Review: Gex Trilogy for PS5

Alright, let’s get into this. It’s been what, almost 30 years? Yeah, time sure flies. Remember Gex? That snarky little gecko before GEICO’s guy took over? Well, Gex is back. The Gex Trilogy is now on modern platforms. But here’s the question we’re all dying to know—do these games hold up, or should they just stay buried in the past with all those VHS tapes?

Jumping into the first Gex game here—it’s in 2D, by the way. Think old-school. Weird plot: the dude gets sucked into his TV by this villain, Rez. You’d think he’d have better things to do. Anyway, he’s gotta navigate through channels—like a bizarre TV show lineup, including Cemetery, New Toonland, and Kung Fuville. Each has these levels, and you, well, collect remotes to move on. Sounds quirky, right? Not gonna lie, those power-ups? Super fun. Flame shots and super speed! It’s like a sugar rush for your thumbs.

Honestly, though, the gameplay’s kind of uneven. The run button? Feels more like a launch button. Overshoot city, here we come. And the enemies—the hit boxes are all over the place; it’s like trying to slap a fly with a flip-flop. Plus, Gex never stops talking. Amusing at first, then you’re reaching for the mute. Same joke, different day.

Anyway, 3D time. Enter the Gecko catapults Gex into the third dimension. Rez is back, but now Gex only gets into action after some government cash exchange. Hey, we all gotta pay rent, right? The moves are still floaty—like a leaf in the wind. And those camera angles? Awful. Picture a seesaw mid-swing. But guess what, it’s less repetitive than before. Gex now moves between worlds through a hub, bouncing through TV screens like he’s auditioning for MTV in its heyday. You collect remotes, and there’s some odd satisfaction in hoarding them. Oh, and did I mention costume changes? Gex rocks everything from a space suit to a disco getup. It’s a mishmash, yet strangely enjoyable.

And finally, Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko. This time, we’re talking Baywatch-level drama. Something about a kidnapped actress, and poof! Gex is on it. They switched things up. The hub world feels like it was designed by a cat on catnip—chaotic but somewhat charming. Collectibles are now these Fly Coins, mixed with plain old regular coins that unlock bonus areas. Psst—those areas have the worst ticking clock sound. Beware if sharp sounds make you twitch.

Still, the levels are more connected, clearer. And there’s variety—snowboarding, tanks, more boss battles that don’t suck. Kind of a toss-up between Gex 2 and 3 on what’s more fun. Depends on your vibe, I guess.

So, after all that chaos, is Gex Trilogy a masterpiece? Eh, it’s alright. Limited Run did spruce it up with some techy extras, saving some headaches. But truth be told, these games aren’t gonna dethrone Mario anytime soon. Yet, there’s a nostalgic joy in seeing these 90s relics resurface. It’s like dusting off an old comic book you almost forgot you loved.

Hey, not all blasts from the past need to be boom!—some can just be a smile and a shrug. 6/10 overall. That’s where this nostalgia trip lands.