Also available on PlayStation, Saturn, and Windows Gex is the embodiment of mid-90s attitude. Most folks probably played Gex on the PlayStation - let's be honest, the 3DO wasn't a popular console - but I wanted to play it on 3DO partly because I'm a sucker for "failed" consoles and partly because it's the original version. Gex, both in gameplay and in character, remind me a lot of Crash Bandicoot (at least the 2D levels) despite releasing a year earlier. Gex is another of the anthropomorphic mascot platformers that were so common in the 90s. At a time when most games were moving to 3D perspectives, Gex was one of the last big 2D platformers. The controls are very tight and responsive, although the hit detection is a bit hit or miss; I'll manage to hit an enemy that definitely should have hit me first, and I'll get hit by enemies that I definitely dodged. It's not so bad that some practice can't compensate, though. The visuals in Gex are...okay. Even running S-video, they look rather murky, and given that it's a 2D game, that was disappointing for me. It doesn't look bad, per se, but it's not a visually impressive game on 3DO. The enemies are at least fairly interesting with enemy designs varying to fit the theme of the world you're in. The sound design is similarly okay. The music is decent enough - distinctly early 90s - but the sound effects and Gex's one-liners sound a bit rough, presumably due to how the sound files were compressed. It's not bad by any means, but it does show its age. Gex shows its age, but it's not a bad 2D platformer. If you're nostalgic for the 90s and 90s attitude, then you'll probably find a good bit to like here. The gameplay is decent, but even competition from the era can offer better options. The visuals and sound are just okay - not good but not bad - and the one liners are cheesy even if entertaining in small doses. Truthfully, I can only recommend that you go out and search for this game if you're trying to build a 3DO collection as it's a decent title and relatively affordable, but otherwise, give it a play if the opportunity arises, but don't go out of your way. This is one that's better in your memories than in reality. My Rating - C |
I'm a teacher.And I like to play video games. I like to collect video games. I like to talk about video games, and I like to write about video games. During the day, I teach high school history; during the night, I spend my spare time gaming. Then I write about it. Archives
April 2024
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