Review: Gex Trilogy for PS5

Oh man, here we go again. Gex is back! Like, who even remembers this gecko? Before the whole GEICO gig, there was Gex. Flashy, witty, and in-your-face — just how the 90s liked it. Anyway, after, what, three decades? It’s all happening in the Gex Trilogy. So, do these games stand the test of time, or should they have just stayed in the past? Right, let’s dive in.

First up, the OG Gex. Originally on this thing called the 3DO, before hitting Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. It’s his solo 2D adventure. The plot is… thin, like paper. Gex gets sucked into his TV by Rez, who’s got this wild idea of making him the mascot of the Media Dimension. So, Gex hops through channels like the Cemetery and New Toonland. Oh, and Kung Fuville — yep, for real. Each channel’s got levels with these remotes to unlock new stuff. Gex has a tail attack, and this tail-bounce thing that’s pretty legit when in the air. Also, munching those circular power-ups is a must — imagine flame shots and super speed. Oh, and random cameras in levels give you checkpoints. The tapes? They give passwords, but now you can just save whenever. Sweet, right?

Now, playing Gex is kind of hit or miss. You can run by holding a button, but it’s clunky. I overshot like, every jump. Hitboxes? Don’t even get me started. Sometimes you don’t even know what can be climbed. But man, Gex talks. A lot. The one-liners start out funny — then they just… don’t. Creative worlds, if you can handle the art style, which isn’t for everyone. Personally, I wasn’t crazy about it.

Good ol’ Gex goes 3D in Enter the Gecko. Rez is stirring trouble, and Gex is not having it unless, you know, cash is involved. Controls? Better, but still too floaty. Long jump’s kinda stiff compared to Mario 64. Gex’s jokes are more varied, thankfully, but “It’s Tail Time!” becomes a mantra. Ugh. The default camera? Nope, make it manual. Thank me later.

There’s a hub world you wander through, using big TV screens as your destination markers. Three remotes per world, plus hidden ones if you’re lucky. Collectables morph as you gather them. Cool, right? Like, carrots to spinach to TNT — inventive stuff! Gex even plays dress-up depending on the world theme. It should feel confusing, yet it’s actually my favorite in the series.

Lastly, Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko. This time, there’s a Baywatch actress involved. Why? Just go with it. The hub world’s way too messy now. I liked how the second game did it. Fly Coins? Boring. And the ticking in timed challenges? Most annoying sound ever.

But honestly, levels feel more connected. Gex snowboards and uses tanks now. Fighting bosses is less bland. It resembles Enter the Gecko’s style, just with more stuff. It’s got its charm, trust me.

So, the Gex Trilogy. It’s like a 90s time machine. Limited Run adds some neat features like rewind and save states, though they keep the raw experience intact — flaws and all. Extras include commercials and interviews, which rocked my vintage-loving heart. But, um, the platforming? Just okay. Doesn’t touch Mario 64 or Banjo-Kazooie levels, but hey, I’m glad they’re not just dusty relics anymore. Every game’s a piece of the past, and Gex? Total 90s trip.