was an option to switch to the PAL-region voice acting. I’ve heard great things about Leslie Phillips’ voice-over work in that specific version of the game, and with how the Gex Trilogy aims to resurrect the original series in its entirety, it feels like a missed opportunity to at least let players choose the option. However, it is hard to complain about the acting from comedian Dana Gould, who voices Gex in the United States.
Both the series’ gameplay and humor have also been maintained. The latter comes through not just in the dialogue, but also in a lot of the details you can see throughout the environment. There are some signs that say things such as “No pre-marital Gex” or “Say no to bugs.” Even the enemies feature designs based on Jason Voorhees, Frankenstein, and Elmer Fudd of all things.
As for the gameplay, it’s surprisingly very enjoyable. The original Gex‘s style of side-scrolling is pretty unique compared to other games in the genre, with the protagonist having the ability to climb up walls and attack with his tail. Plus, Gex is a fully rendered 3D character on a 2D background, creating a pretty interesting visual design. There’s a pretty cool level selector as well that is akin to the likes of Super Mario World.
I’d say that the first game has aged the worst, as both Enter the Gecko and Deep Cover Gecko have a more palatable collectathon style with satisfying 3D gameplay that emphasizes collecting items by completing certain challenges. Though every game in the trilogy has its own appeal, and will likely be a fun time for long-time fans.
So, yes, the Gex franchise has still maintained its charm after thirty years and is still fun, even if you’ve never played the original titles when they were released. However, this raises two questions: if you’re not a big Gex fan and aren’t too familiar with classic PlayStation 1 platformers, is the Gex Trilogy worth it? Further, are the new quality-of-life additions and bonus features enough to justify a purchase? Unfortunately, I think the answer to both questions is a resounding no.
Gex Trilogy Caters to Longtime Fans
For better and for worse, the Gex Trilogy brings the original trilogy back to modern platforms exactly as it was released thirty years ago. There are certainly some benefits to this approach. For one, Gex has not made a comeback in any way since it initially released. It was lost to time due to Square Enix not knowing what to do with the franchise, so it is great to see it return for archival purposes.
Further, if you are a massive Gex fan, you’ll be happy to know that a lot of the game’s secrets have been preserved. For instance, the hidden debug menu in Deep Cover Gecko, with the message “Hi Den, I miss you. Love, Dad,” is still present by using the original cheat code. You can even utilize other cheat codes in both Deep Cover Gecko and Enter the Gecko that allow for unlimited lives, invulnerability, and even a full level select. It would’ve been so easy to leave these features behind, but I am so glad that they are still here.
Plus, all of the new adjustments to the trilogy are much appreciated. The selectable aspect ratios, multiple filter options, save states, and rewind features are great for players wanting to adjust their experience. I also really enjoyed the bonus features, such as the concept art, jukebox, and even interviews with Dana Gould (where he slightly teases a new entry in the Gex franchise). These are great if you’re a die-hard fan of the Gex series.
However, that statement is part of the problem. Yes, all of these options are great if you are a huge fan of the Gex series, but if you’ve never played or never even heard of the franchise, there aren’t enough updates or bonus features to justify a purchase. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the fact that the original game has been preserved so lovingly, but compared to other re-releases on the market, the Gex Trilogy is sorely lacking.
For example, the camera is still impossible to control. Yes, you can control it using the controller bumpers, like in the original game, or using the analog sticks. Yet, even if you invert the camera controls, it still feels like it has a mind of its own and is borderline nauseating to navigate. Another major issue is the pop-in. You can be a few inches away from a tree, and it won’t show up on your screen until you’re right next to it, making platforming even more difficult.
While these are all byproducts of the original game and not something that can be attributed to the re-release, this would’ve been the perfect opportunity to make these adjustments. Giving players the choice between playing the game exactly as it was released or playing it with the necessary quality-of-life it should have would’ve been great. As such, the lack of these options is extremely noticeable.
The lack of good updates, combined with the aforementioned lack of bonus features like being able to select between different regions for things such as the voice acting, makes the overall package quite lacking. Even if you are a fan of the series, you will likely be disappointed by these omissions.
If you aren’t someone who has followed the Gex franchise, you wouldn’t be blamed for wondering why you should spend $40 to play a re-release that lacks the adjustments you’d expect from most modern re-releases. While I will say that I had a fun time with the Gex Trilogy, it’s hard to say if I’d recommend it for others.
Turn This TV Off
Preservation is an extremely important part of modern gaming. The prospect of bringing back a title that has been lost to time for new audiences to play for the first time and for old fans who long to return to a bygone era is very appealing to so many people. In this way, a game like the Gex Trilogy is vitally important.
The Gex series is a cult classic that has stayed relevant in pop culture. Whether it’s due to memes that have spread around, a borderline ironic admiration for the Gecko who will never shut up, or a genuine love for the cult classic trilogy, the fact that it has returned after so long is genuinely great.
Certainly, the new features present will be a delight for new and old fans alike. From the new accessibility options to the bonus artwork and behind-the-scenes footage, if you’ve ever wanted to give the series a try, then the Trilogy is a great purchase. If you don’t fit into this category, then I don’t think this game is worth your money.
There are significant quality-of-life additions and archival features that are sorely missing. The obnoxious pop-in, the fact that the PAL edition has been lost to time, and the frustrating camera make the game fairly difficult for modern players to enjoy. While it is great that the original version has been preserved so well, I really wish there were at least more options for all types of players to enjoy. Plus, with the price of $40 and the extreme cost of nearly $200 for the collector’s edition, it is hard to give a reason for players to buy the Gex Trilogy unless they happen to be extremely passionate about the character.
Don’t get me wrong, I really hope that the Gex series makes a comeback in some way. I would love to see the franchise continue the ongoing trend of classic 90s platformers returning with brand-new games that lovingly capture the original series and combine it with modern sensibilities. The prospect of seeing a new Gex game with impressive graphics, new levels, and countless more new additions is extremely exciting. As it is now, though, I don’t think the Gex Trilogy does enough to justify the series’ return.
Disclaimer: Limited Run Games provided a PlayStation 5 copy of the Gex Trilogy for review purposes.
