REVIEW / Gex Trilogy for PS5

Alright, here we go. This is gonna be disjointed and messy, just the way we want it.

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So, check this out. Nearly 30 years have zoomed by and guess who’s back? Yep, that gecko we all kinda knew before that insurance lizard took over—Gex! He’s chillin’ on new platforms with the Gex Trilogy. But uh, question is, does he actually stand the test of time today or should we leave him in the past with our old VHS tapes and grunge music? Anyway, let’s dig into this and see what the fuss is all about.

Okay, starting with the OG Gex. Remember the 3DO? No? Not surprised. But that’s where our scaly dude first showed up before navigating to Sega Saturn and PlayStation. It was his one and only 2D journey and, honestly, kinda thin on story. Basically, he gets yoinked into his TV by some bad guy Rez—you know, classic ‘90s villain stuff. Rez wants Gex as some TV dimension mascot. I mean, sure, why not, right? Gex hops channels like Cemetery, New Toonland, and Kung Fuville. I wonder who names these things… Anyway, collect remotes, bounce around, eat power-ups. The works. You get checkpoints through cameras or something, but hey, you can save anytime now, which is nice. Very modern-y.

Playing the game? It’s all over the place. There’s this weird running thing where you gotta time your movements, but it’s like trying to balance a pizza box on one finger—edges! And Gex talks… a LOT. Funny the first five minutes, then it’s just endless chatter. Some worlds are creative, but also kinda samey? I wouldn’t call it my favorite Gex experience. Not by a long shot.

Alright, second one! Enter the Gecko—now in 3D! Let’s just say it’s a bit smoother than the original, which is nice. Rez is causing trouble again and Gex, well, doesn’t move till someone flashes cash. Sounds about right. He’s got all his previous moves and some new stilted jumps that Mario perfected years ago. The lines are better this time, but brace yourself for hearing “It’s Tail Time” a few too many times. Camera angles? Good luck with that—it’s like they hired a parkour artist to manage it. Definitely switch to manual unless you like headaches.

There’s this hub-like thing where giant TV screens zap you to different worlds. Three remotes per world, find hidden ones, and 100 collectibles per stage. The collectibles change—like carrots turning to TNT. Super nifty, honestly. Gex and his costumes—ranging from rabbit suits to space gear—fit the worlds, so props for that creativity. I kinda liked this one best, though must admit, I’m not sure why exactly.

Last up, Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko. Our lizard friend jumps back into action because, well, a Baywatch actress is kidnapped. Totally logical reason for a gecko to go hero mode. Hub world is a maze though, like why change it? Collectibles are now boring coins, which made me miss the old ones. I mean, if it ain’t broke…

The game tries—levels feel more connected and you occasionally get to snowboard or drive a tank—change of pace, I guess. Boss fights bring some flair, thankfully. Gex 3 feels a bit like the second one but beefed up. You might love it more for that, but I was a second-game kinda lizard fan.

In conclusion, the Gex Trilogy? Well, it’s decent-ish. Limited Run really gave it some quality-of-life updates which smooth out the rough edges. The package comes with extras like old commercials and a Dana Gould interview—neat for nostalgia buffs. But the games themselves? Yeah, they’re kinda just alright—not quite Super Mario 64 or Banjo-Kazooie level but it’s cool they’re gettin’ a modern system save. Every game’s a time capsule, right? Especially those screaming ’90s vibes.

So there you have it. If nostalgia’s your thing, maybe give it a whirl. If not, well, you do you!