GEX Trilogy Review - Nostalgia or Nightmare in 2025?

He's baaaaack

Look, I’m a 90s kid through and through. Yes, I was born in the 80s technically, but it’s Squeeze-Its, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Pogs, JNCO jeans, and mascot-themed video games that I remember the most. Okay, well, Cinnamon Toast Crunch technically was around in the 80s—but you get my point. Among those memories, deep in the recesses of my mind, lies a gecko named Gex. Originally released for the 3DO in 1995, my first encounter with the original 2D platformer would be with the PS1 version—seeing as I never actually owned a 3DO because, of course, I didn't. I was a kid, and it was around 700 dollars. That’s 1500 today adjusted for inflation. Ouch. Our wisecracking lizard has been dormant for nearly three decades now, seemingly lost inside of a hollow CRT TV somewhere within the mascot graveyard. But no longer! Gex is back in this brand-new, old trilogy, and he’s kinda sorta been brought up to modern times. But should Gex have stayed stuck in channel-surfing hell, or is there some juice still left in his battery-powered remote? Let’s find out in our full review!

The Gex Trilogy is a collection of all 3 original Gex releases based on their PlayStation versions. Players will receive the original 1995 release, which is more of a traditional 2D platformer, along with its 3D sequel, Gex: Enter the Gecko, and finally Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko, the follow-up to Enter the Gecko that continues the franchise's foray into 3D platforming. Each game is mostly presented as you remember it, with a few modern bells and whistles. The major updates include new widescreen support alongside full analog controls, making each game more playable and visually pleasing when compared with the originals. Some other small touches include a rewind feature, CRT filter, different screen sizes, the ability to save anywhere, and maybe best of all, some awesome interviews with the voice of Gex himself, Dana Gould. If all of that weren’t enough, scans of the original manuals, packaging, and even concept art round out what is, at the least, a fine tribute to a game that has a good amount of history. Limited Run certainly could have tossed up some quick and dirty ports and called it a day, but they’ve given this trilogy a solid sprucing up that even Gex himself wouldn’t be able to poke fun at.

While the Gex games are undoubtedly a product of their time, the truth is, they remain charming, still offer a good amount of fun, and—depending on your sense of humor and, maybe more importantly, your age—are quite funny. Gould brings great personality to this character, whether he’s quipping about celebrities and TV shows that modern-day gamers may not even be able to pinpoint, or simply shouting, “It’s tail time!” It’s hard not to love Gex’s 90s “’tude.”

I’ll be the first to admit not every joke has aged particularly well, but at the same time, I recognize that the 90s were a vastly different time—and I’d argue, in many ways, a better time (gosh, I sound like my parents). And yes, some of the things that come out of Gould’s mouth, believe it or not, could be deemed offensive in the world we currently live in. Not to me, but hey, I’m not here to judge. Let’s be real though—this game is for fans of the original games or those that loved the era of 90s platformers in general, and really won’t appeal to anyone else anyway. 

As for how these games play in modern days, well, in truth and putting nostalgia aside, they all show their age at times, with the original game perhaps feeling the most poorly aged of the trilogy. Being more of a 2D platformer, Gex 1—as I will refer to it to avoid confusion—has players side-scrolling their way through the Media Dimension after Gex is sucked into his television. This dimension consists of 24 different levels across 5 channels, or worlds, made up of various platforming sections, enemies, and, of course, bosses! You’ll need to find TV remotes tucked away in each level to advance further into the game. Levels also include hidden bonus portals, and, if you’re able to collect everything, you might just unlock a secret world. (Spoilers for a really old game—sorry.) Gex can tail whip foes, run, jump, stick to walls and ceilings, and bounce off of enemies while also collecting various power-ups such as invincibility. My favorite, however, is Gex’s tongue lash, which can be used to grab said power-ups and items.

Still, Gex does not feel great to control in the year 2025. His movement is sluggish, his run often gets you into heaps of trouble, jumps are imprecise, and level design is far from spectacular. As I mentioned, Gould’s performance is great, though certainly gets repetitive at times. There’s great personality in the art direction and worlds created, and the soundtrack still bumps all these years later. However, I think the move to 3D was inevitably the correct decision, as this would be the weakest of the 3 games featured in this trilogy. Also, it’s really freakin’ hard—thank goodness the original PlayStation passwords still work.

Enter the Gecko, on the other hand—originally released in 1998—holds up surprisingly well in comparison to its predecessor. How many series tried to make the shift to 3D back in the mid-90s and completely fell on their face? Let me know in the comments below; I’m sure you can think of a few. But Enter the Gecko was impressive in its ambitious shift to the 3rd dimension, while managing to retain the spirit of the original release. You’ll once again need to gather remotes, but the game is more similar to Mario 64, in feeling a bit like a collect-a-thon. Sure, it’s not perfect today either, though the camera certainly feels more refined than ever before, and with the game now running at a stable framerate, platforming isn’t nearly as bad as you would think. It’s also even funnier than the original Gex, thanks to Rob Cohen, who at the time was writing for The Simpsons. Particularly amusing is how our lead character takes on different forms and dresses in ridiculous outfits, which will be further parodied in the final release, Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko.

Fondly remembered by many as the best in the franchise, this installment was also noteworthy for featuring a former Playboy model, with Dana Gould reprising his role for the American release. More so than the previous games, Deep Cover Gecko once again pokes fun at pop culture, taking place within a secret hideout that acts as the game’s hub world. Essentially, this is a further refined version of the previous game, with more of everything, a game that really pushed the PS1 to its limits. Regardless of which game you prefer, both of these releases remain fun today and are worth the price of admission alone if you grew up loving this franchise.

And so there you have it—three iconic games return and still manage to offer up some fun and laughs all these years later. As I have mentioned, the Gex Trilogy is for a very specific audience, somewhat limiting its appeal, but it’s a well-put-together package that properly pays tribute to the original games—even if they all haven’t aged as gracefully as Croc, which, in fairness, is a recent HD remaster that goes way above and beyond and maybe sets the standard for what retro remasters can be. But comparisons aside, this is a lovely collection, and I for one think seeing Gex return in any form is worth celebrating—so put that in your pipe and smoke it!

GREAT