GEX Trilogy

A wisecracking gecko armed with a tail-whip, a television obsession, and an alarming number of pop-culture jokes headlines this unusually complete revival of a ’90s platforming series. GEX Trilogy collects the original side-scrolling Gex alongside the polygonal follow-ups Gex: Enter the Gecko and Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko, charting the mascot’s shift from 2D action to early 3D exploration. Every adventure takes place inside the Media Dimension, where levels parody horror films, spy thrillers, cartoons, prehistoric adventures, and whatever else was on television decades ago. The mood is proudly goofy, packed with one-liners and a nostalgic brand of attitude that either charms you immediately or sends you reaching for the mute button.

Platforming remains the focus across all three games, with Gex climbing walls, smacking enemies with his tail, collecting remote controls, and hunting for level exits. The first entry plays as a more direct 2D challenge built around precise jumps and themed stages, while the sequels open into larger 3D areas full of collectibles, hidden routes, switches, and camera-dependent leaps. Modern presentation support makes the older games considerably easier to approach, adding widescreen visuals and analog control options to designs originally built around much older hardware. Difficulty still reflects the era: lives, awkward enemy placements, and occasional imprecise perspective can punish impatient players, but the collection’s updated framework removes some of the friction of revisiting these classics.

What separates GEX Trilogy from a barebones retro re-release is the amount of historical material surrounding the games. A full soundtrack player, extensive art archive, vintage advertisements, and a new interview with Gex’s voice actor give the package real museum value, even for players who only vaguely remember the character. The Carbon Engine treatment preserves the original personality while making the trilogy feel less trapped in the limitations of its original releases. Fans of Croc, early Spyro, and the rougher experimentation of PlayStation-era 3D platformers find plenty to enjoy, while newcomers should come for the humor and curiosity rather than expect Mario-level polish.