GEX Trilogy Review

If I were to make a list of games from my childhood I’d probably never see on modern consoles, the GEX series would almost certainly be on there. Thankfully, developer Limited Run Games has just released GEX Trilogy, a collection of the original PlayStation classics. With some new quality-of-life features, do these platformers stand the test of time? Or should they have just stayed in the past?

GEX Trilogy unsurprisingly contains all three titles in the franchise: Gex, originally released in 1995, Gex: Enter The Gecko from 1998, and 1999’s Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko. Whilst you are able to play each game in its original 4:3 aspect ratio with a CRT filter using only digital controls for the ultimate throwback feel, there are some noteworthy improvements. For instance, the 3D titles are able to be played in native 16:9 widescreen, with the resolution scaling with the larger image. Then there’s the full analogue control support, giving Gex a wider, more fluid range of movements, which really helps during tougher platforming sections.

Aside from these, you’re now able to save at any point during play. Pressing R3 pauses the action and brings up a menu that allows you to quickly save or load your progress, as well as adjust the previously mentioned screen options. One final addition is the ability to rewind your gameplay. This functions much like how the PlayStation Classics Catalogue’s rewind system does. By pressing both triggers, the game will pause and allow you to scrub back through the previous few minutes to resume at a point of your choosing. This is super helpful when you mistime a jump or take a fireball to the face. Sure, purists may argue it takes away from the challenge — and they’d be right — but it’s such a useful feature that mitigates some issues these 25+ year-old titles have.

Let’s talk about the games themselves, then, starting with Gex. This is the only one I hadn’t played before, and it’s actually a pretty fun — and surprisingly creative — 2D platformer. The goal for each level is to find a TV remote before reaching the exit, but they’re not always easy to find. This isn’t simply walking from left to right to beat each stage, as they can be almost maze-like in their design, featuring various paths and an impressive amount of verticality in certain stages. Boss fights are also fun yet challenging, with each one having several attack patterns to figure out and overcome (or abuse the rewind function, in my case).

All of the themed worlds are great to explore, with each of Gex’s abilities being useful in defeating enemies and traversal. There are also various different power-ups that will enhance our heroic Gecko, ranging from a temporary speed boost to firing ice-based projectiles. Gex is a great time for platforming fans, and for a 30-year-old title, I had a blast playing it!

Next, we have Gex: Enter the Gecko, which marks Gex’s first foray into the 3D world. This feels like a true sequel without straying too far from the original formula. There are still themed worlds, power-ups, and TV remotes to collect, but just much more of it all.

Each level has three red TV remotes — used to progress further into the game — that are gained by completing certain objectives. As well as these, there are also two silver remotes, one earned from gathering enough pick-ups, the other hidden within the stage. Still, to this day, it irks me that you can only collect one red remote per run, meaning you have to go back to the level two more times instead of just gathering everything in one go. That said, the levels are large enough that you probably won’t even see everything during your first, or even second, run through.

Having the analogue stick controlling the camera and being able to manually rotate it helps the game a lot, although there are times when it’s still a bit wonky. Overall, Gex’s second outing hasn’t aged quite as well as I’d have thought, but I can’t deny that I still had a lot of fun playing through it. Again, the rewind system absolutely helped me on a number of occasions, and really helps save time when a mistimed jump puts you right back at square one.

Finally, we have Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko. Whilst not as innovative for the franchise as the second game, Gex 3 is still a solid platformer, and the one I remember most fondly. It feels more like an upgrade of Enter the Gecko rather than a fully fledged sequel, though that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

For instance, some levels have you controlling other characters or using vehicles to complete certain tasks. The hub world is much more detailed and acts as Gex’s very own Batcave, full of pop culture references and other humorous details. The stages themselves are still just as wild and varied, although this time you’ll be collecting four remotes (three for objectives and one for finding all collectibles). Other hidden items — such as permanent health upgrades — are also scattered about, giving you plenty to hunt for across all the levels. Again, only one can be obtained per run, meaning a minimum of three ventures into each level, or four if you didn’t manage to collect all 100 Coinflys in one of them, as they reset each time you visit a stage.

No matter which of the three titles you play, Gex is full of life, and though some of his constant quips are rather dated, anyone who grew up in that era will no doubt crack a smile now and then. However, some of his one-liners had me thinking, “Wow, that’s a bit much,” and the constant sexual innuendos prevalent in the Deep Cover Gecko can be hard to stomach.

The Gextras tab in the main menu is full of things like concept art, trailers, and original game manuals. This is a nice little addition that had me on a real nostalgia trip, and something I think every “retro” game collection should have.

All in all, GEX Trilogy is a set of three enjoyable platformers that, whilst they don’t hold up exceptionally well to today's standards, are still fun to play through. Native widescreen for the 3D titles, the ability to save anywhere, and the rewind function make some issues you’d find in many games of the late ‘90s less painful. If you remember these games fondly, then chances are you’ll love this collection.