Garfield: Caught in the Act

"Halt! Officer Odie orders you to stop and help!" This page is in serious need of a checkup! Once the criteria is met, remove the {{Checkup Required}} tag.

Overview

Gallery

• Main
• Genesis/Mega Drive
• Game Gear
• PC
• Garfield: The Lost Levels
• 32X

Garfield: Caught in the Act is a platform game by Sega. It was originally released in 1995 for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, but later had an 8-bit version released for the Sega Game Gear, and the 16-bit version ported to PC. Each platform had notable differences, each provided below in their respective categories.

Plot

While Garfield is watching television, Odie scares him and he ends up falling on the TV, breaking it. The two quickly try to reassemble it before Jon Arbuckle catches them. They end up with a crudely made television, leaving out a couple of spare parts. As Garfield throws away the spare pieces, they become an electronic monster known as Glitch, who transports Garfield into the TV. Garfield must travel through various films in order to defeat the monster and make his way out.

Garfield: Caught in the Act
Developer	SEGA Point of View, Inc. (PC)
Publisher	SEGA
Design	Michael Chung Art Wong
Programming	Michael Fernie
Release	October 31, 1995
Platforms	SEGA Mega Drive/Genesis Game Gear PC IBM PC
Genre	Platform
Mode	Single-player
Age Rating	ESRB: K-A ELSPA: 3+

The Sega Genesis and Mega Drive version of the game was the first to release, appearing on store shelves on October 31st, 1995.

Gameplay

The game is a platformer, with Garfield being able to attack enemies up close or throw objects at them (the close-range weapons and the objects thrown change between each level). There are also two special stages; one which resembles a Whac-A-Mole game, and one which Garfield flies through a tunnel, trying to grab Pookys for an extra life.

The following items are found in the game:

• Hamburger and Pizza - recover health
• Cup of coffee (named Java in the manual) - invincibility
• Pooky- Garfield's teddy bear. Acts like a checkpoint, to which Garfield will return if he loses a life.
• Mallet - unlock the "Whack-a-mole" bonus round.
• Garfield heads - earns an extra life.

Levels

• Count Slobula's Castle - Defend yourself against spooky skeletons and ghastly ghosts. Count Slobula awaits you anxiously in his lair!
• Revenge of Orangebeard - Claw your way past poisonous piranhas and mischievous monkeys in this adventure on the high seas!
• Cave Cat 3,000,000 BC - Leap into underground caves, ride on gushing geysers and crush clawing crabs!
• Catsablanca - You're the ultimate alley cat on the streets of Catsablanca. Dodge belligerent bulldogs and nasty neighbors to avoid a real cat-astrophe!
• The Curse of Cleofatra - Look out for razor-sharp spears and mummified mice as you probe the passages below the pyramids!
• Season Finale - You've almost made it! But to escape the Television Wasteland, you'll have to defeat the evil Glitch!

Starting screen

The 8-bit version of the game was released in 1995. This version of the game is largely different from its 16-bit counterpart, sharing the same storyline and many of the same level concepts (plus two new levels).

It was published by Novotrade International (now Appaloosa Interactive).

Levels

• Cave Cat 3,000,000 B.C.
• The Curse of Cleofatra
• Bonehead the Barbarian
• Count Slobula's Castle
• Revenge of Orangebeard
• Slobbin Hood
• Catsablanca
• Television Wasteland

Characters

• Garfield
• Odie
• Pooky (Password character and checkpoint icon)
• Arlene (Password character and bonus icon)
• Jon (Password character)
• Stretch (Password character)
• Irma (Password character)
• Squeak (Password character)

Enemies

• Fire Breathing Mice
• Cavemen (resembling Jon)
• Dogs
• Pterodactyl
• Snakes
• Mummies
• Mice
• Snakes in Jars
• Spiders
• Ghosts
• Penguins
• Birds
• Viking Women
• Owls
• Rats
• Alligators
• Snapping Plants
• Chimps
• Chickens
• Knights
• Nest Birds
• Hubert
• Alley Cats
• Sewer Patrol Guards
• Mini-Glitches

