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GEX Trilogy

Though your fondness for the subject matter may vary, the Gex Trilogy is an easy recommendation for those pining to hear an outdated quip or two from a forgotten mainstay of the mascot era on modern consoles.
71%Game Brain Score
gameplay, story
music, graphics
70% User Score Based on 154 reviews
Critic Score 71%Based on 7 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Steam DeckXboxWindowsPlayStation

About

Exploding into the modern era like a pro wrestler from the top rope—it’s GEX! The fast-talking gecko who doesn’t want to sell you insurance! That’s right, the greatest gaming hero of the 1990s has returned for the 2020s through the raw, unbridled power of the Carbon Engine.  GEX Trilogy reproduces all three original games in exacting detail, precisely the way you remember them. Assuming you’ve go…

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GEX Trilogy screenshot
GEX Trilogy screenshot
GEX Trilogy screenshot
GEX Trilogy screenshot
GEX Trilogy screenshot
GEX Trilogy screenshot
GEX Trilogy screenshot
GEX Trilogy screenshot
GEX Trilogy screenshot
GEX Trilogy screenshot
GEX Trilogy screenshot
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70%
Audience ScoreBased on 154 reviews
gameplay10 positive mentions
optimization5 negative mentions

  • The Gex Trilogy offers a nostalgic trip with all three classic games available on modern platforms, complete with extras like artwork, interviews, and a full soundtrack.
  • Quality of life improvements such as save states and a rewind feature enhance gameplay, making it easier for players to navigate the challenges of the original titles.
  • The addition of PAL voice acting options and stylish new menus adds a nice touch for fans of the series, allowing for a more personalized experience.
  • The port lacks significant graphical enhancements and remains visually similar to the original PS1 versions, leading to disappointment for those expecting a remaster.
  • The removal of traditional save systems in favor of save states can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially if players forget to save manually.
  • Persistent issues with audio glitches and a clunky camera system detract from the overall experience, making it feel like a rushed emulation rather than a polished remaster.
  • music
    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with players appreciating the availability of the full soundtrack and bonus features like artwork and interviews. However, many have criticized the soundtrack player for being unintuitive, buggy, and lacking essential controls, as well as for audio glitches that affect the quality of the music. While the nostalgic tunes are enjoyable, the overall execution and quality of the music experience leave much to be desired.

    • “The full soundtrack of all three games is available from the main menu via Tailtunes.”
    • “The music from the games can be played via the music menu option, which is nice to have.”
    • “I also love the extra stuff we get like the OST player, artworks, and even the ads.”
    • “- the soundtrack player only includes the PlayStation 1 versions of the OST, even though the PC, N64, and GBC versions feature measurable and substantial differences.”
    • “- the soundtrack player menu itself is unintuitive and buggy.”
    • “- the soundtrack player has no song controls aside from play/pause.”
  • graphics
    25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in this release have received mixed reviews, with many users noting that there are minimal enhancements compared to the original games, primarily limited to analog controls and widescreen support. While some appreciate the nostalgic "old-school" aesthetic, others express disappointment over the lack of significant visual upgrades, such as improved draw distance or resolution. Overall, expectations for a remaster with modern graphics were not met, leading to frustration among players hoping for a more polished visual experience.

    • “Similarly, Star Wars: Dark Forces remaster showcases a dedication to modernizing an old game's presentation, boasting vastly improved visuals and sound design.”
    • “You do have a CRT filter option which does seem to smooth visuals out, but it's at the cost of significantly darkening the screen.”
    • “The menu system feels well-designed, with quality artwork.”
    • “If you were hoping for better graphics or quality of life updates, the only things they really changed were analog controls and widescreen support.”
    • “Barely any graphical enhancements, not even increased draw distance.”
    • “From how it was advertised, I expected a graphic overhaul, but it’s simply a 'drag and drop' of the classic game running through an emulator using the carbon engine.”
  • gameplay
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the Gex trilogy has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while there are some quality of life improvements, the core mechanics and visuals remain largely unchanged and dated. Issues such as clunky camera controls, frustrating hitboxes, and a poorly placed save option detract from the experience, despite the nostalgic appeal and some unique level mechanics. Overall, while the gameplay retains its charm for long-time fans, it is criticized for missed opportunities to modernize and enhance the experience.

