Gex (1995) – 3DO

Gex on 3DO: A Retro Platformer Review of the Quirky Gecko’s Adventure

Leap into a quirky platforming romp where a wise-cracking gecko takes on TV tropes with a tail-whip! Gex, released in 1995 for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, developed by Crystal Dynamics and published by BMG Interactive, follows Gex, a television-obsessed gecko, navigating zany worlds inspired by pop culture. Launched during the mid-90s 3D console wars, Gex capitalized on the 3DO’s multimedia prowess and the era’s love for mascot-driven platformers. This review dives into Gex’s playful mechanics, vibrant presentation, and its quirky charm as a 3DO standout, while noting where it stumbles.

Historical Background

Crystal Dynamics, riding high on their early 3DO successes, created Gex to showcase the console’s advanced graphical and audio capabilities. Inspired by pop culture parodies and the vibrant platformers of the era like Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog, the team aimed to craft a memorable mascot with a sharp wit and a unique TV-themed hook.

Released in 1995, Gex arrived during the intense 3DO vs. PlayStation/Saturn console wars, a time when developers were pushing boundaries to define the next generation of gaming. The 3DO’s high price and niche market made it a bold platform for a new IP, but Gex leaned into the system’s multimedia strengths to stand out in a sea of mascot-driven platformers.

Gex launched in April 1995, early in the 3DO’s lifecycle, positioning it as a flagship title for the console. It was later ported to PlayStation, Saturn, and PC, but the 3DO version remains its original home, designed to maximize the system’s 2D sprite capabilities and CD-based storage for voice work and music.

Gameplay Overview

Gex is a 2D platformer where players control Gex, a snarky, TV-loving gecko, on a mission to escape the clutches of Rez, a media-obsessed villain, by battling through vibrant, television-inspired worlds packed with pop culture references.

Gex navigates levels with tight controls, using jumps, tail-whips to attack enemies, and a unique wall-climbing ability to scale surfaces. Power-ups like fireflies, ice, and lightning bolts enhance attacks, while collectibles such as TV remotes and bugs unlock new stages and health boosts. The game blends exploration with combat, encouraging players to hunt for secrets.

Players progress through five themed worlds—Cartoon, Horror, Jungle, Kung Fu, and Sci-Fi—each containing multiple levels filled with enemies, traps, and collectibles. The goal is to gather enough remotes to unlock boss fights, defeat each world’s boss, and ultimately confront Rez in a final showdown to escape the TV dimension.

Visuals and Audio

Gex dazzles with colorful, detailed sprites and smooth parallax scrolling, making excellent use of the 3DO’s 2D capabilities. Each world pops with thematic flair—think cartoonish vibrancy or spooky graveyards—capturing the essence of TV genres. While the art style holds up, some textures and animations feel slightly dated compared to SNES or PlayStation contemporaries.

The soundtrack delivers catchy, genre-specific tunes, from eerie organ melodies in the Horror world to upbeat jazzy riffs in the Cartoon stages, enhancing the game’s playful vibe. Gex’s voice, performed by comedian Dana Gould, peppers the adventure with constant pop culture quips, adding charm but risking annoyance with repetition. Sound effects, like tail-whips and enemy pops, are crisp but can feel monotonous over time.

Strengths and Highlights

Gex shines with its inventive TV-themed worlds, each bursting with personality through clever nods to horror films, kung-fu flicks, and cartoons. The wall-climbing mechanic adds a fresh twist to platforming, letting players explore vertical spaces in ways most 2D games of the era didn’t.

Hidden collectibles, like secret remotes and bonus areas, reward thorough exploration, while the game’s humor and varied level designs make repeat playthroughs enjoyable. Unlocking all worlds and mastering tricky stages offers lasting appeal.

Gex’s irreverent pop culture satire, paired with his vocal charisma, sets the game apart from the crowded mascot platformer field. Its blend of quirky humor and creative level design makes it a memorable 3DO exclusive that still feels distinct.

Weaknesses and Critiques

Some levels suffer from repetitive enemy patterns and overly similar platforming challenges, which can make longer sessions feel monotonous. Hitbox issues, particularly with certain enemies and traps, occasionally lead to unfair damage.

The story is a barebones afterthought, existing only to string together the TV-themed worlds without much depth or engagement. Controls, while generally responsive, lack the precision of top-tier platformers like Donkey Kong Country, Sonic or Mario, leading to occasional missteps.

Gex’s non-stop one-liners, while initially charming, grow grating over time, especially when the same quips repeat frequently. Sudden difficulty spikes in later levels, combined with inconsistent checkpoint placement, can frustrate players seeking a smoother experience.

Technical Performance

Gex runs impressively on the 3DO, with smooth gameplay and minimal slowdown, even in busy levels with multiple enemies and effects. It leverages the console’s sprite-handling and CD-based storage effectively for vibrant visuals and voice work, with load times that are reasonable for the era.

The 3DO version outperforms its PlayStation and Saturn counterparts in visual clarity and control responsiveness, thanks to its tailored design for the 3DO’s hardware. However, later ports added minor enhancements like FMV cutscenes, which the 3DO lacks.

Technically, Gex holds up well for retro enthusiasts, with stable performance and crisp sprites. Modern players may notice occasional collision detection quirks or dated animation cycles, but these don’t heavily detract from the experience on emulators or original hardware.

Cultural Impact and Legacy

Upon its 1995 release, Gex garnered positive reviews for its humor, vibrant visuals, and creative level design, earning praise as a standout 3DO title. While it sold modestly due to the 3DO’s niche market, it built a loyal fanbase among early adopters and later, retro gaming circles.

Gex remains a cult classic, cherished by 3DO collectors and retro platformer fans. It spawned two sequels—Gex: Enter the Gecko and Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko—but never achieved the mainstream stardom of Mario or Sonic, partly due to the 3DO’s limited reach.

The game’s pop culture satire and talkative protagonist influenced later irreverent platformers, paving the way for titles with similar humor like Conker’s Bad Fur Day. Its TV-themed level design left a subtle mark on creative stage concepts in the genre.

Personal Take and Modern Appeal

Playing Gex was like channel-surfing through a 90s TV lineup—equal parts nostalgic joy and quirky chaos. Tail-whipping through the Kung Fu world felt thrilling, though I rolled my eyes when Gex recycled his “This is easier than stealing candy from a baby!” line for the tenth time.

Retro platformer enthusiasts and 3DO collectors will revel in Gex’s unique charm and period-specific humor. Casual gamers looking for a light, nostalgic romp via emulators will also find it engaging, though it may not hook those accustomed to modern polish.

Gex delivers a fun, charismatic platforming experience with creative worlds and solid mechanics, but repetitive quips and occasional design flaws keep it from reaching the genre’s elite.

Conclusion

Gex on the 3DO charms with its creative TV-themed worlds, snappy platforming, and irreverent gecko hero, but stumbles with repetitive dialogue, uneven difficulty, and minor control quirks that keep it from platforming greatness.

Like stumbling upon a forgotten 90s sitcom, Gex is a nostalgic, flawed delight that captures the wild, experimental spirit of its era.

Dust off your 3DO or boot up an emulator to join Gex on his zany TV adventure—tail-whips and all!