PLAYSTATION Action Platformer 1998

Gex: Enter the Gecko

Reviewed by Marcus Webb & Elena Castillo · Updated June 2025

Crystal Dynamics' 1998 PS1 3D platformer — Gex: Enter the Gecko follows the wisecracking gecko into the Media Dimension to defeat Rez across themed television worlds. Gecko wall-crawling and tail whip combat in a pop-culture-reference-heavy adventure that was one of PS1's notable 3D platformers alongside Spyro and Crash.

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💡 Gex: Enter the Gecko — Key Facts

→ Gex: Enter the Gecko was developed by Crystal Dynamics and published by Midway
→ Released in 1998 on PLAYSTATION
→ Genre: Action, Platformer
→ We rate it 8.2/10 — highly recommended
→ Crystal Dynamics' 1998 PS1 3D platformer — Gex: Enter the Gecko follows the wisecracking gecko into the Media Dimension to defeat Rez across themed television worlds. Gecko wall-crawling and tail whip combat in a pop-culture-reference-heavy adventure that was one of PS1's notable 3D platformers alongside Spyro and Crash.

Overview

Gex the gecko climbs everything. The floor is navigable; so is the wall. So is the ceiling. The television-themed world is three-dimensional in a way most 1998 PS1 platformers couldn’t offer — not just height and depth but overhead routes, vertical shortcuts, inverted platforms.

The one-liners start immediately and don’t stop.

The Surfaces

Most 3D platformers of 1998 used floors and elevated platforms. Gex adds walls and ceilings as navigable terrain.

The vertical surface routes bypass obstacles entirely. A gap with an enemy guarding the floor passage has a wall-crawl route around the side. A ceiling section above hazardous floor terrain is a legitimate route. The geometry of levels designed for gecko adhesion creates options that floor-only movement wouldn’t have.

The novelty diminishes as the mechanic becomes expected. But early stages — discovering that the ceiling is walkable — provide genuine platformer surprise.

The Television

Kung fu films. Horror B-movies. Spy thrillers. Cartoons. Each television genre generates different enemy types, different visual aesthetics, and — most distinctively — different categories of one-liner.

Dana Gould’s voice performance covers hundreds of lines across all genres. The horror world gets horror movie commentary. The kung fu world gets action film quips. The breadth of recording was the game’s marketing pitch.

The references are 1997-era dense. Some land for players who share the reference frame; others land differently with twenty-five years of distance. The volume ensures enough successful jokes even as the percentage of current-cultural-relevance decreases.

The 1990s Mascot

1997-1998 had Crash, Spyro, and Gex as the PS1’s non-Nintendo 3D platformer competitors. Crash was more successful. Spyro was more beloved. Gex was more wisecracking.

Crystal Dynamics abandoned the franchise before Gex 3 and turned toward Tomb Raider. The wisecracking gecko found a devoted small fanbase that has waited through decades for a revival that a 2023 IP acquisition suggests may eventually arrive.

Our Review

8.2

Excellent / 10

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Gameplay

★★★★★

🎨

Graphics

★★★★★

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Audio

★★★★★

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Replay

★★★★★

Gameplay

Gex: Enter the Gecko is a third-person 3D platformer where Gex the gecko must collect remotes across television-themed worlds to power a transmitter and escape the Media Dimension. Gex can climb all surfaces — floors, walls, ceilings — using his gecko grip ability. Combat uses tail whip attacks in all directions. Special moves include a fly-catching tongue attack, a belly flop ground pound, and a firebreathing power-up. Worlds are themed after television genres: horror movies, kung fu films, sci-fi, cartoons, and 1970s TV. Each world contains multiple remote collectibles and a boss encounter. Gex's constant pop-culture one-liners comment on the television settings throughout.

Graphics

Gex: Enter the Gecko's PS1 3D visuals are representative of 1997-1998 PlayStation 3D platformer quality — colorful environments, varied world aesthetics, and decent character animation. The television parody visual themes create variety across worlds.

Audio

The Gex: Enter the Gecko soundtrack provides world-appropriate music — horror movie atmosphere, cartoon energy, kung fu film drama. Gex's constant one-liner audio commentary is the game's most distinctive audio element — the quips are genre-specific and reference 1990s pop culture.

