After a certain period (that is, after the arrival of Mario’s cult and mustached character from Nintendo), it turned out for me that almost all platformers across different prefixes from other producers started to borrow characters from earthly and even extraterrestrial fauna. So, what did we have? From Sonic the Hedgehog, Ecco the Dolphin, and Earthworm Jim, to the even worse Crash Bandicoot. It just so happened here that 3DO Interactive Multiplayer also had its own “mascot” that, coincidentally, didn’t bring it happiness and became somewhat of a refugee, continuing to exist for a certain period. I remember that Gex was generally the number one game for 3DO and especially for the FZ-10, at least because it was a sort of free bonus. So I got a prefix, I got a game. It’s obvious that this plan only served the massive popularity of the project, but without that, it had every chance for all this popularity.
For instance, the story certainly helped. It was very simple. A modern gecko sitting at home quietly watching television, and his boss (referred to as Rez), a bad and terrifying boss, designed evil and more simply, missed his opportunity while still being alive to materialize his thoughts. That’s why Gex really had to go through six truly unique levels (Cemetery, New Toonland, Forest Island, Kung FuviL1e, Rezopolis) and over twenty levels before having the chance for payback with the boss and returning to family and TV.
The game is really very good. Not only is the main character voiced by comedian Dana Gould (and mixing that voice with something else is nearly impossible), but the levels, dynamics, and the style itself are very, very funny. Since Gex essentially travels inside the world of TV, each location is a parody of some television cliché. There’s just a drunken Superman or such a scandal everywhere.
In fact, there are not five, but six locations in the game, but the sixth (and one of the most complex) is found as a secret. On the internet, there are many ways to get to this location (by the way, called Planet X) and how to actually stand up there, play mini-games, and even view a series of sketches, images, and photos as a bonus at the end of the game.
I have a truly special relationship with Gex. This game was my favorite platform game and continues to be, but if you think about it, you had to see prettier and more original things on the same consoles of the fifth generation. However, in Gex, such a unique combination of successfully chosen components is exactly there to create a philosopher’s stone or a sort of key to the player’s heart.
Follow the path on how to defeat the bosses:
While running in the Cemetery, try to break a few skulls from the boss while avoiding the ghosts following you in white clothing, and only then attack him directly.
Defeating Fartman requires examining his habits. Jump to protect yourself from the boss’s attacks, but listen carefully: a characteristic sound is heard just before he hits. Hold in the middle of the screen, move to the right after the fourth attack, and duck. When he attacks again, climb up to the ceiling and time your tail strike with such moments that the anvils will fall directly onto Fartman’s boss. Ten hits should finish him off.
For the Climbing Toy, you need to spin vertically to win in this great level. You just need to reach the top. Most jumps can be made from a point, but some require a launch. Use Hex’s wall-clinging ability in certain places. All jumps must be executed very carefully because you are moving a large snake that emerges from holes. If you keep moving, it will always be ahead of you. If you have to stop for even a moment, make sure to wait for the snake to show up before continuing to move, so you don’t jump directly onto it.
Climb to the top of the almost right wall and hit the boss reptile with your tail when you can. Then come down and run to the left, and when the poisonous turtle starts coming down, run to the right. Jump to the wall again and repeat this while avoiding the boss’s weapon. The secret to victory is in the synchronization of your movements. Catch the rhythm of the turtle’s movements and follow it.
Avoid Rez’s attacks and find the fluttering fly on the right. When Rez goes to drop exploding TVs, climb the wall and jump from TV to TV until you jump to the right wall. Swing your tail and choose a tongue. Now that you have a good target, you can spit this at Rez’s boss. Don’t forget to avoid the flames that explode at the same time. Before defeating him, you will need to hit a bug five times and repeat these actions each time.
To access Planet X, to reach this secret level, you must complete all reward levels (like the Skull/Frankie level in the Cemetery) with maximum scores. It is enough to collect 27 barrels in the Rezopolis level. Once you complete all these levels, a completely dark new control panel will appear. You will accumulate the ability to move onto Planet X in small pieces. After this stage, you can no longer pass the current level. You cannot hold this part of the ability at this stage, and if you lose your life, this accumulation is also lost. You need to gradually accumulate the ability to go to Planet X and use it on the world selection screen.
