Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko

"Replay value through the roof, but gameplay suffers."

Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko Review
by drJuris - 7-13-04

It should be worth mentioning that though Gex 3 has been out for quite some time (and could prove somewhat troublesome to obtain, at this point), it is a great game that is well worth the time it takes to find. If price is not an issue, then diehard fans of the now-defunct Gex series would do well to seek out a copy of this game. But given small but annoying graphical quirks and flaws in the game's control, it becomes a matter of whether the time and effort invested in acquiring Gex 3 is worth the overall enjoyability. Let's delve deeper:

Gameplay - 4/10
Probably the most consequential problem with Gex 3 is (lack of) camera control. While this has been fixed - at least to some degree - in the wake of the devastating flop Gex: Enter the Gecko, lack of proper control over the game's rear-hovering cameras can prove to be not just a nuisance, as it often is, but even downright frustrating, even to the point of throwing the controller at the screen in anger.

Personal experience has shown me, though, that the number of instances in which the camera's movement wreaks havoc on one's save file is relatively small. Meaning, basically, that it is easy to get upset at the constantly-changing camera angles, but that it is more worth one's time to go deeper into the game, where it becomes easier to overcome these difficulties due to increased gametime. (I, myself, find it quite necessary to take frequent breaks from playing this game, so as to give my brain time to slowly adjust to the control scheme.)

Gex 3's actual control mechanics, on the other hand, work quite well, despite the game being a hundred times easier when played with an analog control pad. (Personal experience calls again: I had never played Gex 3 with an analog stick until I brought it to a friend's house, where I was introduced to the wonders of the dual shock controller.) Eating flies (yes, indeed!) is difficult at first, but through the two-hour-or-so learning curve one can quickly figure out easier ways of maneuvering our hero.

Sound - 7/10
Ah, here we go. The Gex series is famous for its humorous one-liners, spouted incessantly by Gex. There are more of them in this game than in the others, and they vary by level, so it's just a matter of switching gears for a while if one gets tired of a particular quote. True to form, many are so incredibly stupid that it takes a lot of effort not to break down in tears. One often wonders whether this should have been rated 'M' instead of 'T.'

The music is somewhat cheesy and is very repetitive, but it becomes less of a distraction later on (when one realizes that the best solution is to simply hit the 'mute' button). Certain themes will play over and over in one's head even after the PSX is turned off, but they are relatively benign, so no worries there.

Story - 6/10
There isn't much in the way of a story here, but give the developers some credit: it is a far cry from some of the typical cliches that come out all the time. While there is not that much to comment on, really, it is worth mentioning that there is a supermodel involved. :) Basically, the story (if you can call it that) is neither great nor horrendous. It must have gotten stuck in 'plot-line limbo.'

Replay Value - 9/10
Wow. Just... wow. There is so much replay value in Gex 3 that it makes my head spin. Ordinary platformers can only wish they had as much replay value as Gex 3. There is a huge system of 'sidequests,' as it were, and alternate routes one can take to earn even more useless things, like the game's TV remotes, which are the standard 'level completion' tokens.

But wait... there's more! The game not only offers one the opportunity to further explore the huge environments in Gex 3, it also forces one to go out and collect remotes in order to unlock newer levels, each of which have even more remotes! If it sounds too good to be true, well... you're right. Some of the game's 'quests' are possibly the most difficult things one will ever encounter. Ranging from the frustratingly tedious type to the 'I blinked and I died' type, some missions will leave one with nothing more than a huge headache when all is said and done.

In reality, it only takes a set number of remotes to unlock certain levels, but the more one collects, the more one gets out of the game in terms of playtime and enjoyability. If one did absolutely everything that Gex 3 has to offer, it would probably take upwards of 50-60 hours, bare minimum. The expansive overworlds have tiny missions in themselves, even, if only minor things that don't affect anything in particular. It's worth it to play through everything just to see all the asinine quests Gex gets to go on.

Overall - 7/10
As I said before: if you have never heard of the Gex series, then it would be worth your while to at least rent the game to see if it fits your style. Diehard fans likely already own it, and new/younger video gamers should probably stay away. But if you are looking for something fresh and exciting that will take up your boring summer days, then by all means, give Gex 3 a shot!

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 07/13/04