Replayability

Television-themed worlds with 100% remote collection and the complete one-liner audio. Enter the Gecko was the second Gex game (the original Gex was 3DO/PS1, 1995 — a 2D game).

Historical Significance

Gex: Enter the Gecko (1997 N64; 1998 PS1) is the second entry in the Gex franchise and the franchise's 3D transition. Crystal Dynamics created Gex as their mascot platformer — a direct competitor to Crash Bandicoot (PS1) and Banjo-Kazooie (N64). The PS1 version was developed from the N64 original. Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko (PS1/N64, 1999) completed the trilogy. The franchise was abandoned after Gex 3; Crystal Dynamics later became Eidos Interactive and is known for Tomb Raider. Gex represented a 1990s era of mascot platformers where every publisher sought a Sonic or Mario competitor.

✅ Pros

+ Gecko wall-crawling on all surfaces creates unique platformer movement
+ Television parody worlds create variety and humor
+ Constant pop-culture one-liners from Dana Gould's voice performance
+ Ground pound and tongue attacks create combat variety
+ One of PS1's more polished non-Sony mascot platformers

❌ Cons

- Pop-culture references dated from late 1990s perspective
- One-liners trigger frequently and become repetitive
- 3D camera of the era can be problematic in enclosed spaces
- Franchise abandoned after Gex 3 without resolution

Also Known As

Gex Enter the Gecko PS1Gex 2 Enter the Gecko

Gex: Enter the Gecko FAQ

What is the wall-crawling mechanic in Gex: Enter the Gecko?

Gex's gecko anatomy allows him to climb and adhere to any surface — floors, walls, and ceilings are all navigable by walking. Pressing Gex against a vertical surface causes him to begin climbing; pressing against a ceiling causes him to walk upside down. This traversal capability creates platformer geometry impossible for characters without adhesive abilities. Sections designed specifically for wall-crawling include vertical tower ascents, ceiling-crossing sections above hazards, and wall-path routes that bypass floor obstacles. The mechanic differentiates Gex from contemporaries — Crash Bandicoot can't climb walls; Spyro can glide but not adhere. Gex's three-dimensional surface coverage creates discovery possibilities in environments where routes exist on surfaces players might not initially check.

What are the television-themed worlds in Gex: Enter the Gecko?

Gex: Enter the Gecko's worlds are themed after television genres and films. The Rezopolis Channel is the hub world connecting all others. Themed worlds include: a horror movie world (horror film tropes, zombie enemies, monster B-movies), a kung fu film world (Hong Kong action cinema parody, martial arts combatants), a spy/James Bond world (espionage parody), a sci-fi world (space opera aesthetics), a cartoon world (animation-style visual distortions), a natural history documentary world, and a 1970s TV world (period-specific aesthetic). Each world's visuals and enemies reflect the television genre being parodied. Gex's one-liners within each world are genre-specific — horror movie commentary in the horror world, kung fu film quips in the kung fu world.

Who voices Gex and what is the one-liner system?

Gex is voiced by Dana Gould in the English version — a comedian who recorded hundreds of pop-culture reference one-liners that play throughout the game. Gex comments on his environment, actions, enemies, and situations with quips referencing 1990s television, films, celebrities, and cultural moments. The one-liners trigger based on actions and situations: entering a new area, defeating specific enemies, collecting items, staying idle. The sheer volume of recorded one-liners was marketed as a feature — Crystal Dynamics promoted the number of unique voice lines. The humor was aimed at 1990s pop culture literate adults rather than children, which differentiated Gex from competitor mascots with more child-friendly personalities. By 2024, many references are dated enough to require context.

Is Gex: Enter the Gecko available on modern platforms?

Gex: Enter the Gecko is not currently available on any major modern digital storefront. The Gex franchise's rights changed hands multiple times after Crystal Dynamics transitioned to other projects — the status of the IP has been unclear for years. In 2023, Limited Run Games announced they had acquired the Gex IP, suggesting potential re-releases, but no digital storefront listing has been published. Original PS1 discs are available through retro game stores at moderate prices. N64 cartridges are similarly available. The franchise's revival prospects improved with the Limited Run Games announcement, but as of 2025 the games remain primarily physical access. The original Gex (2D platformer, 3DO/PS1, 1995) and Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko are in the same IP situation.