Gex: Enter the Gecko | Gamebits (2025)

Although there are plenty of hit games available, few seem to come alivewith their own sense of personality. Gex: Enter the Gecko, from Midwayand Crystal Dynamics, is a PlayStation and Nintendo 64 game whose maincharacter is quite a character. [PSX version reviewed here]

Gex is a smart-mouthed lizard addicted to television. Having alreadyappeared in side-scrolling games for the 3DO and PlayStation systems, nowmakes the leap to 3D. In a style similar to the groundbreaking gameplayof Mario 64, Gex romps through a multitude of worlds to complete specifictasks in each and collect remote controls, used to open new worlds. Eacharea is a spoof on a genre of cinema, from bad Japanese action flicks toBugs Bunny to Halloween horror.

The audio component is this game's best selling point. Gex's voice andpersonality are provided by the comedian Dana Gould. Given any situation,Gex will have a wisecrack or impression that will make you blink, chuckle,or guffaw. A few are expected, some are slick, others are random. Whenall is said and done, Gex will have poked fun at every celebrity and movietype available. Nearly the only topic lacking attention is the Clintonsex scandal!

The music also speaks well for the game. It is mostly bouncy, but fitsthe topic of the current world well: techno for Circuit Central, anoriental theme for Kung-Fu Theater, spacey tunes for the Rocket Channel.

Handling the tail-whipping gecko isn't a problem. His functionality doesnot approach the limitless capabilities of Mario's 3D adventure. Gex hasone basic attack and can jump, as well as climb certain walls ingravity-defying scenes, and catch nearby outcroppings with his tongue.This is sufficient for the challenges he will face. The analog controlleris also supported.

The colorful worlds Gex visits are quite a sight. From dolls equippedwith knives to mallet-wielding wildflowers, the surprises never stop. Foreach world, Gex is adorned with a different costume fitting to the genre.The graphics sometimes seem to "glitch" and not flow smoothly, resulting,for example, in walls that flex or bulge. The camera angles areadjustable (again, ala Mario 64), but move too often by themselves, oftenthrowing off the control. Fortunately the camera can be set to movecompletely automatically or manually, or a combination of the two. Thegraphic artists should be applauded for their creativity and color, if nottheir talent.

Not only are these worlds many, they are also huge. Not so big as thoseMario has encountered, but they are mostly indoors, making it easy to getlost. The tasks laid before the lizard are often nebulous, leavingplayers to wander in search of the remote controls. But not all itemsneed be discovered to progress. Games can be saved and continued with amemory card or password.

Gex: Enter the Gecko is an imaginative title, and a unique offering forthe PlayStation. Its humor and snap are its greatest qualities. Gamerslooking to be entertained in more ways than one, and haven't alreadybeaten Mario 64 to death, would be hard-pressed to go wrong with thismember of the lizard family.

This article is copyright (c) 1998, 2007 by Ken Gagne. All rights reserved. Not to be distributed without permission.

Original publication: Sentinel & Enterprise, 09-Mar-98