We like Garfield in this house, the kids always
cut the comics out of the Sunday paper, we have the two silly live action
movies and my mother found my childhood Garfield and sent it to my sons.
Yes, we like the fat cat, and if you look up the other two DS Garfield
titles, you will see that I reviewed them. I do this for my boys who like I
said, love that fat cat. Problem is, most of the Garfield titles are rather
poorly developed and while Garfield’s Nightmare is by far the most
enjoyable, you would probably rather watch mice breathe.
cut the comics out of the Sunday paper, we have the two silly live action
movies and my mother found my childhood Garfield and sent it to my sons.
Yes, we like the fat cat, and if you look up the other two DS Garfield
titles, you will see that I reviewed them. I do this for my boys who like I
said, love that fat cat. Problem is, most of the Garfield titles are rather
poorly developed and while Garfield’s Nightmare is by far the most
enjoyable, you would probably rather watch mice breathe.
Unfortunately the Garfield streak continues and
appears to be getting lower. Garfield’s fun fest is nothing of the sort and
more then likely the game was patched together as a quick way to take
advantage of the direct to video animated movie aptly titled "Garfield’s Fun
Fest". I have yet to sit down and watch this miracle of modern animated
cinema, but the kids have seen it several times. I will say this, I
could have caught the second half of it the other day as the kids were
watching it as I played this game and beat it in 40 MINUTES.
appears to be getting lower. Garfield’s fun fest is nothing of the sort and
more then likely the game was patched together as a quick way to take
advantage of the direct to video animated movie aptly titled "Garfield’s Fun
Fest". I have yet to sit down and watch this miracle of modern animated
cinema, but the kids have seen it several times. I will say this, I
could have caught the second half of it the other day as the kids were
watching it as I played this game and beat it in 40 MINUTES.
This looks dangerous, you go first."
You read that correctly, I beat this game in
just about 40 minutes, and that is saying something since I entertained a
phone call and got something to drink during this gaming session. Normally I
will play a game for a few hours to get a good idea about it before I even
consider writing the review, but since I wasn’t going to beat it four more
times, I felt confidant I could write about the game. And with that, I will
say that this is a simple side scrolling platformer with dashes of mini
games thrown in to keep you on your toes (not really).
just about 40 minutes, and that is saying something since I entertained a
phone call and got something to drink during this gaming session. Normally I
will play a game for a few hours to get a good idea about it before I even
consider writing the review, but since I wasn’t going to beat it four more
times, I felt confidant I could write about the game. And with that, I will
say that this is a simple side scrolling platformer with dashes of mini
games thrown in to keep you on your toes (not really).
Starting off you must find your dog
friend/torture victim Odie. Doing so is important because of the one single
thing the game does well. It remembers the history of Garfield and applies
it to the game. And in this case, it is that Garfield is fat and lazy and
likes to take naps. So, Garfield must constantly find food to keep his
strength up. If his strength meter falls to zero, he falls asleep and that’s
that. However, if you have found Odie, the controls will instantly transfer
to him and you have a short amount of time to find one of the alarm clocks
spread over the level and bring it to Garfield to wake him up. If you do,
then the control of Garfield is resumed and you are on your way.
friend/torture victim Odie. Doing so is important because of the one single
thing the game does well. It remembers the history of Garfield and applies
it to the game. And in this case, it is that Garfield is fat and lazy and
likes to take naps. So, Garfield must constantly find food to keep his
strength up. If his strength meter falls to zero, he falls asleep and that’s
that. However, if you have found Odie, the controls will instantly transfer
to him and you have a short amount of time to find one of the alarm clocks
spread over the level and bring it to Garfield to wake him up. If you do,
then the control of Garfield is resumed and you are on your way.
"Seems awfully calm for someone who is about to be eaten."
Villains are in the form of spiders, dogs,
mailmen and other irritations of Garfield. Garfield has a simple swipe
attack that seems painfully ineffective but will dispatch foes even if you
have to hit ’em 20 times. Garfield also will jump all over the place and
climb trees, ride Odie and in some cases fly. If I said this game was
disappointing I would be pretty much spot-on since that is exactly what it
is. The controls work alright, but levels are pretty small and in some cases
you actually have to play them again because the game forces you to. The
mini-games are entirely too simple, even for small children, tapping your
stylus to the beat as Garfield dances…. poorly. The riding and flying
levels are so short I can’t really call them a level or a mini-game, more
like a mini-mini-mini-blip.
mailmen and other irritations of Garfield. Garfield has a simple swipe
attack that seems painfully ineffective but will dispatch foes even if you
have to hit ’em 20 times. Garfield also will jump all over the place and
climb trees, ride Odie and in some cases fly. If I said this game was
disappointing I would be pretty much spot-on since that is exactly what it
is. The controls work alright, but levels are pretty small and in some cases
you actually have to play them again because the game forces you to. The
mini-games are entirely too simple, even for small children, tapping your
stylus to the beat as Garfield dances…. poorly. The riding and flying
levels are so short I can’t really call them a level or a mini-game, more
like a mini-mini-mini-blip.
Animation of Garfield dancing aside, there is a
certain cartoon charm of the game, but it does not nearly look as good as
the aforementioned "Garfield’s Nightmare". Still, the game seems like it was
thrown together in a hurry and probably was (see above paragraph) but
doesn’t look as bad as it probably should considering all the other
shortcomings. It literally could have been a GameBoy title. Horrible
music is the order of the day and the game has no voice work whatsoever.
Which is somewhat surprising since there is an animated movie with plenty of
lines to sample.
certain cartoon charm of the game, but it does not nearly look as good as
the aforementioned "Garfield’s Nightmare". Still, the game seems like it was
thrown together in a hurry and probably was (see above paragraph) but
doesn’t look as bad as it probably should considering all the other
shortcomings. It literally could have been a GameBoy title. Horrible
music is the order of the day and the game has no voice work whatsoever.
Which is somewhat surprising since there is an animated movie with plenty of
lines to sample.
Review Scoring Details Garfield’s Fun Fest |
Gameplay: 4.0
When you are talking about a game that is so
short, the gameplay should be fabulous (it isn’t) and I would still rate it
low, who wants to spend $29.99 on a title that will be beaten in under an
hour. For that matter, who wants’ to spend $5.00?
short, the gameplay should be fabulous (it isn’t) and I would still rate it
low, who wants to spend $29.99 on a title that will be beaten in under an
hour. For that matter, who wants’ to spend $5.00?
Graphics: 5.0
This game could have easily been a GBA title, it
has lots of colors and no real texture.
has lots of colors and no real texture.
Sound: 3.7
There is no real voice work, the game’s music is
disappointing. What kid wants to listen to the tango, much less a poor
version of it.
disappointing. What kid wants to listen to the tango, much less a poor
version of it.
Difficulty: Easy
This is the second game (hard copy purchase
style) that I beat in under an hour, the first is Sega’s Bass Fishing for
the PC, both games were not very good.
style) that I beat in under an hour, the first is Sega’s Bass Fishing for
the PC, both games were not very good.
Concept: 2.0
The game is a mish mash of poor gameplay, super
short levels and mini-games, none of it works to keep fans of Garfield
entertained.
short levels and mini-games, none of it works to keep fans of Garfield
entertained.
Overall: 4.0
Look, the game is completely disappointing to
young and old fans, and the fat cat has been around for so long, isn’t it
about time he was given a decent title?
young and old fans, and the fat cat has been around for so long, isn’t it
about time he was given a decent title?