Gex Part II: Enter the Gecko

While the original Gex holds a special place in my heart for being the first 2D platformer I played, Gex: Enter the Gecko is much more nostalgic for me. It reminds me of being nine years old, playing Enter the Gecko after completing schoolwork, and listening to Spice Girls. It's honestly one of the best memories from my childhood. Because of all the nostalgia surrounding this game, it was a pure joy to research. Hope y'all enjoy it too! Basics Gex: Enter the Gecko, aka Gex 64, is a 3D platformer for the PlayStation and N64. Gex was also ported to the Game Boy Color, which I'll discuss later. It was produced by Eidos and developed by Crystal Dynamics. Later it was released on the PS Store for PlayStation 3, PSP, and PS Vita. Speaking of releases, this has one of the most enigmatic release dates I have come across, as I had to use reviews and previews to triangulate the date. From what I can tell, the PlayStation version was launched some time in January or February 1998. The N64 version was release a couple of months later in August. It also seems that the Game Boy Color version was released alongside the PlayStation version. Development

The development of Gex: Enter the Gecko isn't as crystal clear as the first game, mainly because Gregg Tavares didn't end up working on the second game (check out part I for his story). Honestly, a lot of the staff from the first game didn't reprise their roles for the second. I think this has to do with two things. First, they probably needed programmers who had experience working with 3D. Second, remember the first game was a development hell. I imagine it left a bad taste in some people's mouths. Previews For this section I'll be going in order of publishing dates. The first article by IGN was from July 1997. It is mainly about release dates for the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 versions. The author states that N64 users could see the game as early as Q1 1998, although it could be until Q2. More interestingly, it mentions that Midway would be publishing and developing the game.

GamePro's July '97 preview provided readers with some basic information about the game. Most of which I have already covered. That said, two facts stood out to me: Writer for the Simpsons, Rob Cohen, wrote the lines for Gex this time around and Enter the Gecko would have "incredible" graphics with 115 animations.

In October they previewed the game again. Of the combat they say the analog controller is the best way to play the game. The only problem they could find was the camera angles. The final version was set to correct this with a customized view. The graphics and sound were "Nintendo quality on the PlayStation." Overall, the game made great use of 3D and was fun to play.

In an article titled "Gex teams up with Sub-Zero", OPSM covered the new partnership Crystal Dynamics has with Midway. Basically, this partnership gave Midway exclusive rights to distribute Crystal Dynamics. It appears that IGN was wrong; Midway wasn't developing the game. Overall, it was a symbiotic relationship: Midway got more diverse games than just arcade ports and Crystal Dynamics got distribution power. IGN's article from January 1998 is very detailed, although the majority of it regards the graphics. They felt the game looked and ran so good it would be giving Sony's flagship Crash Bandicoot a run for its money. The game, of course, ends up compared to Mario 64, although they believed it looked better. PlayStation Reviews Since there are some key differences between the PlayStation and N64 versions, I'll be dividing my reviews section.

IGN felt the game was a lot of fun with a ton of replay value. Their only gripe were the controls, which are admittedly bad. They believed the controls were too loose and could have used some more fine tuning. That said, the graphics were wonderfully cartoony and looked impressive. The amount of levels, with more than two dozen, also impressed. Overall, they liked the game and gave the it a "great" score with an 8 out of 10.

The other reviews were more tempered. GameSpot's (former) Jeff Gerstmann gave the game a 6 out of 10. He was not a fan of the near constant wise cracks from Gex. While Enter the Gecko is technically a decent game, the one liners drug down the game overall, especially considering Gex's humor was a major selling point. Nintendo 64 Reviews The reviews for the Nintendo 64 version are all over the map, although with some similar themes. The most positive review comes from Nintendo Official Magazine, with a score of 78%. Their biggest gripe was that Enter the Gecko was too easy. Other than that, they loved the character and found the game to be an "ace platformer." Nintendo Power gave Gex: Enter the Gecko a similar score with a 7.5 out of 10. They found the graphics to have a lot of detail and the sound "well suited." The author found Dana Gould's one liners funny and "sometimes surprising." Of the controls, they were felt to be adequate. Overall, the game was an enjoyable experience. IGN had a more negative outlook, calling the game "mediocre." They enjoyed the wise cracks, although the author wasn't a fan of how often they happened. The player ends up hearing the same jokes several times in a level due to the limitations of the N64. The graphics on the N64 version are also sub-par, leaving the reviewer to feel that the port was rushed. They state that the graphics looked much better on the PlayStation. They also found Gex's controls more than a little frustrating, taking the game down to a 5.7. GameSpot gave the game an even more negative review. Not only did they think the game looked better on the PlayStation, but they felt the gameplay for Enter the Gecko was lacking overall. Their main issue was the depth perception in game. It is very difficult to judge how far from an enemy...or anything you are. The limitations of the camera didn't help. Overall, they gave the game a 4.7 out of 10. CVG's review was pretty damning. They felt that Gex was meant solely for the American market, stating: " The European market hasn't warmed to him as much" and "...that lingering sound of the cheesy Yank voice is always with us." Seems that Gex's style of humor didn't necessarily translate to other regions. They gave Gex 64 a 2 out of 5, declaring the game as just another platformer.

