Review: Gex Trilogy on PS5

Gex is back. I know, right? After nearly 30 years—tail time kicks off again. Wasn’t he the gecko king before that GEICO guy took over? Now, we’re diving into Gex Trilogy on new platforms. Three games, loaded with nostalgia. Quality of life improvements, they say. Does this make these games shine or should they just be left in the past? Let’s dig in.

Now, let’s talk Gex. The first one, originally on 3DO—I think—got ported to Sega Saturn and PlayStation. It’s his only 2D adventure. The plot? Super thin, like a whisper of a plot. Gex gets sucked into his TV by Rez, this big baddie who wants to make Gex his mascot in the Media Dimension. Sounds wild, right? Gex jumps through different TV channels like Cemetery, New Toonland, and Kung Fuville. Each has levels—grab remotes to move on. Gex’s moves? A tail attack and some fancy mid-air tail butt bounce. Oh, and he munches on power-ups for abilities like invincibility. Checkpoint cameras, password tapes—they tried to keep it retro. But hey, you can save anytime now.

Playing Gex, it’s like a rollercoaster—sometimes fun, but you might get dizzy. Running feels clunky—I was overshooting jumps every second. And the enemies! Weird hitboxes. You think you’re safe within tail range, but nope. And climbing surfaces? Some you can, some you can’t. I don’t know, it got confusing. Gex’s chatter is funny at first, but then he repeats lines to the point you just wanna mute him. Worlds are creative, but kinda look the same. Not my favorite Gex game, gotta be honest.

Onward! Gex: Enter the Gecko. Now we’re talking 3D. Rez is causing trouble again. Gex is back in action, lured by—get this—cash from government folks. His moveset from the first game? Still there, but he feels a tad floaty. Long jumps are so awkward compared to Mario. Quips are more varied this time, but prepare for a catchphrase invasion. “It’s Tail Time” will echo in your dreams. And wow, the camera is a mess, swinging wildly. Switch it to manual ASAP!

Gex runs through a hub world accessing levels via giant TV screens. Each world’s got remotes to grab after solving clues. Hidden remotes and collectables galore! They change from, like, carrots to TNT plunger—cool, right? Costumes for every world theme—a bunny suit, space gear, disco outfit. It’s playful. I ended up enjoying this one the most, despite the confusion.

Then there’s Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko. Gex is summoned by a real-life Baywatch actress—no kidding. Kidnapped, calls for heroics. The hub world is bigger, but why change what worked? Collectables are now generic, are you kidding me? Fly Coins. Urgh. Bonus areas exist, but they’re timed and come with a super annoying ticking sound.

On the plus side, levels feel more intertwined. Sometimes, Gex snowboards or tanks through stages, shaking up regular platforming. Bosses are more of a trial this time, less so in earlier games. Feels like Enter the Gecko with more to tackle. Maybe it suits some folks; me, I’m on the fence—second game nailed the balance better.

So, Gex Trilogy—an adequate set of games, I guess. Limited Run gets a nod for the Carbon Engine, easing up on frustrations with save states and rewind. They stayed true to the original vibes, flaws and all. Extras like old commercials, interviews, and artsy bits are a neat touch. The platforming? Just okay. Doesn’t rival Super Mario 64 or Banjo-Kazooie’s glory. Still, good to see it preserved—major 90s time capsule. Video games, especially quirky ones like this, deserve a chance to shine on today’s systems.

90s vibes cranked up to eleven, wasn’t it? The nostalgia is a ride and a half. But yeah, Gex Trilogy is an average revisit. Fun to explore, if you can tune out the overly enthusiastic tail chatter.