Garfield – Escape from Monday Review: The Monday Garfield Never Asked For

I wasn’t really sure what to expect from Garfield: Escape from Monday. Garfield isn’t exactly the first character I’d think of when someone mentions 3D platformers, so I went into this one with fairly low expectations. After playing it, though, I have to say I had a pretty good time with it. Garfield: Escape from Monday is a simple 3D platformer that doesn’t try to do anything too complicated. You run around colorful levels, collect things, beat up enemies, solve some basic challenges, and try to find everything hidden around the map. It’s not a game that’s going to completely change the platforming genre, but it doesn’t need to be. There’s something quite enjoyable about playing a simple Garfield game where the biggest problem in the world is apparently getting Garfield back to his lasagna.

The Story Is Exactly What You’d Expect

The story is pretty ridiculous, but in a good way. Garfield discovers that his beloved lasagna has vegetables in it, which is basically a nightmare scenario for him. He ends up in a strange dream world and has to make his way through different areas while trying to escape Chef Monday. It’s definitely not a story you’re going to remember years from now, but it works for this type of game. Garfield’s whole personality is built around food, laziness, and complaining, so the story fits the character instead of trying to turn him into something he’s not. There are also plenty of little jokes and moments that feel very Garfield. Some of them are better than others, but I liked that the game doesn’t take itself too seriously.

The Platforming Is Simple but Fun

The gameplay is probably where the game works best. Garfield can run, jump, attack enemies, and move through the levels in a way that’s very easy to understand. The controls don’t take long to learn, and I never found myself fighting against the controls. The levels have plenty of collectibles and hidden areas, so there’s a reason to explore instead of simply running from one end of the level to the other. There are also different costumes that give Garfield special abilities. These add some variety to the gameplay and stop everything from feeling exactly the same throughout the adventure. The platforming isn’t particularly complicated, but sometimes that’s actually what I wanted. It’s the kind of game where you can sit down, play for a while, and not have to think too hard about what you’re doing.

The Game Is Definitely Easy

This is probably going to be one of the biggest complaints for experienced platformer players. Escape from Monday is very easy. Most of the platforming sections aren’t particularly difficult, and the enemies aren’t much of a threat either. There are a few moments where you have to pay attention, but for the most part, you’re probably going to get through the game without too many problems. Personally, I would’ve liked a little more challenge. The game has some good ideas, and I think the levels could have been more interesting if they pushed the player a bit harder. On the other hand, the easy difficulty makes it accessible. If you’re playing with a younger player or just want something relaxing, this isn’t going to frustrate you.

Exploring the Levels

One thing I enjoyed more than I expected was exploring the levels. The game gives you reasons to look around for collectibles and other hidden items. You can usually spot something in the distance and think, “How do I get over there?” That’s the kind of small thing that kept me exploring instead of rushing through everything. The different food-themed environments also help. They’re colorful and have enough personality to make the worlds feel like Garfield’s weird dream rather than just a bunch of generic platforming stages. There are time trials and other things to go back for too, which gives you a reason to replay certain sections if you’re the type of player who likes completing everything.

Garfield’s Humor

The humor is probably going to depend on how much you already like Garfield. If you’re a fan of the character, there’s plenty here to enjoy. Garfield is still Garfield. He’s lazy, sarcastic, obsessed with food, and generally unhappy whenever something gets in the way of him relaxing. Some of the jokes are pretty predictable, but honestly, I wouldn’t expect anything different from a Garfield game. The voice acting is more questionable. Some of the voices work fine, but there were moments where the delivery felt a little strange. It’s not terrible, but it did take me some time to get used to it.

Where the Game Falls Short

The biggest problem is that Escape from Monday feels a little too familiar. The basic platforming is enjoyable, but there’s nothing here that I haven’t seen in other 3D platformers. Collectibles, simple enemies, special abilities, and colorful levels are all things we’ve seen before. I also think the game could have benefited from more variety. There are some fun ideas here, but they aren’t always developed as much as they could be.The difficulty is another issue. A harder difficulty option or some more challenging platforming sections would’ve made the experience more satisfying for experienced players. None of these problems completely ruin the game, but they do stop it from being something I’d consider great.

Real Talk

Overall, I ended up enjoying Garfield: Escape from Monday more than I expected. It’s not a masterpiece, and I don’t think it’s trying to be one. It’s a simple, colorful, and fairly relaxing platformer with a familiar character at the center of it. The platforming feels good, the levels are fun to explore, and there are enough collectibles and extra challenges to keep you playing. Garfield’s personality also gives the game a bit more charm than a completely generic platformer would have. 

FINAL SCORE: 78/100