Gex

Gex for PlayStation is the 1995 conversion of Crystal Dynamics’ television-themed 2D platform game, ported by Beam Software. It stars Gex, a fast-talking gecko whose quiet life of television watching ends when Rez, ruler of the Media Dimension, pulls him through the screen. Rez intends to turn the captive lizard into a network mascot, so Gex must work his way through a surreal broadcast world and find the route home. This is the first game in the Gex series, rather than the later 3D PlayStation adventures Gex: Enter the Gecko and Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko.

The PlayStation game is a single-player side-scrolling platformer built around Gex’s animal-inspired movement. He runs and jumps across hazards, swats enemies and objects with a broad tail attack, and uses his tongue to take in certain items. His most distinctive skill is the ability to cling to suitable walls and ceilings, turning surfaces above and beside the player into possible routes. That mechanic changes how stages are read: a path that appears to end at a pit or tall wall may continue around it if Gex can get a grip.

Progress comes from searching each stage for television remote controls. These remotes open further parts of the Media Dimension and lead toward the confrontation with Rez. The game’s themed channels frame its locations, using television and film genre parodies for settings such as horror, cartoons, jungle adventure and martial-arts action. Stages mix ordinary platform jumps with switches, enemies, moving obstacles and concealed areas, so exploration is as important as simply reaching the exit. Hidden portals can also lead to bonus challenges, and thorough play can uncover pieces needed for an optional secret destination.

Gex has limited health and lives, while collectible items can help him survive or alter the moment-to-moment action. Some power-ups give him temporary advantages or projectile attacks; he can choose to consume certain items with his tongue or strike them with his tail for a different benefit. Collecting golden flies contributes toward extra lives. The PlayStation release uses a password-based method for recording progress, in contrast to the original 3DO version’s save system, making the acquisition of passwords and discoveries within stages especially useful during a long run.

The Media Dimension’s premise also supports the game’s constant stream of spoken quips. Comedian Dana Gould provides Gex’s voice, giving the character television-flavored jokes and comments as he moves through the genre-based worlds. Crystal Dynamics originally created Gex for the 3DO before the game was brought to PlayStation and Sega Saturn; Beam Software handled the PlayStation conversion and contributed its own porting team. The PS1 edition therefore captures an early mascot platformer in its original 2D form: a game of tail attacks, ceiling crawling, remote hunting and TV-saturated worlds that established the foundation for the series.