Playing Gex again is a reminder of a simpler time for gaming - Reader's Feature
A reader welcomes the return of PS1 platformer Gex and reminiscences over both a childhood favourite and an era when video games weren't so demanding.
This week, a game trilogy has been re-released which is very dear to me but seemingly very few people have even heard of: Gex – where a gecko is tasked with saving television from the evil robot Rez.
This is good news, even if you don't know or care about Gex. Games are notoriously difficult to preserve. Playing old games today, without the hardware they originally ran on, can be a mission that quickly enters a legal grey area. Therefore, I am immensely grateful for companies like Limited Run Games giving some of these old games a new lease of life. Although it feels like only a minimum effort went into this one – note how I call it a re-release and not a remaster or remake.
The Switch version, in its current state, looks especially awful. At least they added some quality of life features, like being able to manually save whenever you want to, which can take the frustration out of some of the more challenging levels.
Gex was originally created by Crystal Dynamics, who took over the Tomb Raider franchise after Angel Of Darkness. Speaking of which, did you know that until the 2013 reboot, Lara's model was measured in Gexels? This is because the Tomb Raider games were made on a modified engine based on the one developed for Gex 3D: Enter The Gecko, which was heavily inspired by Super Mario 64 and in my opinion definitely doesn't have to stand in that game's shadow.
This is the game I played religiously as a child. I loved the tail-whipping gecko from the first moment I laid eyes on him, on my neighbour's PlayStation, and eventually got the game for PC. Once I also got the graphics card necessary to actually play it, I spent every minute of my allotted hour of computer time in the media dimension, where Gex hops into the different levels, which are pastiches of television genres and movies.
These range from haunted house horror to Looney Toons, kung fu movies, Star Wars, and many more. They are full of fun nods to their inspirations and Gex usually dresses for the occasion, be that fighting hunters as a bunny during 'Wabbit' season or wearing a hide and a bone although his nose in the Jurassic levels.
Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.
The animations and sound design made it so much fun to double jump around on Gex's spring-shaped tail, accompanied by a characteristic 'boioinnng!' And if you happened to land on some unfortunate enemy's head, they got flattened. Similarly, when jumping into a wall, Gex might hit his head and fall flat on his back with a splat, after which stars circle over his head, together with an 'oooww' sound. I'm definitely guilty of giving the poor gecko a few headaches.
The game also rewarded my urge to explore and while I failed a timed Indiana Jones style level a lot, because I spent my time marvelling at the snakeheads and skulls adorning the temple walls, imagine my elation when I discovered, in a horror level, that some bookshelves would turn when walking against them, revealing a lever that opened a new part of the level!
Of course. I also hunted down all the collectibles to earn all the TV remotes. With enough remotes you would unlock new levels and bosses and one of these has been living rent free in my head for over 20 years now: Gexzilla battling it out with Mecharez – complete with tanks and helicopters trying to defend the city that is getting destroyed in the process – epic!
The only thing that doesn't quite hit home for me is Gex's actual personality, especially when it comes to the voice lines, which trigger all the time. While the sound effects and animations are quite endearing, the comedian Dana Gould's quips are old-fashioned and feel weird to hear out of a gecko's mouth.
(It seems you were playing the US version. In the UK, Gex was originally voiced by Leslie Philips and then later Danny John-Jules. Their voices weren't in the initial re-release but are being added via a patch – GC)
And then there is the fact that a Gecko has implied relations with a human woman… ick. I guess it is a product of its time, much like the older James Bond films which inspired his personality, but I do have to give its makers credit for trying something different than 'Mamma mia.' More Trending
I love revisiting Gex because it reminds me of simpler days. Life is busier now and I rarely find the time or motivation anymore, to fully explore and complete today's often vast and complex games. Older games making a comeback shows us that there is a case for more simplicity. Being able to finish a game without it taking dozens of hours and eating up all your spare time is such a relief.
By reader Peter Schmid
The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.
You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email.
