Let's talk about Gex the Gecko, the underrated platforming franchise

[Bubsy3000]

Hello there Atari Age, it's been 3000 years since I've been here and glad to be back! Today I wanted to talk about Gex.

 

Gex was a platform series that started on the 3DO gaming console, later becoming the mascot of the system. It was later ported to the Sega Planet and the Sony PlayStation. It received a well received and well known sequel Gex: Enter the Gecko on the PSX and N64 (called GEX 3D on the N64), and then a final sequel, Gex 3: Deep Cover gecko, also released for the PSX and N64.

 

Gex's popularity is often misunderstood. Gex sold over 15 million copies across the 3 games (not including PSN downloads and so on) which made it the 2nd best selling 90's born platforming series behind Sonic. Since Gex 3, no new games have released. Whether it's because of the brisk death of traditional 3D platformers, or developers not being able to adapt jokes for the new millennium, Gex has been on hiatus.

 

For those who have never played Gex before it is a MUST OWN for any game collector, especially for platforming fans. The first game I would recommend playing on the 3DO since it seems to be less pixelated and has an actual save system. The PSX/SAT versions are more pixelated and you have to find "disks" in levels to save the game. I wouldn't have an issue with that extra challenge if they changed some of the stage design to accommodate it, but sadly they didn't.

 

Gex 2 is a fine game on any platform, however the N64's audio is obviously worse due to its lack of sound chip and CD storage. It also has, if I recall, HALF the jokes cut off due to space, same for Gex 3.

 

My experience: For me, I brought a 3DO at $300 when Gex first came out, everyone in the newspapers along gaming enthusiasts where hyping it up as the 3DO's "Killer app", especially with the new price point. Reviews were going crazy, and I decided to take the plunge. Got Gex, Alone In the Dark, Burning Soldier, Life Stage, Dragons Lair, and Slayer.

 

Gex had me hooked from the Michael Jackson-esque music in the FIRST ZONE, the tight controls, the amazing graphics, and the fun gameplay. I was instantly a believer that prior systems could not run this game, and fell into the "32-bit gaming" hype despite me having worked with electronics and knowing bits had nothing to do with power. But every time i heard or read the 3DO PR guys talk about "New 32-bit gaming software" I always got excited. I was originally expecting something clumsy like the other "mascot" performers you saw on the SNES/MD., such as Aero or Awesome Possum, but Gex was completely different form those.

 

When Gex 2 came out I was beyond hyped, thought it blew games like Banjo and Mario 64 out of the water.

 

In this thread, share your Gex experiences!!

Edited September 23, 2018 by Bubsy3000

[youxia]

Gex's popularity is often misunderstood.

 

I wonder where that strong deja vu feeling is coming from...

[Video]

I never played it, but my love of action platformers made me want it and 3do. But being before I was working I never got it. I should get psx versions sometime.

 

Maybe sometime I'll get a 3do, but I don't know. From what I've seen of it, it did seem to be pretty polished.

[digdugnate]

i'd give my opinion on mascots, but i got burned on this one before!

[atarilovesyou]

Gex who?

 

Have you ever played Sock the Puppet?

Edited September 24, 2018 by atarilovesyou

[AtariBrian]

When Gex Enter the Gecko came out for the Playstation I purchased it and loved it . Easy enough to beat the whole game and very fun .

[mbd30]

[Tanooki]

Anyone want to start a betting pool how long this one lasts?

[enoofu]

Anyone want to start a betting pool how long this one lasts?

 

Not long as jaybird3rd already know where this is going

 

 

[Jess Ragan]

I think there's a reasonable discussion to be had about Gex. Probably not in this thread, though.