Arcade Magazine took it a step further than everyone else and called the game outright "terrible." They believed the overall execution was amateurish and felt like "somebody's GCSE project." They note that an extra level ("Titanic") was added to Gex 64, although they felt its execution was the poorest and most glitchy. Overall, they called the game's wisecracks "as amusing as a fake-positive in a pregnancy test." Yeah, they really didn't like Gex 64...and potentially had something serious going on in their life. Are you okay Martin Kitts?

Game Boy Color Version It was difficult to find a lot on the Game Boy Color version of Gex: Enter the Gecko. I did find a preview and review in Total Game Boy magazine though. The preview was featured in the first issue of the mag. They note that the game will have multiple paths and objectives per level, just like its console counterpart. It would also be backwards compatible with other Game Boy models. Overall, the author seemed genuinely enthused for the game. Total Game Boy's review was overall positive, although they note that the console version got mixed reviews. They point out the game didn't translate well to a 3D environment and that going back to 2D was the way to go: "With the problem of dodgy camera angles...out of the way, there is little to detract from the enjoyable platform adventure..." Overall, they gave the game a 90%. In their opinion, if you want the superior port of Enter the Gecko, get the GBC version. Modern Reception Gex's reputation hasn't improved over the years. That said, there is still a lot to like and a LOT of nostalgia for this game. Nerd Bacon's article acknowledges this. That said, the controls and camera drag the game down to mediocrity. While it is a sub par game, Gex has a following for a reason. It has a lot of charm for what it is.

Hardcore Gaming 101 felt similarly. In their in depth retrospective, they note the game's shortcomings while acknowledging the nostalgia and charm surrounding Enter the Gecko. Their main gripe was the camera, which can indeed make or break a game. In this case, it broke the game for this reviewer. That isn't to say their wasn't fun to be had, just that it was tempered by the camera.

They note some interesting facts about the N64 port as well. This was apparently Crystal Dynamics first cartridge game and many cuts needed to be made in order for the game to fit. They ended up cutting the FMV scenes and the 3D title menu. Worse still, his lines dropped to about 5-6 at any one time and sound quality was also sacrificed. At least the N64 version has that Titanic level, eh?

I recommend reading both of these retrospectives. There is also an article by Kotaku titled "Gex Makes For A Weird Speedrun." While it offers no new information, it's an amusing read. As always, these can be found in the sources below.

Conclusion Sure, Gex: Enter the Gecko isn't perfect. Far from it. However, it does have a cult following for a reason. The game has charm, no matter how poorly those wise-cracks have aged. More over, so many in my generation grew up playing this game. Give it a try if you are curious. However, I speak from experience; just avoid the N64 version.

Basics - https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/08/26/gex-ships (release date for n64) - https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/07/29/n64-enter-the-gecko (dates) - https://www.giantbomb.com/gex-enter-the-gecko/3030-11371/ (date) - https://tcrf.net/Gex:_Enter_the_Gecko_(PlayStation) (dates) - Moby Development - https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/07/29/n64-enter-the-gecko (pushed back 64) - https://tcrf.net/Gex:_Enter_the_Gecko_(PlayStation) Previews (dates) - https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/07/29/n64-enter-the-gecko - GamePro Issue 106, page 40 (7-97) - GamePro Issue 109, page 76 (10-97) - OPSM October 97 Issue, page 18 - https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/01/07/gex-2-enter-the-gecko-2 Reviews - https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/08/24/gex-2-enter-the-gecko (8) - https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/gex-enter-the-gecko-review/1900-2545961/ (6) - http://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-583-38.jpg (64)

- http://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-583-39.jpg (64) 78% - http://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-354-104.jpg (64) 7.5 - https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/09/11/gex-enter-the-gecko-2 (64) 5.7 - https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/gex-64-enter-the-gecko-review/1900-2543663/ (64) 4.7 - http://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-1486-60.jpg (64) 2/5 - http://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-660-147.jpg (From Arcade 1 Magazine) (NEG) Game Boy Version - Total Game Boy Issue 1, page 45 (preview) - Total Game Boy Issue 2, page 37 (review) Modern Reception - http://nerdbacon.com/gex-64-enter-the-gecko-nintendo-64/ (6/10) - http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/gex-enter-the-gecko/ - https://tcrf.net/Gex_64:_Enter_the_Gecko - https://kotaku.com/gex-makes-for-a-weird-speedrun-1826901068