Gex: Enter the Gecko (Game)

Gex: Enter the Gecko

GAME » on February 24, 1998

Game Boy Color (Platform)Nintendo 64 (Platform)PC (Platform)PlayStation (Platform)PlayStation Network (PS3) (Platform)

Everybody's favorite couch potato gecko gets his first 3D adventure. It's tail time!

Game Images Reviews Gex: Enter the Gecko ReleasesRelated Pages

Overview

Gex, now in 3D!

Gex: Enter the Gecko, known in Europe as either Gex 3D: Enter the Gecko or Gex 3D: Return of the Gecko, and known in Japan as Spin Tail, is a 3D third-person platformer developed by Crystal Dynamics and published for the Sony PlayStation in North America by Midway on February 24, 1998, in Europe by BMG Interactive on April 1998, and in Japan by Bandai on September 10, 1998. It received a Nintendo 64 (Platform) release by Midway as Gex 64: Enter the Gecko, released in North America on August 1998 and in Europe (co-published by GT Interactive Software Corp.) on February 1999, and received a Windows PC port in late 1998 (released by Eidos Interactive (Company) in North America and Ubi Soft Entertainment in Europe).

A 3D successor to the 1994 game Gex (Game), Enter the Gecko puts players back in the role of the wise-cracking, TV-watching gecko Gex (voiced by Dana Gould in the North American release and by actor Leslie Phillips (Person) in the European version) as he's forcefully brought out of retirement to infiltrate the Media Dimension again to defeat his arch-nemesis Rez.

Much of the Gex's abilities from the original side-scrolling platformer was updated for 3D, along with a free-form movement and multiple camera options. Along with using his tail to perform a spinning whip attack, he can attack using a flying karate kick.

The game also received a handheld adaptation for the Game Boy Color in December 1998. Developed by David A. Palmer Productions and published by Crave Entertainment (Company), this version is a side-scrolling platformer somewhat similar to the original Gex.

The PS1 version later received a digital PlayStation Network re-release (as a PSone Classics title) in Europe on October 5, 2011 and in North America on February 4, 2014. It was also included in the Gex Trilogy compilation on June 16, 2025.

Gameplay

No game is complete without zombies

Gameplay revolved around collecting remotes by completing objectives or reaching the end of a level. These were red remotes that were collected as Gex completed either specific objectives that, when selected from the TV in the hub world Gex would receive a clue for, though any objective could be completed regardless of what hint was chosen. These remotes served a similar function to Mario 64's Power Stars or Banjo-Kazooie's Jiggies.

There are also white or silver remotes that are unlocked either by collecting 3 different tiers of items which varied from level to level, but always had some joke attached to them or amusing significance, or by finding the hidden white remote in a level. These remotes unlocked the special stage areas where the player can unlock yellow remotes that when every remote was collected, the "true" ending of the game was shown when the player defeats REX in the final boss.

The game largely revolved around its 3D platforming. Gex has a variety of moves at his disposal to defeat enemies. Between the spin attack where he would spin his tail around in a sweeping motion, the coil jump which had the added bonus of launching Gex further up (though slowing his forward momentum) and the kung-fu kick which launched Gex forward straight into his enemy but inflicting slightly more damage than a spin kick, Gex was sorted.

Camera control and player movement can be controlled with both left and right analog sticks as well as the D-pad and shoulder buttons. Entering a first person mode is done when both shoulders are held. The game also has a Metroid-style password system so that those who could not (or did not) use a memory card could carry over their remote completion over to their next play session. This, however, did not save the number of extra lives.

Levels

Unlike the overworld of the original Gex (Game), Enter the Gecko features a large hub-world for moving between levels. Each level is themed based on different TV and film genres:

Toon TV - Themed after classic slapstick cartoons.
Scream TV - A tongue-in-cheek homage to classic horror movies.
Circuit Central - Set inside a futuristic computer-styled world.
Kung-Fu Theater - Themed after Asian kung fu films. May contain stereotypes.
Rocket Channel - Science-fiction levels set in outer space, with Gex wearing a spacesuit. Unlike other levels, he has to deal with a limited, refillable air supply.
Pre-History Channel - Levels with an ancient prehistoric theme.
Rezopolis - A nightmarish sci-fi theme.
Sea-Span - Underwater theme, with Gex scuba diving near the Titanic. Exclusive to the N64 version.

Levels

First Section

Toon TV: Out of Toon
Sea Span: Gecques Cousteau (N64 version only)
Scream TV: Smellraiser
Boss TV: Gilligex Island (unlocks after 3 Red Remotes)

Second Section

Circuit Central: www.dotcom.com
Kung-Fu Theater: Mao Tse Tongue
Scream TV: Frankensteinfeld
Boss TV: Mooshoo Pork (unlocks after 9 Red Remotes)

Third Section

Pre-History Channel: Pangaea 90210
Rocket Channel: The Umpire Strikes Out
Toon TV: Fine Tooning

Fourth Section

Circuit Central: Honey I Shrunk the Gecko
Pre-History Channel: This Old Cave
Scream TV: Poltergex (unavailable in the N64 version)
Boss TV: Gexzilla vs. Mecharez (unlocks after 21 Red Remotes)

Fifth Section

Kung-Fu Theater: Samurai Night Fever
Rezopolis: No Weddings and a Funeral
Rocket Channel: Pain in the Asteroids
Boss TV: Channel Z (unlocks after 33 red remotes)

Bonus Bonanza

These levels are unlocked by collecting Silver Remotes, and are used to earn Gold Remotes. Most have unique themes, such as Aztec 2 Step being an Indiana Jones (Franchise) parody.

Aztec 2 Step
Thursday the 12th
In Drag Net
The Spy Who Loved Himself
I Got the Reruns (unavailable in the N64 version)
Trouble in Uranus (unavailable in the N64 version)
Bugged Out
Lizard in a China Shop
Chips and Dips

Secret Station

These levels are unlocked by collecting Gold Remotes, and include hidden video tapes that unlockes bonus FMV cutscenes. They are not included in the N64 version.

Scream TV: Texas Chainsaw Manicure
Pre-Historic Channel: Lava Daba Doo
Rezopolis: Mazed and Confused

Game Boy Color Port

The Game Boy Color port of the game features the same stages as the console versions but are much smaller in size. The Game Boy Color port is also played in a 2D side-scrolling style rather than the polygonal 3D platforming of the console versions.

Reception

The game was reviewed rather poorly, being compared to Mario 64 and criticized sharply for poor audio, repetition and poor dialogue. Jeff Gerstmann reviewed it at a 6/10 mentioning that its redeeming qualities stemmed mostly from stealing concepts from Mario 64 and ended with:

"I'm hesitant to call it a good game, but one thing's for sure - it's better than Croc."

Similar Games

No games found