All we know is Summer 2025. Limited Run Games made it clear. They are making sure Gex Trilogy comes out this year. Usually I wouldn't throw any money towards Square Enix games in recent years. Considering they own Gex series I'm making an exception. Close to thirty years Gex series finally coming back through an compilation game.
I personally dislike how Square Enix does business. Not to mention how they treat their own fans among other major issues. In fact, I even put them on the same level as Nintendo in that regard. Both willing to treat their fans like crap by suddenly using their games like hostages. Neither takes kindly to fan stuff as well as people streaming their games including uploading em to YouTube.
I featured why not reveal the five things I wanna see in the upcoming Gex Trilogy. I don't usually do this topic since any reveals could remove one or more I wanted to see. Also there's other games I kept an eye on as well. I do think this will be an interesting selection. For those reading this especially if you're a Gex fan I hope you enjoy.
5. Ways to finding bonus areas in Gex 1 easier
I know I gotta explain this one. Unlike the sequels that made finding bonus & secret levels much easier. Gex 1 was quite secretive to the point you had to really go outta your way to find em. If that's not bad enough you need to be close to perfection to complete the bonus areas. Doing good enough gives you a few extra lifes as well as a remote for a level in the bonus world.
You need to know which levels within the worlds. Then trying to locate particular portals that lead to the bonus areas. It's virtually a needle in a hay stack. What makes this worst originally is the game doesn't tell you anything regarding it. Which means you could play most of the game to not know of the bonus areas well as the bonus world for that matter.
This is important because surprisingly it's required for an 100% completion. If you want to unlock the art work section in the ending credits. You have to do all this plus previously dealing with passwords in most versions. I really hope Limited Run Games does something about this. I would greatly appreciate that.
4. Boss Rush mode
The boss fights differ a lot from each other. Now I'm not asking them to do mix games up within the boss fights like Mega Man Legacy Collection 1. Although that kinda would be cool. I see a series of fun challenges. They previously gave every game in Rocket Knight Adventures Re-Sparked an boss rush.
I am aware majority of them are notably easier. Also the following game goes down a boss. We start with five bosses in the original Gex. We end with just three bosses in Gex 3. We are excluding mini bosses. I just think it would help to get better at some of the boss fights. You may need a little practice like Rez at the end of Gex 1.
3. Audio selection
This is a huge one for me. Not only I want all three Gex games' soundtracks. I also want their voice overs in their own sections too. In PS1 versions, Gex has hundreds of voice overs. Combined we're talking a few thousand voice overs in this collection. Plenty of pop culture references who cares how dated they are.
Not to mention, there's some great songs as well. I wouldn't even mind an audio section about the sound effects either. Which is the least likely to happen. But if it's in there I welcome it. I felt they could have a lot of fun with this concept. I'm not expecting no new voice overs. Again if they're in the collection I'll welcome them too.
2. Customizable controls
I previously heard criticism some of their updated classics lack customizable controls. This is a rather huge deal in Gex's case. Gex: Enter the Gecko's camera can be quite frustrating to work with. A lot of stages has tricky to pull off jumps. Thankfully they kept majority of it simple. Parts of it will take a little time getting use to such as the jump kicking ability.
This jump helps to reach some long distance jumps. Some power ups adds a little to the controls. It's temporary added to prevent the added stuff becoming overwhelming. Some could argue how Crash Bandicoot: Warped giving you abilities among defeating the bosses helps a lot. This is the most notable in Gex 3.
1. N64 exclusive stuff
I saved the most ambitious for last. Obviously they are pulling from PlayStation 1 for three classic games. Gex fans knows N64 versions of two the games had some cool exclusive stuff. We are talking exclusive levels including bonus & secret levels respectively. This does bag a lot of questions. How exactly would they go about including em?
Some Gex fans believes moving some big TVs representing the levels to fix those big TVs into the games. I personally felt it's more likely we simply get them included within the bonus section. Similar to unfinished levels in Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered. This would be difficult since Carbon Engine isn't confirmed to work with N64 games.
They recently added PS1 into the platforms their retro engine supports. I do prefer Nightdive's KEX Engine way more. Especially after playing Killing Time: Resurrected truly amazing stuff. Also Nightdive specializes more in N64 games as well. By default, they would have to completely recreate those from scratch to better fit the PS1 versions.
In all honestly, I know it's asking for a lot. Especially this could go south fast. At the same time, more people would buy Gex Trilogy knowing those N64 exclusives included. They may score more preorders from that alone. They also would add more length somewhat to the overall experience. Even if they're selectable in the bonus section.
Also including that helps to make Gex Trilogy the true definitive Gex experience. I still should point out Carbon Engine also isn't supporting 3DO. The original version of Gex from there. Which surprisingly had stuff not found in most versions. It's mostly presentation stuff with the save feature. It wouldn't be the sequels' N64 exclusive level demand though.
Majority of these levels were quite unique. Let's take N64's exclusive level for Gex: Enter the Gecko for an example. Sea Span replaces Poltergex in most versions. It's mostly an swimming level based on the popular 90s Titanic movie. Which also so happens to be among my wife's favorite movies ever. It also was quite ambitious to replace the secret levels entirely in the N64 version.
Replacing Unsolved Mythstories is ET Tu Gecko? Which shares similar themes to Unsolved Mythstories. We get a few spots to become HercuGex. Some of the same enemies as well. Everything else is vastly different making it stand out. I think it would be rather cool if both these mythology levels made it to Gex Trilogy.
The rest of it would be quite nice to have as well. For some this could make or break Gex Trilogy. It's difficult to believe some Gex fans waited such a long time for another Gex game. Doing this would be huge fan service to Gex fans. Simply doing this could even make this Limited Run Games' best compilation game to date.
A lot is riding on if they're included or not. I felt they would truly make this an complete Gex Trilogy. It would be somewhat disappointing these exclusive levels aren't in the game. It won't be Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 situation though. We're still getting three complete games!!! There's no question this is my biggest request for the team.
Conclusion
I do wanna make sure I buy Gex Trilogy this year. I'm in my mid 30s I'm not getting any younger. I do wanna play the hell out of these Gex games. I know parts of my expectations are a bit high. It's more what should be expected than being notably higher with other companies. If we were talking Nightdive Studios.
The level of demand is much higher. They put up some truly amazing updated versions of classic games. Some of which blown my mind. I haven't even played a single release from Limited Run Games. I do also plan to get both Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection. Same with Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked as well.
I just don't get why Rocket Knight series didn't get on Xbox consoles. Somehow both Jurassic Park and Gex does is a bit weird. Regardless, I waited a few years to play these games. I may not agree to wait a similar period of time for another compilation game. Unless they are coming out for sure the same year of their announcements.
Like Capcom Fighting Collection series is a great example. I'm willing to wait up to play those amazing compilation games. I just don't want to suddenly be waiting a few years for something that might end up getting canceled. I had that thought with Gex Trilogy a few times. I'm happy the wait is nearly over now.
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