Gex

From Sega Retro

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Gex title.png

Gex
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: Crystal Dynamics (US, Europe), BMG Victor (Japan), Crystal Dynamics (Japan)
Developer:
Supporting companies:
Distributor: BMG Interactive Entertainment (EU)
Sound driver: SCSP (1 track)
Genre: Action[1][2]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Saturn
JP
¥5,8005,800 T-15904G
Sega Rating: All Ages
Sega Saturn
US
$59.9959.99[4] T-15904H
ESRB: Kids to Adults
Sega Saturn
EU
T-15904H-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Saturn
UK
£39.9939.99[8] T-15904H-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Saturn
PL
Sega Saturn
AU
OFLC: G
Sega Saturn
BR
Tectoy: Todas as Idades
Non-Sega versions

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Gex (ゲックス) is a 2D platformer initially released for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer in 1994 but brought to other consoles including the Sega Saturn in 1995 one year before the 3DO's demise.

Story

It follows the adventures of Gex the gecko, who is transported into the world of television by the evil Rez.

Gameplay

Gex is a 2D platform game where the objective is to collect remotes, beat levels, and eventually confront the villainous Rez, who has trapped Gex in the world of television.

Gex was notable for being voiced by comedian Dana Gould, often sprouting one liners and making jokes about what was going on in the game (although, save for the introduction, the character is a mute in the Japanese version).

Worlds

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Cemetery

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New Toonland

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Jungle Isle

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Kung Fuville

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Rezopolis

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Planet X

History

Legacy

The success of Gex lead to two 3D sequels, Gex: Enter the Gecko and Gex: Deep Cover Gecko, both of which skipped the Saturn. Plans for a third sequel were put in place for the PlayStation 2 but were ultimately scrapped.

Versions

Gex was built with the 3DO in mind, and was converted to the Saturn and PlayStation with minimal changes.

The most significant change lies in the saving system - on the 3DO, progress in Gex can be saved to the system's internal memory, and despite the Saturn and PlayStation (and PC) versions being more flexible in save game storage, this feature was omitted from these versions for unknown reasons, being replaced with a password system instead. Passwords in Gex are seen by collecting VHS cassettes in certain stages, with cassettes being awarded automatically for defeating a boss - this is the same system used on the 3DO to allow the user to save, though here details on points and lives are lost in the process.

The Saturn port of Gex lacks the semi-transparent sprites seen in other versions of the game, instead opting for the checkerboard "mesh" style that was commonly seen in Saturn games at the time. However, sound effects are clearer on the Sega Saturn than the PlayStation.

Production credits

SEGA SATURN VERSION
FOR BEAM SOFTWARE
  • Executive Producer: Adam Lancman
  • Technical Director: Andrew Lacey
  • Lead Programmers: Peter Litwiniuk, Shane Lontis
  • Programmers: Jason Bell, Andrew Lacey, Andrew Scott
  • Additional Programming: Paul Baulch
  • Additional Artwork: John Tsiglis
  • Testing: Shane Collier, Aaron Smith, Gary Ireland
FOR CRYSTAL DYNAMICS
  • Producer: David Sze
  • Assistant Producer: Rosaura Sandoval
  • Assistant Product Manager: Chip Blundell
  • Test Manager: Conan Tigard
  • Lead Tester: Laurence Monii
  • Assistant Lead Testers: Anthony Borba, Jeff Sanders
  • Testers: Ed Chennault, Caroline Esmurdoc, Jacob Espinoza, Scott Hill, John Lencioni, Billy Mitchell, Chris Pappalardo, Raphael Pepi, Kam Ralston, Rodney Rapp, Ilya Reeves, Kenny Reeves, Sheatiel Sarao, Sergei Savtchenko, Mari Schaal, Ben Schulz, Kevin Seiter, Eric Simonich, Randy Smaha, William Sudderth, Jeff Todd, Chris Walker, Matthew Young
  • Manual: Carol Ann Hanshaw
  • Special Thanks: Dan Arey, Susan Bowman, Jennifer Bulka, Jean Burrell, Madeline Canepa, Dan Chan, Alan Chaplan, Don Dacanay, Dan Dorosin, Rob Dyer, J. Epps, Chris Espinosa, Chang Fadel, Ted Fitzgerald, Steve Groll, Jon Horsley, Dave Kirk, Randy Komisar, Adrian Longland, Alex Ness, Lloyd Pique, Olga Rosenbrook, Michelle Smith, Scott Steinberg, Evan Wells
ORIGINAL VERSION
  • GEX Concept: Lyle Hall
  • GEX Core Team: G-Man, Justin Norr, Mira F. Ross, Lyle Hall
  • Programming:
    • Lead Programmer: G-Man
    • Bosses & AI System: Daniel Chan
    • BLT, Maps & Glue Screens: Mei Yu Li
    • Stunt Coding: Troy D. Gillette
  • Art:
    • Lead Artist: Mira F. Ross
    • GEX & Rez Characters & 3D Models & GEX Character Animation: Steve Kongsle
    • Stunt Animator: Steve Suhy
    • Boss Animation: Shawn McLean
    • Enemy Characters & Animation: Silicon Knights
    • Map Screens & Jungle Backgrounds: Kirk Henderson
  • Game Design:
    • Lead Designer: Justin Nor
    • Designers: J. Epps, Evan Lindsay Wells, Richard Lemarchand
  • AI Scripting: Susan Michele, Jeremy Bredow, Adrianne M. Canfil
  • Music Composed & Produced: Webtone Productions
  • Sound FX: Greg Weber, Steve Henefin
  • Intro & Outro 3D Animation: Windlight Studios, Mira F. Ross, Steve Kongsle, Lyle Hall, Scott Steinberg
  • Producer: Lyle Hall
  • Writer: Robert Cohen
  • GEX Voice & Writer: Dana Gould
  • Marketing Director: Scott Steinberg
  • Additional Design: Noah Hughes
  • Additional Art: Jean Z. Xiong
  • Tool Support:
    • IGOT: Sean Vikoren
    • CYGS: Jeff Kesselman
  • Video Compression: Dan Brazelton

