L.A. Rex

Learn About the Game L.A. Rex

I remember firing up my old Sega CD and getting sucked into the cheesy charm of L.A. Rex. It’s one of those FMV-powered interactive movies that tries to mix a sci-fi thriller with dinosaur mayhem, and somehow it mostly works. You’re dropped into a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles overrun by genetically revived T. rexes and other prehistoric critters, and your job is to hunt ’em down before they turn you into lunch. The whole thing feels like you’re in a B-movie, complete with over-the-top acting and a soundtrack that’s just vaguely ominous enough to keep you on edge.

What’s neat is how the game leans into the “shoot first, ask questions later” vibe. You’ve got a few different weapons at your disposal—rifles, shotguns, even some prototype gas guns—each one introduced by a quick FMV clip that probably cost more to produce than the rest of the game. When you spot a dinosaur rampaging down the freeway or hiding inside a shattered skyscraper lobby, you tap the button at just the right moment to take your shot. If you’re late on the trigger, the game doesn’t hold back in reminding you of your poor life choices—cue some delightfully cheesy death animation.

There’s a certain charm to its button-mashing simplicity. You don’t have to memorize complex combos or worry about ammo conservation; it’s all about timing and a smidge of luck. It’s not the most nuanced gameplay out there—these days, you’d probably call it a “light gun” title with a dinosaur twist—but back then it felt fresh. Plus, seeing a tyrannosaur burst through a billboard or chomp on a car hood still gives you that little adrenaline jolt, even if the graphics look like they were painted in Microsoft Paint.

All in all, L.A. Rex is definitely a product of its time, warts and all. If you approached it as a serious blockbuster, you’d walk away disappointed, but if you lean into its goofy premise and let the overblown FMV sequences wash over you, it’s a fun little time capsule. It might not hold your hand or explain every plot hole, but hey, sometimes you just want to blast giant dinos in slow-motion while some actor delivering his lines like he’s auditioning for a soap opera. And for that, I’ll always give it a thumbs up.