In what can only be described as the era of nostalgia, we now have the Gex Trilogy coming to modern consoles to scratch that ’90s platformer itch.
While most people are getting exhausted with these remasters, like the plethora of Star Wars titles that we have seen drop in recent years, this is not a copy-and-paste job; you can see there have been a number of quality-of-life improvements to really improve how these games play.
Gex-Gen
While you can play these games exactly as they were released with the native controls, there are a lot of additions to try and appeal to the modern gamer.
I think the biggest improvement is that Gex: Enter the Gecko and Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko can be played in native widescreen. These games have not just been stretched to fit the larger screen, you can now actually see more of the world that you couldn’t before. This makes these 3D platformers better to play through, and they look sharper and better than they ever did before.
There are other great improvements in the Gex Trilogy, including the ability to rewind gameplay, being able to save at any point and the ability to play with CRT TV filter.
Gex Trilogy Time
This collection includes the original Gex, alongside its two sequels, Gex: Enter the Gecko and Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko.
If you don’t know much about these games, then essentially, you are put into levels inspired by the pop culture of the time, which include a number of iconic TV shows and films. This trope will get a little tiring if you play them back-to-back in one long session, but as long as you space out your gaming sessions, you’ll really get that nostalgia hit.
The first game is a real nostalgic 2D platformer that introduces you to Crystal Dynamics’ gecko character and his entertaining world. For a game released three decades ago, it does play surprisingly well. The little power-ups you get in each level by eating little orbs are quite cool, and the environments do make the game entertaining, and it is well worth playing to get you into the Gex world.
The other two games in this collection made the switch to 3D, and unfortunately, they have not aged particularly well. The visuals are a bit harsh despite the upscaling and the widescreen update.
Enter the Gecko has some cool levels inspired by horror and martial arts films, but again, these fun levels can be disrupted by that classic gaming problem: the camera. There are three variants of camera settings, from you being in control to the game handling it, to somewhere in between. If you can accept these limitations, as it is still truly a 90s game, then you can find some enjoyment in the middle title.
Deep Cover Gecko does play the better of the two 3D titles, and like any good sequel within this series, the levels are deeper and include more mini-games. Of the three games, this one will be the most fun to play, but it still has its limitations.
Gexxing-Hell
Overall, I’m not sure whether or not I can recommend this collection even at the cheaper price point. If you are a 90s child, then I think you’ll enjoy it just for the humour.
However, if you are expecting to find a gem that you may have missed if you are a younger gamer, then you’ll be sadly disappointed.
This is the definition of a 5/10 collection. Nothing remarkably bad but nothing that is that good either. You have to be a really big fan of the character to make this a must-buy as, barring the nostalgic humour and quips by Gex, there truly isn’t anything for anyone else.
There are many better ports and remasters of older games out there, and I’m sure if you are a gamer of a certain age, then you will have your favourite series. If Gex is that, then this is good for one last trip down memory lane. For anyone else, maybe spend your cash on a sale item at your respective store.
Developer: Limited Run Games, Crystal Dynamics
Publisher: Limited Run Games
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: 16th June 2025
