(Image credit: Limited Run Games/Square Enix)
Gex – yes, Gex, the ’90s platformer series featuring a wisecracking gecko voiced by Dana Gould – is making a comeback with a remastered edition. Despite its average reviews back then, it’s surprising to see a lavish, $200 Gex Trilogy collection, which includes artwork by the legendary Yoshitaka Amano.
This June, the Gex Trilogy releases digitally with modernized analog controls and widescreen visual support. Packaged using the Limited Run Games Carbon Engine, which has powered some remarkable remasters, the collection seems well-crafted.
However, let’s talk about the heart of the matter… it’s Gex. The original 2D game received mediocre ratings in the 6-7 range, and while the first 3D entry, Enter the Gecko, fared better with scores around 8 out of 10, the trilogy’s conclusion, Deep Cover Gecko, was viewed as quite unremarkable.
Yet there’s enough nostalgia surrounding Gex to justify this $200 collector’s edition. It includes a 36-inch inflatable Gex and a 7-inch statue, boxed elegantly with artwork by Yoshitaka Amano, well-known for the stunning art in Final Fantasy over the years.
In a light-hearted Steam post, the developers joked, “You might know him from his work on a lesser-known Square Enix franchise, so it made sense to finally give him the opportunity to illustrate their best one – GEX!” It’s clear they’ve kept a sense of humor regarding the whole affair.
I’m an aficionado of retro games, including the mediocre and downright bad ones, yet the choice of remasters lately leaves me puzzled. But if we can see modern ports for Glover or Bubsy 3D, surely Gex deserves its moment. Although, imagining who would spend $200 on it is another story.
Apologies to Gex enthusiasts—the gecko didn’t make it to our list of the best PS1 games. For those interested, check out our weekly digests of beloved community tales and more.