Garfield: Escape from Monday is a funny, simple, and enjoyable family-friendly title. It utilises every key ingredient of the franchise to deliver a familiar, safe, and ultimately straightforward experience. Accordingly, if you want something filled with depth and challenging action, this won’t be the game for you. However, if you want to entertain your kids, this will hit the right spot.
OSome Studio is the developer, and Microids has published this 3D platformer. It is a single-player game that follows many tried and tested mechanics. This is great for children who are familiar with the genre and want an easy-to-pick-up game. However, anyone who wants a tough or story-rich title is sadly out of luck.
Garfield: Escape from Monday tells a tale of vegetarianism.
If you love Garfield, you know this pasta-loving pussy adores lasagna! The cheesier and meatier, the better. Sadly, Jon didn’t get this message as he attempts to refresh Garfield’s diet. Chef Monday has created the ultimate vegetarian lasagna, and Garfield is his latest “victim”. After eating a delicious but meat-free pasta dish, the cat falls into a deep slumber. This is the beginning of a surreal adventure that gets weirder and weirder.
The story is a bit absurd, and it takes in most of the key protagonists from the franchise. Many appear as bosses at the end of each major level, and the game spans around 40 stages. This offers plenty of interesting exploration for younger gamers, but older players will get turned off by the repetitive core mechanics and simplicity.
Oddly basic.
Garfield: Escape from Monday asks you to move from point A to point B as you snoop around a variety of worlds. Each has unique foes and larger-than-life level design. En route, you’ll find lasagna and special outfits to give the hero a unique ability. The lasagna acts as a collectable, as they allow you to customise Jon’s house. This can be avoided if you wish, but it is a nice ploy for completionists to search every level.
The special costumes allow Garfield to fly, surf, and use a lasso as a swing. This idea was well executed, and it made every stage fun and slightly challenging. However, the difficulty remained reasonably low. This design choice continues with the simple-to-follow boss battles. The dreamy theme allows the developer to incorporate some weird and wonderful major fights. This was great as it broke up the repetitive action while testing your dodging, weaving, and fighting skills.
Despite the exploration, hidden collectables, special abilities, and boss battles, Garfield: Escape from Monday remains focused towards its key audience. Every layer is accessible and filled with typical Garfield humour. This makes it ideal for younger gamers and those who adore the ginger cat.
Garfield: Escape from Monday is dreamy, vibrant, and nice to look at.
Garfield: Escape from Monday offers a smooth and pleasant visual experience. The frame rates are good, and bugs and glitches can rarely be seen. Yet, it is the surreal nature of the action that makes this particularly good. The creatures are weird and wonderful, and each world has a unique backdrop. The colours are eye-watering, and the graphics are clean and nice to look at. The result is a tidy 3D platformer that’ll keep your kids happy.
The audio is as high-energy and interesting as you’d expect. There is some nice voiceover work, and the music and sound effects match the surreal nature of the story. With playful undertones and music tailored to each stage, it alleviates some of my issues regarding repetition.
Excellent controls.
Family-focused games must have exceptionally tight controls. Thankfully, Garfield: Escape from Monday is easy to master with a clear tutorial, simple ideas, and forgiving traversal elements. Subsequently, parents can leave their kids to it and get on with their day.
Replay value and longevity are questionable. If you don’t care about finding collectables, you won’t return for more. However, if you love to search every corner of every level, you’ll waste hours finding the lasagna, collecting the furniture, and playing the additional levels.
Garfield: Escape from Monday is amazing for children.
Garfield: Escape from Monday captures the energy and vibes of the much-loved TV and film franchise. It is colourful, fun, amusing, and easy to pick up. Moreover, it is ideal for its intended audience. Although I found it to be too simple and it was slightly repetitive, this matters not. My kids love it, and I recommend buying it here! Can you collect every lasagna and escape Chef Monday? Search the levels, grab your costume, and wake up from the vegetarian-induced nightmare.
