The lack of looming dread of the previous game's hub world really made me focus on the other parts of this game. I didn't like them a whole lot. While not terrible to play, it certainly doesn't hold a candle to other platformers of the time (or in general). Gex continued to be Gex, and that's probably why we haven't seen him since.

Wait Square Enix what are you doing

No stop don't you bring him back