Gex (series)
Gex | |
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![]() Logotype for the first game | |
Genre(s) | Platform |
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First release | Gex April 1995 |
Latest release | Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko March 23, 1999 |
Gex is a platform video game trilogy, developed by Crystal Dynamics, that details the adventures of an anthropomorphic gecko named Gex. He has served as the mascot of Crystal Dynamics, appearing on their company logo for several years until 2000. In the North American version, Gex is voiced by comedian Dana Gould throughout the entire series; the United Kingdom version features Gould, Leslie Phillips and Danny John-Jules as Gex's voice throughout the series. Gex was voiced by Mitsuo Senda for the Japanese release of the second game.[1]
The games are largely inspired by American TV culture. Gex contributes to the games with wise-cracking remarks laced with media and references to popular culture.
Gex appears as an unlockable character in the North American and European versions of Hot Shots Golf 2 and Mad Dash Racing.
The Gex series has sold a combined total of over 15 million copies for all platforms.[2]
Sony Interactive Entertainment published Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko on October 1, 2009,[3] Gex on November 5, 2009,[4] and Gex: Enter the Gecko on February 4, 2014[5] under the PS one Classics banner in the PlayStation Network. The ports are compatible with the PlayStation 3, Portable and Vita. Additionally, Square Enix published Gex at GOG.com, a distribution platform for legacy games, on October 16, 2014.[6]
Plot[]
Gex is a gecko who has a passion for television which makes him a target for the cybernetic being Emperor Rez. Emperor Rez is determined to overthrow The Media Dimension, the "world" of television.
Games[]
Game | GameRankings |
---|---|
Gex | (3DO) 79.58%[7] (PC) 71.00%[8] (SS) 69.35%[9] (PS1) 63.33%[10] |
Gex: Enter the Gecko | (PS1) 81.70%[11] (N64) 60.50%[12] (GBC) 57.00%[13] |
Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko | (PS1) 77.20%[14] (GBC) 70.60%[15] (N64) 65.13%[16] |
Gex (1995)[]
Gex: Enter the Gecko (1998)[]
Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko (1999)[]
Characters[]
- Gex is a smart aleck, wise-cracking gecko who lives with his family in Maui, Hawaii. He spends his days with his friends, surfing, playing the ukulele and throwing poi parties down on the beach with the local lady lizards. After his father's death, he begins watching mass amounts of TV to get over the tragedy.[17] He eventually inherits over twenty billion dollars from his deceased great uncle, and buys the world's largest television. He has his own island hideaway called the GEXCave located in the South Pacific.[18] His catchphrase is "It's tail time!", due to his primary attack being tail whips. Gex is voiced by Dana Gould in all three installments in North America. The PAL (European and Australian game formats) versions feature three separate voice actors; Dana Gould in the original game, Leslie Phillips in the second game, and Danny John-Jules in the third game.
- Rez is a megalomaniac, cybernetic entity, and the main antagonist of the series. His one true ambition is to control the entire Media Dimension under his own control and ensure the longevity of bad TV shows and Z-Grade movies. His entire essence is made up of Liquid Rez, liquid noise spread throughout the series. He also claims to be Gex's father as a homage to Star Wars. Rez is voiced by Bruce Robertson.
- Agent Xtra is Gex's crime-fighting partner, who also loves TV as well. She is kidnapped by Rez, and communicates to Gex through video signals in mission control. She is portrayed in live-action sequences by Marliece Andrada.
- Alfred is Gex's butler. He is a turtle who wears a bow tie and glasses. He provides Gex with constant help to defeat Rez. He is voiced by Marc Silk.
- Rex is a small, red Tyrannosaurus rex and Gex's prehistoric ancestor.[19] He is frozen in a block of ice at the "Holiday Broadcasting" channel that Gex melts to set him free.
- Cuz is Gex's overweight cousin[19] and seems to be a leopard gecko. He is saved by Gex after being locked in a cage by the gangsters at the "Gangsters TV" channel.
- Gex's Dad who works for NASA by doing various research projects. He and ten other volunteers are chosen to eat tapioca pudding in zero gravity, though their rocket explodes due to a Band-Aid floating into one of the fuel tanks, killing them. His mother later moves to California, and after gaining money inherited from Gex's great-uncle, Charlie, she purchases 51 percent ownership in NASA, fires everyone, sells the rockets to some third world countries, and converts Mission Control into "Space Monkeys", a theme restaurant featuring robotic dancing chimps wearing spacesuits.[17] In the novel, Rez claims that he is Gex's real father and became the way he was after the explosion, whether this is true or not is unclear, although Rez makes the same claim in Gex 2 but with a different story (saying he fell into a scrapheap while trying to get free cable).
Future[]
A fourth entry was in development for the PS2 but was canceled, with only concept art existing of the project.[20] In February 2015, Square Enix announced that it will allow developers to create games based on some of their old Eidos intellectual properties via the Square Enix Collective project, including the Gex intellectual property.[21] On December 15, 2021, Square Enix filed a new Gex trademark in the European Union.[22][23]
References[]
- ^ "Gex: Enter the Gecko (1998) Trivia". MobyGames.
- ^ Harradence, Michael (2011-06-23). "Inside PlayStation Network - Gex". PlayStation Universe. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
- ^ https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-NPUJ00806_00-0000000000000001
- ^ "Archived copy". store.playstation.com. Archived from the original on 20 March 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-NPUJ00598_00-0000000000000001
- ^ "Gex".
- ^ "Gex Reviews". GameRankings. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
- ^ "Gex Reviews". GameRankings. Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
- ^ "Gex Reviews". GameRankings. Archived from the original on January 10, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
- ^ "Gex Reviews". GameRankings. Archived from the original on September 9, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
- ^ "Gex: Enter the Gecko Reviews". GameRankings. Archived from the original on September 10, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
- ^ "Gex 64: Enter the Gecko Reviews". GameRankings. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
- ^ "Gex: Enter the Gecko Reviews". GameRankings. Archived from the original on December 16, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
- ^ "Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko Reviews". GameRankings. Archived from the original on November 23, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
- ^ "Gex 3: Deep Pocket Gecko Reviews". GameRankings. Archived from the original on November 23, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
- ^ "Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko Reviews". GameRankings. Archived from the original on November 23, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
- ^ a b PlayStation Gex instruction booklet, p. 6-10
- ^ Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko instruction booklet, p. 2 (PDF)
- ^ a b Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko instruction booklet, p. 9
- ^ "Gex 4 [PS2 – Cancelled]". 2009-07-13. Archived from the original on July 16, 2009. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
- ^ "First Eidos IPs made available via Square Enix Collective". Square Enix Collective. Archived from the original on September 26, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
- ^ "Fan Favorite Square Enix Franchise Might be Making a Return".
- ^ "6 Video Game Revivals We Might Actually See in 2022". 31 December 2021.
External links[]
- Gex (series)
- Fictional chameleons and geckos
- Square Enix franchises
- Video game franchises
- Video game franchises introduced in 1994