    • “The rewind feature is amazingly useful; the first game's gameplay is unchanged, and some of the really frustrating segments can be rewound to try again right away.”
    • “On the other hand, many levels have some cool unique mechanics and fun related punchlines.”
    • “While we would have liked to see the Gex trilogy scale up the resolution and bring the gameplay more up to date, it's nice to be able to play Gex, Gex: Enter the Gecko, and Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko on modern platforms, with some neat refinements for good measure.”
    • “There are some quality of life improvements and special features, but besides that, all three are the same mechanically and visually.”
    • “Do better, update the textures, give more options, and fix the terrible camera mechanics and hitboxes.”
    • “You get widescreen, sure, but the fundamental issues that plagued 90s 3D platformers – the clunky camera, the often-frustrating hitboxes, and the general datedness of its mechanics – remain largely untouched.”
  • optimization
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant lag and audio stuttering, while others noted occasional stuttering but generally satisfactory performance. Many criticized the remaster for lacking improvements, such as a proper frame rate and visual enhancements, leading to frustration over its perceived laziness and high price point. In contrast, a few players found better performance and controls in the sequels, suggesting that optimization varied across titles.

    • “As far as performance goes, it worked fine for me.”
    • “I felt an improvement in performance with Gex 2 and Gex 3.”
    • “The improved controls in Gex 2 and 3 feel great; I found it way more precise, and that could've been why the games felt better in performance as well.”
    • “Those don't outweigh the extreme negatives of painful lag causing even more painful audio stuttering, as well as saving being removed entirely in favor of savestates amongst other features.”
    • “Lazy remaster, finished Gex 1 and went to Gex 2 and thought, oh well, I can play with the far superior suave British voice actor. To my dismay, they lazily ported the whole PAL version, worse performance and all, and locked it to 50fps.”
    • “4060 and an 8500g and the game still goes through random rough patches of awful performance.”
  • stability
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is notably problematic, with frequent emulation freezes, audio glitches, and visual bugs that can render it unplayable at times. Users report issues such as an unintuitive soundtrack player, buggy scaling in widescreen, and missing auto-save features, which detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, some players still find enjoyment in the game.

    • “The game is unplayable because it glitches out, leaving just a white noise screen with no gameplay.”
    • “Reports of other audio glitches, visual bugs, and outright instability.”
    • “There are also, as many others have stated, some audio glitches causing the OST of Gex 2 and 3 to skip instruments and glitch out.”
  • story
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story is characterized by a mix of engaging design elements and nostalgic charm, with memorable moments and humorous visuals, though some aspects, like low-resolution gags and an outdated fetch quest progression, detract from the overall experience. Additionally, the lack of regional vocal options is noted as a significant downside, despite an upcoming patch. Overall, while the narrative has its enjoyable moments, it also shows signs of age and technical issues.

    • “The wall climb is wonderful and memorable and leads to some interesting design decisions, including things that can skip 'intended' paths for remote missions.”
    • “I enjoy the little outfits as well; sometimes he'll change outfits in the middle of a mission, it's very cute.”
    • “No regional options for the different vocal talent is a big shame; the fetch quest angle for progression feels somewhat aged, and the first game can feel frustrating these days.”
  • humor
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by quirky accents, a bizarre boss, and nostalgic references that may resonate differently with younger players. While some find the humor amusing and reflective of its era, others feel it can come off as dated amidst improved gameplay and design. Overall, it offers a mix of unique moments and relics from the past that contribute to its charm.

    • “Seeing the Square Enix logo in front of Gex is funny in and of itself.”
    • “I like the gameplay, I like the funny lizard, and I like the references that I'm a little bit too young to get.”
    • “The humor still has its moments, with a lot of relics from the era like ads and artworks.”
  • monetization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game includes a variety of extras such as ads, artwork, and an OST player, which some players appreciate. However, there is a sentiment that the game, rooted in its nostalgic pop culture, may not generate significant revenue compared to modern live service models. Overall, while the extras are enjoyable, they do not seem to translate into a lucrative monetization strategy.

    • “But alas, most likely this will never happen - mostly because Gex is a child of his time, of that old pop culture, and he will never bring in cash, as much as another live service cash grab.”
    • “There are about as many extras as you can expect, some ads, covers, copies of the manuals.”
    • “I also love the extra stuff we get like the OST player, artworks, and even the ads.”
  • grinding
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, as they are required to locate a remote in each level to progress, making the experience feel more cumbersome than simply completing stages.

    • “You're forced to find a remote in every level to progress, which isn't as straightforward as just beating a stage, and that alone is the most tedious thing you can ask me to do.”
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8h Median play time
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