Garfield: My Big Fat Diet brings the world's most famous, lasagna-loving cat to mobile devices in a simulation game centered around his insatiable appetite. Players get to assist Garfield in his favorite pastime: eating, much to Jon's dismay. This review delves into the gameplay, features, and overall experience of this amusing title.
Gluttony Unleashed: Gameplay Mechanics
Each level of Garfield: My Big Fat Diet unfolds in a single-screen restaurant setting, populated with tables of unsuspecting customers. The core gameplay loop revolves around strategically helping Garfield pilfer food from these patrons while Jon is ordering. During a limited time, players tap and hold on a customer, prompting Garfield to sneak over and attempt a culinary heist.
A crucial element of the gameplay is managing Jon's attention. Exclamation marks serve as warnings that Jon is about to glance in Garfield's direction. His gaze is represented by a bright beam, and getting caught results in an immediate game over. The sneaky cat Nermal also appears later to watch Garfield. Releasing a finger will cause Garfield to return to his seat automatically.
The game incorporates a stamina/energy-based live system, which means players must wait for energy to replenish before continuing.
Stealing from the same customer repeatedly is not advisable, as they exhibit varying levels of tolerance. A green face indicates a quick steal, yellow signifies a slower one, and red signals an angry customer who will immediately alert Jon. Some circles fill up slower but offer two meals at once.
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Progression through the game is achieved by unlocking levels gradually along a winding path. Performance in each level is rated with up to three stars, and successful completion rewards the player with coins.
Currencies and Customization: In-App Purchases and Rewards
Garfield: My Big Fat Diet employs a familiar free-to-play model with in-app purchases. Coins, the primary currency, can be acquired through gameplay or purchased with real money. Watching advertisements also provides an option to double level rewards.
Coins serve multiple purposes: unlocking new Garfield costumes, acquiring single-use items, and upgrading power-ups. The game also offers boosts for real money, including a permanent coin doubler and a starter pack that combines currencies with single-use items.
Single-use items include:
- Lunch boxes: Offer a chance to win rare prizes.
- Tom tokens: Summon Tom to distract Jon during gameplay.
- Refilling hearts: Replenish lives, allowing for more attempts.
Power-Ups: Aiding Garfield's Culinary Capers
To aid Garfield in his quest for gastronomic glory, Garfield: My Big Fat Diet features various power-ups that appear during gameplay:
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- Temporary invisibility: Renders Garfield undetectable to Jon.
- Odie distraction: Calls Odie to divert Jon's attention.
- Super Cat: Grants Garfield increased speed and strength.
- Pookie charm: Makes Garfield irresistibly cute, lowering suspicion.
- Time freeze: Temporarily halts time, allowing for more stealing opportunities.
Garfield: Survival of the Fattest
In Garfield: Survival of the Fattest, Jon takes Garfield camping to force him to diet. Garfield believes Diet is 'die' with the 't'! Players must help Garfield get back his favorite dishes while camping in the wild.
Jim Davis, Garfield’s creator, said, “Garfield: Survival of the Fattest plays like an animated cartoon, complete with many of the beloved characters from the fat cat’s universe,”
Garfield said, “This mobile game is a big fat hairy deal and I don’t say that lightly…in fact, I don’t do anything lightly,”
The game includes:
- Hundreds of quests with humorous animations of favorite characters.
- Over 30 food items to plant or craft with original recipes.
- 5 crazy mini-games to earn Lasagnas: Spider Cave, Crazy Restaurant, Dig Site, Happy Fishing and Memocolor Challenge.
Technical Details
Garfield: My Big Fat Diet is a simulation game available for iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch) requiring iOS 6.1 or later. The game size is 100.9 MB.
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Earlier Garfield Game
In Jim Davis's earliest licensed entertainment videogame of the lazy cat cartoon character, the player controls Garfield in his attempt to rescue Arlene from the cat pound. The primary gameplay involves object manipulation, gaining objects either by picking up or receiving them from other characters (usually in exchange for other objects). Most characters from the cartoons play a part in the game. Odie the dog follows you around - swipe him for points. Garfield's cousin Nermal can help. Garfield needs regular food and rest - without one of these he falls asleep and it is Game Over. Contact with many foes is draining.