This product contains video compressed using Duck TrueMotion®. TrueMotion® is a registered trademark of The Duck Corporation.

Source:
In-game credits
Gex sat us manual.pdf
[9]

Magazine articles

Main article: Gex/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Gex/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Consoles + (FR)
91
[10]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
79
[11]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
68
[12]
Fun Generation (DE) PAL
70
[13]
Fusion (US) NTSC-U
75
[14]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
88
[15]
GamePro (UK)
80
[16]
Hacker (HR)
61
[17]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
64
[18]
Maximum (UK)
25
[19]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
85
[20]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
62
[21]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
51
[22]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
57
[8]
Power Up! (UK)
82
[23]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
63
[24]
Sega Magazin (DE)
74
[25]
Sega News (CZ)
86
[26]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
62
[27]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
80
[28]
Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) PAL
62
[29]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
53
[30]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
72
[31]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
84
[32]
Total Saturn (UK) PAL
64
[33]
Video Games (DE) NTSC-U
75
[34]
Sega Saturn
70
Based on
26 reviews

Gex

Saturn, JP
Gex Saturn JP Box Back.jpgGex Saturn JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
Gex Saturn JP Disc.jpg
Disc
Saturn, US
Gex Saturn US Box Back.jpgGex Saturn US Box Front.jpg
Cover
GexSaturnUSDisc.jpg
Disc
Gex sat us manual.pdf
Manual
Saturn, EU
Gex Saturn EU Box.jpg
Cover
Gex Saturn EU Disc.jpg
Disc
Saturn, AU
Gex Saturn AU cover.jpg
Cover
Gex Saturn EU Disc.jpg
Disc
Saturn, BR

Technical information

Main article: Gex/Technical information.

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Saturn
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
279,062,448 CD-ROM (EU) T-15904H-50 V1.000
Sega Saturn
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
212,879,520 1995-11-21 CD-ROM (JP) T-15904G V1.000
Sega Saturn
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
279,064,800 CD-ROM (US) T-15904H V1.000

External links

  • Sega of America webpage: Saturn

References

  1. File:Gex Saturn JP Box Back.jpg
  2. 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/fb/segahard/ss/soft_licensee2.html (Wayback Machine: 2019-10-02 10:31)
  3. https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video.sega/c/JUCm3VMUi9Y
  4. Press release: 1995-12-15: GEX video game for the PlayStation game console and Sega Saturn hits retail shelves -- "Merry GEXmas"
  5. Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1996-04-01), page 24
  6. File:LeicesterMercury UK 1996-03-30 16.jpg
  7. Computer & Video Games, "May 1996" (UK; 1996-04-12), page 65
  8. 8.0 8.1 Mean Machines Sega, "June 1996" (UK; 1996-05-03), page 91
  9. File:Gex sat us manual.pdf, page 18
  10. Consoles +, "Février 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 140
  11. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "February 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 32
  12. Famitsu, "1996-04-05" (JP; 1996-03-22), page 1
  13. Fun Generation, "03/96" (DE; 1996-02-12), page 56
  14. Fusion, "Volume 2, Number 7: February 1996" (US; 1996-0x-xx), page 62
  15. GamePro, "March 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 58
  16. GamePro, "May 1996" (UK; 1996-04-xx), page 26
  17. Hacker, "11/1996" (HR; 1996-xx-xx), page 48
  18. MAN!AC, "03/96" (DE; 1996-02-14), page 59
  19. Maximum, "March 1996" (UK; 1996-03-29), page 151
  20. Mega Force, "Mars 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 80
  21. Mega Fun, "04/96" (DE; 1996-03-20), page 74
  22. Mean Machines Sega, "May 1996" (UK; 1996-04-04), page 86
  23. Power Up!, "Saturday, April 20, 1996" (UK; 1996-04-20), page 1
  24. Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 12" (JP; 1996-05-24), page 70
  25. Sega Magazin, "Mai 1996" (DE; 1996-04-10), page 76
  26. Sega News, "Leden 1997" (CZ; 1997-xx-xx), page 24
  27. Sega Power, "July 1996" (UK; 1996-05-09), page 57
  28. Sega Pro, "June 1996" (UK; 1996-04-xx), page 22
  29. Sega Saturn Magazine, "April 1996" (UK; 1996-03-23), page 84
  30. Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-06 (1996-04-12)" (JP; 1996-03-22), page 234
  31. Sega Saturn Magazine, "Readers rating final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 14
  32. Sonic the Comic, "21 June 1996" (UK; 1996-06-12), page 10
  33. Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Four" (UK; 1996-12-29), page 28
  34. Video Games, "6/96" (DE; 1996-05-29), page 98


Gex

Gex title.png

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