Bosses

• Great Bob
• Cleofatra
• Viking Man
• Vampires/Bats
• Skeleton
• Fortress
• Dog
• Glitch

Differences from the 16-Bit Versions

• Controls now include a dash function, activated by double-tapping the control pad, and one button for both of Garfield’s attacks. The short-range attack will be used if Garfield is out of ammo or close to a target.
• The opening sequence includes additional scenes.
• The password screen is accessible at the beginning of gameplay, located on the other side of the first level entrance.
• Garfield does not wear costumes for each level.
• Levels from the Mega Drive/Genesis have similar designs and some common enemies (including bosses), but different setups and mostly new enemies.
• Two new levels- Bonehead the Barbarian and Slobbin Hood- are included.
• The final level is renamed from Season Finale to Television Wasteland. It includes a section with various enemies (mostly ones from previous levels) and obstacles to deal with before the final boss fight (which is different from the 16-bit version).
• The order of levels is arranged similarly to the PC version.
• Although remote controls are still used to exit the level after defeating the boss, batteries are used to transport from one part of a level to another.
• Both bonus levels from the 16-bit versions are replaced by one where the player destroys things in Jon’s living room to earn an extra life. It is accessed by collecting a head icon of Arlene.
• Pizza items are featured as an entire pie, rather than a slice.
• There are no invincibility items.
• In the main lobby segments, rather than lose health, touching obstacles will cause Garfield to be taken back to the last spot where he arrived.
• The background music compositions are different.

Trivia

• When paused, the game will display a screen similar to a comic strip panel. Garfield is shown napping in bed next to an alarm clock, with “GAME PAUSED” featured as a thought balloon from Garfield. The lives section of the HUD remains on the upper right corner. When the player resumes gameplay, the clock will ring, waking up Garfield and removing the thought balloon.
• "Bonehead the Barbarian" was a name Garfield used to refer to Rick Deltoid.

The PC version is also known as simply Garfield (and with the tagline "Garfield in TV land!" on the box art, which is said to be the subtitle of the canceled Sega 32X version that would have supposedly contained the Lost Levels). The game is virtually a direct port of the original release, with a few key differences. For instance, it contains a remastered CD-quality soundtrack. Like the Game Gear version, the levels are presented in chronological order (from the past to the future). There is also another unique final level that replaces the Season Finale door. The PC demo only included half of Cave Cat 3,000,000 BC and The Curse of Cleofatra. In the full game, the levels are:

• Cave Cat 3,000,000 BC
• The Curse of Cleofatra
• Count Slobula's Castle
• Revenge of Orangebeard
• Catsablanca
• Alien Landscape - a sci-fi set which was a world removed late in the original development. The weapons are a laser sword and rockets. Enemies include little UFOs that shoot and robotic poodles with an Alien-esque "bear-trap" second mouth. The boss is a flying saucer, after which the player has one last chance for bonus rounds - Garfield is then taken directly to the Glitch battle.

Sonic and Garfield Pack

In 1999, the PC version was released as part of the Sonic and Garfield Pack, which also included the Sonic and Knuckles Collection, a compilation of PC versions of Sonic the Hedgehog games originally released on the Sega Genesis, and Baku Baku Animal, an arcade game.

Levels

Garfield: The Lost Levels is a lost version of Garfield: Caught in the Act that supposedly included levels cut from the original game. Magazines and merchandise have proven that 16-bit versions of the cut levels existed, as well as the fact that several people have testified to its existence, though the cartridge and ROM's current whereabouts are unknown.

History

Sega Channel

In December 1994, Sega opened the Sega Channel, a pay-to-play service on the Genesis in which subscribers could access and download Genesis games, play demos and access cheats through an adapter. The lineup of games used to change bi-weekly to monthly, in order to give subscribers a more varied experience. Each game was put into a specific category, with the Test Drives having upcoming and newly released titles.