To access bonus stages, transitions to reward levels can be found in any level other than those with bosses. Most transitions to reward levels are near the Polaroid cameras that allow you to save the game, and in case of failure, you repeat your way from the moment you saved. Below are some bonus stages.
**Frankie & Heli / Cemetery:**
Find the “Polaroid” camera in the middle of this level. You will see a depression between two plates on the left. Climb the walls; there will be a moving platform on the right. Jump onto it and stay there until you find a stationary platform surface where a wrap for the transition to the bonus level is located.
**Rock It / New Toonland:**
Initially, go right until you find the first blue rockets. There should be a question mark next to them. If you drop down from the wall next to the rockets, you will find a wrap below.
**Sumo Poison / Kung Fuvillen:**
Eventually, you will see a sumo wrestler. On the left, there is a platform almost off the screen. You need to make a super elastic jump to reach there and get the reward package. Focus on the eye that must be in the extreme right position during the jump.
**Feeding Madness / Forest Island:**
Move right until you find the first “Polaroid” camera. On the right, you will see a somewhat dismantled wooden bridge in a single place. Go down through this hole and head left. The wrap is hidden under the ground from the side you came from.
**On the Move / Rezopolis:**
First, find the “Polaroid” cameras. Next to one of them, you will see helium balloons that you can jump onto. To the right of the balloons, there are a few flies. Stick to the left wall above the pointed tips and jump up, and then climb up. You will find a wrap there.
To complete the bonus stages:
**Cemetery:**
Stump throws skulls. You need to break these skulls with your tail so you can defeat Frankenstein’s monsters. Jump and hit when you see the stump locked before you throw the black ones. Then wait until the second skull comes to the top of the screen and hit again. Repeat these steps ten times. The most important thing here is getting the right rhythm.
**New Toonland:**
You will follow the coin by collecting flies. Step on the rubber base to launch upwards. Jump seven times on the right shaft, then collect the flies by falling left and jumping there. Gather all the flies in the center block, and then come down to get the fly on the right. Now, as usual, climb a solid wall, turn back and jump left until you reach the next block. Jump to the right, collect the flies there, and continue jumping while waiting for the block that descends to the left. You should find the last two flies on it.
**Forest Island:**
Here the flies will drop spontaneously. You need to collect all of them (thirty) while running across the entire island as quickly as possible. Don’t be late; it’s enough just to touch the flies without using your tail or tongue.
**Kung Fuvillen:**
You enter a room with many platforms and flies in this level. We have to collect all the flies. Save time. Everything is arranged so that you can finish your journey at the starting point. Hold down one of the “Shift” keys to run continuously.
**Rezopolis:**
Here you need to be careful: a conveyor is holding barrels over your head and trying to drag you off the screen at the same time. You need to break the barrels with your tail while running along the conveyor at the same time. The transition to the reward level stops the moment you disappear off the screen. By that time, you need to collect at least 27 barrels. The best way is to bend down from the middle and break the barrels falling in front of and behind you rather than trying to chase after those you couldn’t get.
**Cheat Codes:**
**Speed:**
The game is paused. Hold the right button and enter:
Left, C, Down, Right, Up, Up, Up, Right, Right.
Now you will have speed.
**Gex is invincible:**
The game is paused. Hold the right button and enter:
Left, C, Down, Up, Up, C, Left, Right, A, Right.
**Lightning:**
The game is paused. Hold the right button and enter:
Left, C, Down, Right, Right, Left.
**Spit fire or ice:**
Press pause, hold left shift, and enter:
Left, C, Down, Right, Right, Left.
**Gex will do a super jump:**
The game is paused. Hold the right button and enter:
Left, C, Down, Right, Up, B, B, Right, Right.
**99 lives from Gex:**
The game is paused. Hold the right button and enter:
Down, Right, A, C, Up, Left, A.
**Select level:**
On any level map, click to pause, hold to the right and enter:
Left, C, Down, Left, Right, Right, Up, Right, Right.
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