MORE: Video games are great for my mental and physical wellbeing - Reader's Feature
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Metro
4 hours ago
- Metro
Playing Gex again is a reminder of a simpler time for gaming - Reader's Feature
A reader welcomes the return of PS1 platformer Gex and reminiscences over both a childhood favourite and an era when video games weren't so demanding. This week, a game trilogy has been re-released which is very dear to me but seemingly very few people have even heard of: Gex – where a gecko is tasked with saving television from the evil robot Rez. This is good news, even if you don't know or care about Gex. Games are notoriously difficult to preserve. Playing old games today, without the hardware they originally ran on, can be a mission that quickly enters a legal grey area. Therefore, I am immensely grateful for companies like Limited Run Games giving some of these old games a new lease of life. Although it feels like only a minimum effort went into this one – note how I call it a re-release and not a remaster or remake. The Switch version, in its current state, looks especially awful. At least they added some quality of life features, like being able to manually save whenever you want to, which can take the frustration out of some of the more challenging levels. Gex was originally created by Crystal Dynamics, who took over the Tomb Raider franchise after Angel Of Darkness. Speaking of which, did you know that until the 2013 reboot, Lara's model was measured in Gexels? This is because the Tomb Raider games were made on a modified engine based on the one developed for Gex 3D: Enter The Gecko, which was heavily inspired by Super Mario 64 and in my opinion definitely doesn't have to stand in that game's shadow. This is the game I played religiously as a child. I loved the tail-whipping gecko from the first moment I laid eyes on him, on my neighbour's PlayStation, and eventually got the game for PC. Once I also got the graphics card necessary to actually play it, I spent every minute of my allotted hour of computer time in the media dimension, where Gex hops into the different levels, which are pastiches of television genres and movies. These range from haunted house horror to Looney Toons, kung fu movies, Star Wars, and many more. They are full of fun nods to their inspirations and Gex usually dresses for the occasion, be that fighting hunters as a bunny during 'Wabbit' season or wearing a hide and a bone although his nose in the Jurassic levels. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. The animations and sound design made it so much fun to double jump around on Gex's spring-shaped tail, accompanied by a characteristic 'boioinnng!' And if you happened to land on some unfortunate enemy's head, they got flattened. Similarly, when jumping into a wall, Gex might hit his head and fall flat on his back with a splat, after which stars circle over his head, together with an 'oooww' sound. I'm definitely guilty of giving the poor gecko a few headaches. The game also rewarded my urge to explore and while I failed a timed Indiana Jones style level a lot, because I spent my time marvelling at the snakeheads and skulls adorning the temple walls, imagine my elation when I discovered, in a horror level, that some bookshelves would turn when walking against them, revealing a lever that opened a new part of the level! Of course. I also hunted down all the collectibles to earn all the TV remotes. With enough remotes you would unlock new levels and bosses and one of these has been living rent free in my head for over 20 years now: Gexzilla battling it out with Mecharez – complete with tanks and helicopters trying to defend the city that is getting destroyed in the process – epic! The only thing that doesn't quite hit home for me is Gex's actual personality, especially when it comes to the voice lines, which trigger all the time. While the sound effects and animations are quite endearing, the comedian Dana Gould's quips are old-fashioned and feel weird to hear out of a gecko's mouth. (It seems you were playing the US version. In the UK, Gex was originally voiced by Leslie Philips and then later Danny John-Jules. Their voices weren't in the initial re-release but are being added via a patch – GC) And then there is the fact that a Gecko has implied relations with a human woman… ick. I guess it is a product of its time, much like the older James Bond films which inspired his personality, but I do have to give its makers credit for trying something different than 'Mamma mia.' More Trending I love revisiting Gex because it reminds me of simpler days. Life is busier now and I rarely find the time or motivation anymore, to fully explore and complete today's often vast and complex games. Older games making a comeback shows us that there is a case for more simplicity. Being able to finish a game without it taking dozens of hours and eating up all your spare time is such a relief. By reader Peter Schmid The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: Video games are great for my mental and physical wellbeing - Reader's Feature MORE: I'm going to say it: Mario Kart World is not as good as it should be – Reader's Feature MORE: As a former Xbox 360 owner I don't understand Xbox today - Reader's Feature
Metro
8 hours ago
- Metro
Video games are great for my mental and physical wellbeing - Reader's Feature