Though some American Sega Channel schedules are not available, The Lost Levels has three known appearances on the service:

• February 1st, 1996 in the Test Drives
• April 25th, 1997 in the Family Room
• August 15th, 1997 in the Family Room

As the game first appeared in the Test Drives category, that has been accepted as its first public appearance. Similarly to the American Sega Channel schedules, a couple of UK are missing and only one appearance of The Lost Levels is known of on August 1st, 1997 in the Family Room .

Internet

The Internet's oldest mention of the Lost Levels on dates back to February 4th, 1996, when a cable company owner by the name of David Madden announced the Sega Channel listings for the month.

Content Removed

The following levels were removed from the Genesis version of the game. Possible reasons for the removal of such levels include not being fun or distinct enough, lack of time or budget, programming difficulties and memory limitations of the Genesis hardware.

Bonehead the Barbarian

Bonehead the Barbarian was featured only in the Game Gear version of the game.

Slobbin Hood

Slobbin Hood was featured only in the Game Gear version of the game.

Alien Landscape

Alien Landscape was featured only in the PC version of the game.

Rome Level

A t-shirt used as merchandise for the game has shown that a level set in Ancient Rome was possibly planned.

Catsablanca Train Sequence

Featured on no other platforms, there was apparently a train segment in the Catsablanca level that was supposed to be featured on the Sega Genesis version, but was ultimately cut. It is assumed that it was featured on the Lost Levels. A similar sequence, involving cars instead of a train, was used for the Game Gear version of Catsablanca.

A port to the 32X, under the title Garfield in TV Land, was apparently planned. Programmer Pravin Wagh, thinking otherwise, claimed that "a 32X Garfield might just have been wishful thinking."

The PC version uses the TV Land title, and includes the level Alien Landscape.

External Links

• https://archive.org/stream/GamePro_Issue_077_December_1995#page/n45

References

Garfield Video & Mobile Games

1980s "Garfield, Eat Your Words" "Garfield Double Dares" "Create With Garfield" "Garfield: Big Fat Hairy Deal" "Garfield Trivia Game" "A Week of Garfield" "Garfield: Winter's Tail" 1990s "Garfield (Konami handheld)" "Garfield Labyrinth" "Garfield: Caught in the Act" "Scholastic's Comic Book Maker Featuring Garfield" "Garfield’s Mad About Cats" 2000s "Garfield's Typing Pal" "Garfield (2004)" "Garfield: The Search for Pooky" "Garfield: Saving Arlene" "Garfield and His Nine Lives" "Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties" (Consoles) (Handheld) "Garfield's Nightmare" "Garfield: Lasagna World Tour" "Garfield's Fun Fest" "Garfield Gets Real" 2010s "Garfield's Flipping Mad" "Garfield Bird Crazy" "The Garfield Show: Threat of the Space Lasagna" "My Puzzles with Garfield" "Garfield's Diner" "Garfield's Defense" "Garfield's Diner: Hawaii" "Garfield's Gem" "Garfield's Defense 2: The Food Invaders Strike Back" "Garfield's Escape" "Garfield Coins" "Garfield Zombie Defense" "Garfield's Pet Hospital" "Garfield Cookie Dozer" "Talking Garfield" "Garfield’s Wild Ride" "Garfield Cookie Dozer" "Garfield Kart" "Garfield: Survival of the Fattest" "Garfield: My BIG FAT Diet" "Garfield Kart - Furious Racing" 2020s "Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl" "Nickelodeon Extreme Tennis" "Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway" "Garfield: Lasagna Party" "Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2" "Nickverse" Unreleased games "Garfield (Atari 2600)" "Atari 5200 video game" "Garfield in TV Land" (Sega 32X version of "Caught in the Act") "Garfield: Bound for Home"