Gex and Croc

[j_factor]

It was a bug that shipped in some versions of the Croc 1 for Saturn. If you launch the game from the CD player instead of turning the system on with the disc already inserted, you won't get any graphics glitches.

"Some versions", must be. Because I've heard of that before, but it's never happened to me. Also I've never seen the aforementioned yellow instruction leaflet (perhaps that part was only in the European version). I wonder if there was a corrected version of the game, or maybe it's affected by the Saturn hardware revision.

[Genesis Knight]

"Some versions", must be. Because I've heard of that before, but it's never happened to me. Also I've never seen the aforementioned yellow instruction leaflet (perhaps that part was only in the European version). I wonder if there was a corrected version of the game, or maybe it's affected by the Saturn hardware revision.

Yeah, I think the leaflet was the EU only, but contrary to what SegaRetro claims I experienced the same problems on a US copy. That's interesting that you've never run into it; I thought it was a universal issue. I was playing on a Saturn with oval buttons. Unfortunately I sold that copy so I can't test it on my other Saturns that I now own.

[A Black Falcon]

Hmmm, this is interesting actually, I had an idea that the original was better recieved in the US (being that Americans seem more positive towards the game, and the sequels had so much Euro localisation) but I hadn't realised it was this pronounced, most of the US magazines did indeed give the game good scores, whilst most UK magazines gave it ~6/10 or lower.

US and UK magazines seem to be more in agreement with the 3D sequels though, with both giving them selections of 7s and 8s.

I have to say though, god knows what the US reviewers were thinking, the game is clearly not 5/5 (Gamepro) or 10/10 (Video Games & Computer Entertainment) material, I'd say its clearly not 9/10 material either, the highest possible score for the time should be more like 8/10, I'd give it maybe 7/10 I think.

Gamepro - "Gex is destined to become the 3DO equivalent of Sonic or Mario"

Gex is one of the closest things to a system seller the 3DO ever had, really.

Oh, and yes, US reviewers did give the 3DO version high scores. I think the later ports (PSX, Saturn, PC) scored a bit lower though, but of course, they were later; the 3DO version came out a good nine months ahead of the first port I believe. (Unlike, say, Rayman, which actually released on Playstation before the Jaguar version was out.)

On the note of Gex's release date, I find it odd how both Wikipedia and Gamefaqs (and Mobygames) all list the 3DO version as having released in November 1994 on the 3DO, despite the box saying "1995" on it and the retrospective by a staff member here http://games.greggman.com/game/gex/ clearly saying that the game launched for 3DO in March 1995. Um, I think the sites are all wrong there. They are probably right about the Playstation version launching in December '95/Jan. '96 though.

[TheSonicRetard]

Gex is one of the closest things to a system seller the 3DO ever had, really.

Oh, and yes, US reviewers did give the 3DO version high scores. I think the later ports (PSX, Saturn, PC) scored a bit lower though, but of course, they were later; the 3DO version came out a good nine months ahead of the first port I believe. (Unlike, say, Rayman, which actually released on Playstation before the Jaguar version was out.)

On the note of Gex's release date, I find it odd how both Wikipedia and Gamefaqs (and Mobygames) all list the 3DO version as having released in November 1994 on the 3DO, despite the box saying "1995" on it and the retrospective by a staff member here http://games.greggman.com/game/gex/ clearly saying that the game launched for 3DO in March 1995. Um, I think the sites are all wrong there. They are probably right about the Playstation version launching in December '95/Jan. '96 though.

I have an issue of EGM from Sept 94 previewing the 3DO version of Gex. The preview says it'll be out in November, but it also says the game is only 15% complete and all the screenshots are clearly from an early beta. So I think November 94 was the original intended release date, but it likely got pushed back to march. Reading on the development of Gex, it had to be scaled back late in development to meet deadlines, and an entire world got dropped. Also, each world was supposed to have 2 distinct tile sets, and every second tile set was dropped late in development for the same reason (although supposedly new toonland and graveyard had their second tile sets already complete).

[The Jackal]

Genesis Knight, I just checked my copy and found an instruction page. It's not yellow paper, though - mine's white with red writing. It's vague as hell; thanks for letting me know though.

[A Black Falcon]

I have an issue of EGM from Sept 94 previewing the 3DO version of Gex. The preview says it'll be out in November, but it also says the game is only 15% complete and all the screenshots are clearly from an early beta. So I think November 94 was the original intended release date, but it likely got pushed back to march. Reading on the development of Gex, it had to be scaled back late in development to meet deadlines, and an entire world got dropped. Also, each world was supposed to have 2 distinct tile sets, and every second tile set was dropped late in development for the same reason (although supposedly new toonland and graveyard had their second tile sets already complete).

Yeah, that makes sense. The sites really should be listing the actual release date, and not an early date that they missed, though...

[Zork]

Croc rules. As a kid I liked Croc 2 more, but the first one is way better now that I look back.

[Jeckidy]

I've been playing alot of Croc and Gex lately, and I'm also thinking of revisiting the 2nd Gex game, of which I have only played the N64 version of, but enjoyed back in the day.

Croc 1 is fun, but can be brutal sometimes. The first Gex is decent but its not one of my all time favorite platformers by any means.

[FlackoWeasel]

I played Croc 1 on PC and loved that game. Sadly, it was a pirate game and not original. But the game was fun <3. I haven't played Croc 2....

[Hidden_Darkness]

I enjoyed the first gex for sega saturn but I didn't like the 3d ones that came after it, I rented them for playstation and found them boring. croc 1 was ok but I have only played it 2 times so far, i've never played croc 2.

[maxi]

I'm giving "Rise from your grave!" on this topic just to say Gex is now available on GoG.

[Blades]

Croc was a beautiful game.

Yeah, I think the leaflet was the EU only, but contrary to what SegaRetro claims I experienced the same problems on a US copy.

Impossible. The bug was fixed before the US release. Unless you had a beta, it's literally impossible.

The Saturn version sucked. The PSX version had the most work put into it and is the only one with the full marvelous soundtrack.

[negative chill]

Yes I am counting Crash as 3D even though its techinically not

Howso?

Also there was something I recall hearing from one of "Do You Know Gaming" vids about Croc originally being planned as a Yoshi spin-off game. But there facts are more often than not wrong, so it wouldn't surprise me if it was false

[j_factor]

Also there was something I recall hearing from one of "Do You Know Gaming" vids about Croc originally being planned as a Yoshi spin-off game. But there facts are more often than not wrong, so it wouldn't surprise me if it was false

It's kind of true. I remember an interview that touched on it, and they said that the Yoshi game never really went anywhere, it was just an idea in the planning stages. Those outlines became the genesis of Croc, but it's not like they had this Yoshi game they were making and had to swap out the character model.

[Alexrd]

I'm giving "Rise from your grave!" on this topic just to say Gex is now available on GoG.

GOG once again proving they're the best.