A reader breaks down the Switch 2 launch line-up and lists the mistakes he feels Nintendo has made, from the marketing to the prices. Video gaming has often been criticised in the media, with some attributing it to the escalation of violence and gun-related crimes. Whilst it is an easy target, I want to talk about how gaming's mental health effects are positive in many more ways than they are negative. In 2014, I was diagnosed as having bipolar disorder. Basically, I have severe mood swings – from deep depression, where just getting out of bed is impossible, to extreme highs where I think I can be Super Mario and take on anything! One hobby that makes a positive difference to me is video games. Gaming has been a huge part of my life and I have just picked up the Switch 2. I also play Xbox, Apple Arcade and retro games that take me back in time to my formative and happy gaming journey. My love of Nintendo, in particular, is one that has really helped me to remain stable. Just booting up my original Nintendo Switch, and now its successor, I get a feeling of happiness and contentment as I see the Nintendo logo once more. Familiarity is important to human beings. It is about a connection. It helps us to feel safe when we recognise something that we have grown to trust. Keeping my mind active is important to my wellbeing. Games such as Brain Training, for example, have kept my mind focused with memory games being a positive force in keeping cognitive skills strong. Mario Kart World delights and excites me and makes my brain release serotonin that is important for a healthy mind. The colours, the music, the ease of play are all conducive to positive mental health. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. The introduction of GameChat has allowed me to catch up with old friends and laugh out loud together, as we battle it out in knockout games for hours on end. Laughter is such a positive release for us all, and it always makes me feel so much better. Then there are fitness games such as Ring Fit Adventure, where you can game and keep fit at the same time! Exercise is vital for physical and mental wellbeing and added to a hobby such as video gaming you can only benefit from the best of all worlds. First person shooters such as Doom Eternal help me because I can let off steam. I don't play Doom and suddenly think I must go out shooting things. It is a safe way to release tension and frustrations. I do not see the connection between that escapism and wanting to make it a reality. If I did, then if I ever reach the day where I start wanting to be a plumber and jump on squirrels in the park, I know it's the day my gaming has gone too far, and I stop playing Super Mario Bros.! Video games help educate, instruct, develop, and entertain. All of these things are vital for our mental and physical wellbeing and that applies to all ages. I am 47 years old and feel the same emotions as I did when I was just eight years old. From the moment I started gaming I can only say that it has been good for my mental health and I remain, and always will remain, grateful for that. I absolutely recommend gaming as an important tool for mental health wellbeing and recovery. More Trending Whilst it may still receive unwanted and often unwarranted attention, gaming isn't the force for bad that some would have us believe and I can only hope, that by sharing my experiences, that others will also come out and support gaming as a real force for good, now and in the future. By reader BaldB3lper The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: I'm going to say it: Mario Kart World is not as good as it should be – Reader's Feature MORE: As a former Xbox 360 owner I don't understand Xbox today - Reader's Feature MORE: The 5 worst mistakes of the Nintendo Switch 2 launch (and why it doesn't matter) - Reader's Feature
Metro
9 hours ago
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Pokémon North American International Championships 2025 report
The final national stage of the Pokémon championship season has ended with a tense showdown between US and Canadian teams. Pokémon competitive play reached fever pitch at this year's North America International Championships (NAIC), which was held in New Orleans last weekend and saw record numbers of competitors. The event is a vital checkpoint for Pokémon pros en route to the 2025 World Championships, and is the last chance for competitive Pokémon players aiming for the World Championships, to be held in Anaheim Californian in August. The fact that the Grimmsnarl ex deck – with its spooky VooDoo green and purple card art – from the new and extremely popular Destined Rivals set was the talk of the meta couldn't have been more fitting for The Big Easy. The Pokémon World Championships began in 2004 and focused primarily on the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), but it has since grown to include dedicated competitions for Pokémon video games, such as Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Pokémon Go, and Pokémon Unite. Every year, as a precursor to what is known to competitors as Worlds, Pokémon players from around the globe battle it out for the chance to earn championship points for both the TCG and Video Game Championships (VGC). I spoke to Chris Brown, Director of Global Esports and Events Producer at The Pokémon Company International, on how to make these events easily accessible to viewers at home: 'New for this event we have, for the first time, built in closed captions, but not just closed captions in English, we've also generated them in French, Italian, German, and Spanish. 'I think that's super important too, because it makes the game more accessible. Maybe you start to play again as you're watching somebody play online, you start to feel like you're almost in one community with them. 'We're constantly playing with those things and trying to evolve. Going past that, we have things like Twitch drops, viewer rewards… we've given a little carrot out there for you maybe to load the game up and bring somebody back into the game who hasn't played it for a little while. We're constantly playing with those things and trying to evolve the viewership and the at-home experience for our fans.' Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. NAIC 2025 saw over 6,2000 competitors, registered from over 50 countries (including 40 from the UK), in what is now the largest Pokémon tournament outside of Asia. In these highly competitive tournaments, each game has its own format and set of rules, including different divisions for pros, seniors, and juniors. Cash prizes are determined based on the amount of players in each tournament, with a prize pool of over $500,000 (£371,000). In order to qualify for the Pokémon TCG World Championships, a player must earn an invitation by gaining enough championship points by the end of the competitive season, through placing high enough or winning official Pokémon tournaments. After a busy initial two days of competitive play, Sunday saw an early start for the MOBA style Pokémon Unite and the Final Stretch competition, where Team Luminosity (Canada) did it again in their third win in a row this year and one of the most brutal eSports matches I've ever seen. The score at one point was 1,231 to 11 and sometimes it looked personal between these two North American teams. Sean 'Slash' Tucker, captain of Luminosity, told me: 'It's incredible to win all three ICs so fa,r for Pokémon Unite, but we're not done making history.' Things slowed right down for the final of Pokémon Go, which came down to a best of five featuring two North American players: 'Unstoppable' Ilqm and ItsAXN – with the Lapras vs. Lapras showdown we all wanted to see. Former World Champion ItsAXN proved superior, with a 3-0 sweep to become the first Pokémon Go trainer to win two international competitions. From the kitchen table to the TCG Juniors Final, things took an adorable and unique turn with two siblings, Annabelle and Kenji Oono, facing off after a special family handshake. Dragapult ex reigned supreme with Annabelle beating her brother but giving him a consolatory hug. I spoke to Annabelle just after her win: 'It felt amazing, it felt like a dream because it's just so hard to get to this goal and it felt like we've both won.' TCG Masters saw championship staple Gardevoir ex come to the fore, as two North American players went head-to-head. Riley McKay vs. Isaiah Bradner was extremely close, as they pulled out plenty of Munkidori for psychic damage with VooDoo Mind Bend and Adrena-Brain abilities. Bradner pushed for the win, combining consistency, tech utility, and matchup resilience, which should serve as a blueprint for top-tier players heading into Worlds. In an exciting turn of events for European competitors, the Masters video game final was completely dominated by Italian players this year. While Marco took early terrain control, ultimately Frederico Camporesi, with his fairy electric Miradion/Lunala core, took the championship with another Miraidon win and an impressive prize of $15,000 (£11,000). So, this year strangely enough a European won the North American Championship, and an American won the European Championship. I spoke to Rose Gregson, in attendance from the UK and competing in TCG Masters, who ranked in the top eight at the Latin America International Championships. 'The Pokémon TCG community is gaining an incredible amount of new players very quickly, and I believe the Pokémon company is doing a good job of matching those expectations,' she said. 'Something that would support players of all levels would be the official Pokémon company hiring pro players to create educational content in how to improve at the game for the official channel, such as the recent WolfeyVGC and Cybertron collaboration stream they did for the VGC Grand Challenge. 'A similar idea on the official Pokémon stream would be during stream downtime to get players to review their own official stream matches, so they can walk through why they made the decisions they did. From the meta continuously evolving in a positive direction, I have hope that the three-prize Pokémon won't be as good as they previously were, however only time can tell from if they have learnt from past mistakes.' 'My favourite Pokemon currently is between Jolteon and Origin Form Magearna, however it changes all the time, with Gardevoir and Palafin in a close second!' During the event, there was a chance for North American players and spectators to visit the pop-up Pokémon Center, which was themed around the Year of Eevee celebration and packed with those keen to get their hands on some exclusive merchandise featuring Psyduck and Ogerpon. Personally, I was saving my pennies for the Worlds retro style merch, featuring a 1950s drive-in aesthetic. More Trending In addition to the Pokémon Center pop-up store, there were big queues for the origami workshop, board game area, and Play Lab – which allowed fans and visitors to learn the basics of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, and which for taking part you received a beautiful Glaceon pin. It's going to be a busy summer for trading card games, Star Wars Unlimited Galactic Championships is just around the corner, held for the first time in Las Vegas this July, and Disney's Lorcana World Championship is just a couple of weeks away, at the end of June. It's being held at Walt Disney World but is somewhat of a low-key affair, with only the 28 qualifying players invited and no public or press invites. There's nothing low key about Pokémon these days though, from the spectacular opening ceremony of NAIC, which showcased the best of Mardi Gras, to the increasing global recognition. Now all the Worlds slots have been filled, and the metagame continues to evolve, as the fierce matches, breakout decks, and format defining plays have finally paved the road to Anaheim. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: PS5 is more profitable than all other PlayStation consoles combined MORE: Every Nintendo Switch 2 launch game reviewed – all 25 games so far MORE: Switch 2 third party games sold 'below our lowest estimates' says publisher
