Alrighty, here we go. Almost 30 years and bam, we’re back at it – “Tail Time.” Remember Gex? Yeah, that gecko before GEICO. Anyway, they’re re-releasing Gex in a trilogy. Do these games hold up now with some modern tweaks? Let’s dive in, or let’s try – my brain can’t hold focus.
So, starting with OG Gex – appeared on 3DO (anyone remember that? I barely do) and wandered onto Sega Saturn and PlayStation. This one stayed in 2D. The plot? Thin as a pancake. Gex gets yanked into his TV by some baddie named Rez. Oh, and Rez wants him as the mascot for his Media Dimension – why? Who knows. Gex hops through different channels: Cemetery, New Toonland, Kung Fuville – it’s as wild as it sounds. Each channel throws levels at you like they threw confetti, and you collect these remotes like they’re candy. Gex has got some moves: tail attacks, bounces, the works. Power-ups? Oh yeah, eat one and you’re a speedy flame-spitting invincible gecko. Cameras save your spot, tapes give passwords – retro gaming goodness, folks.
And hey, speaking of gameplay – well, hm, it’s unpredictable. You hold a button to run but good luck landing jumps. Enemies have hitboxes that seem, you know, unclear. Climbing surfaces? Sometimes possible, sometimes a shot in the dark. Gex yaps a lot, and you might laugh – until you hear the same lines on repeat. The worlds have quirky charm, but I don’t know, the stages look like they’re all cut from the same cloth – bit blah if you ask me.
If we’re shifting gears to 3D, with “Enter the Gecko” – Gex gets pulled back in. Money’s his motivator this time – can’t really blame him. Controls? Slightly improved but let’s not throw a parade yet. There’s more wit in Gex’s chatter but prepare for endless “It’s Tail Time.” Cameras, oh boy, don’t get me started – shift them to manual pronto. Hub world: TVs open to worlds like Alice through a widescreen. Collect 100 items, grab a remote – feels satisfying. Gex changes costumes like it’s Fashion Week – a rabbit, a disco dude, you name it. Places connect in weird ways – it’s like wandering through a dream. Somehow ended up liking this one best.
Last on the list is “Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko.” This time it’s all about rescuing an actress – yes, from Baywatch. Why’d they alter the hub? Seriously, liked the previous layout. Collectibles are just boring coins now, no fun visuals. Those ticking clocks in bonus areas? Ugh, instant headache. Levels do feel cohesive, and breaking up platforming with snowboarding or tanks is a decent touch. The bosses? Less snoozefest than before. Reminds me of the second game but with more bells and whistles. Some might dig that, I kinda liked the second game’s balance.
Overall, this trilogy’s a nice slice of nostalgia pie. With enhancements – rewinds, saves, all that jazz – even the rough bits feel smoothed out. There’s a sense of them trying to preserve the original vibe. Extras galore too – commercials, interviews, art. But when it comes down to the nitty-gritty platforming? It’s alright, doesn’t quite reach Mario or Banjo levels. Still, kudos for modernizing and preserving these pieces of the flashy, quirky 90s.
Rating this Gex reunion: Gameplay hits a decent 6 out of 10. Graphics and sound? Same deal. Replayability keeps up with a 6 too. It’s a nice tour back in time, hits some buttons for sure, but doesn’t quite break molds.
