Garfield: Caught in the Act

From Sega Retro

For the Sega Game Gear game, see Garfield: Caught in the Act (Game Gear).

n/a

  • Mega Drive
  • Windows PC

Garfield CitA Title.png

Garfield CitA PC Title.png

Garfield: Caught in the Act
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear, Windows PC
Publisher: Sega
Windows PC
Sega PC
Developer:
Supporting companies:
Licensor: Paws, Inc.
Sound driver:
Sega Mega Drive
GEMS
Peripherals supported: Six Button Control Pad
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US
1556
ESRB: Kids to Adults
Sega Mega Drive
EU
1556-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Mega Drive
PT
Sega Mega Drive
UK
1556-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Mega Drive
SE
(Rental)
Sega Mega Drive
AU
FGAR02SMC
OFLC: G
Sega Mega Drive
BR
046990
Tectoy: Todas as Idades
Windows PC
US
85023
ESRB: Kids to Adults
Windows PC
US
(Expert Software)
$19.9919.99[3] T-6803-01
ESRB: Kids to Adults

Garfield: Caught in the Act is a platform game starring the characters from the Garfield comic series. It was released for the Sega Mega Drive in 1995, and was brought to Windows in 1996 as a stand-alone title as well as through the Sonic & Garfield Pack.

A port to the Sega 32X under the title of Garfield in TV Land was planned, but scrapped. The name was still used in the packaging of the initial PC release, even though the game itself retains the original title.

Story

Garfield Caught in the Act MD, Introduction.png

Introduction

Odie scares Garfield while he is watching television, and he ends up falling on the television. In a rushed effort to repair the television before Jon catches them, Garfield and Odie attempt to put the banged up and broken pieces together. They did actually put something together, but it was far from being a real television. As Garfield throws away the spare pieces, they become an electronic monster, the Glitch. The Glitch transports Garfield into the television. Now he must defeat the Glitch and make his way out.

Gameplay

Garfield Caught in the Act MD, Hub.png

Hub level

The game is a platformer played as the cartoon cat Garfield, who is trapped in his TV. There is a hub level inside the TV that Garfield enters before each level. It contains a doorway to the next level. Garfield moves with Left and Right, crouches with Down, and jumps with C. He pushes some objects by moving into them and grabs onto ledges by jumping near them. He is equipped with a melee weapon that he swings with B. This weapon can be used an unlimited number of times to attack enemies in close range. He also has a projectile weapon that he throws with A. These are limited in supply. Garfield's appearance is themed to each level, which includes how his weapons look, but Garfield and his weapons behave identically regardless of the level. In some levels, he enters passageways with Up when standing on front of them.

Garfield has ten health points (indicated by a TV set in the corner of the screen). He loses a health point whenever he takes damage from an enemy or a hazard, and he loses a life and restarts the level if he loses all of his health points. The game ends if the player runs out of lives, but it can be continued if the player has continues remaining. There is also a password system for continuing.

There are two difficulty levels, Kitty and Normal, which are identical except that Kitty difficulty adds arrows to the levels that point in the right direction or toward important objects.

The original Mega Drive game features six levels. Sega Channel subscribers could download Garfield: The Lost Levels, which featured three additional levels. One of these levels, Alien Landscape, appears in the PC version of the game, and the remaining two levels, Bonehead the Barbarian and Slobbin Hood, appear in the Game Gear version.

Items

Garfield Caught in the Act MD, Items.png
Pizza
Restores some health points to Garfield.
Garfield Caught in the Act MD, Items.png
Hamburger
Restores some health points to Garfield.
Garfield Caught in the Act MD, Items.png
Ammunition
Increases Garfield's supply of projectile weapons by 2.
Garfield Caught in the Act MD, Items.png
Coffee Mug
Renders Garfield temporarily invincible.
Garfield Caught in the Act MD, Items.png
Pooky
Garfield's teddy bear, which acts as a continue marker where he revives after losing a life.
Garfield Caught in the Act MD, Items.png
Mallet Key
Unlocks a bonus level to be played after the current level is completed.
Garfield Caught in the Act MD, Items.png
Garfield
Gives the player an extra life.
Garfield Caught in the Act MD, Items.png
TV Remote
Goal that transports Garfield out of the level.

Levels

The level order for the Mega Drive version is: Count Slobula's Castle, Revenge of Orangebeard, Cave Cat 3,000,000 B.C., the Curse of Cleofatra, and Season Finale.

The level order for the PC version is: Cave Cat 3,000,000 B.C., the Curse of Cleofatra, Count Slobula's Castle, Revenge of Orangebeard, Catsablanca, Alien Landscape, and Season Finale.

GarfieldCitA MD CountSlobulasCastle.png

Garfield Caught in the Act MD, Stages, Count Slobula's Castle Boss.png

  • GarfieldCitA MD CountSlobulasCastle.png

  • Garfield Caught in the Act MD, Stages, Count Slobula's Castle Boss.png

Count Slobula's Castle

GarfieldCitA MD RevengeofOrangebeard.png

Garfield Caught in the Act MD, Stages, Revenge of Orangebeard Boss.png

  • GarfieldCitA MD RevengeofOrangebeard.png

  • Garfield Caught in the Act MD, Stages, Revenge of Orangebeard Boss.png

Revenge of Orangebeard
Password:
GarfieldCitA MD Sprites Password.png
GarfieldCitA MD Sprites Password.png
GarfieldCitA MD Sprites Password.png
 

GarfieldCitA MD CaveCat.png

Garfield Caught in the Act MD, Stages, Cave Cat Boss.png

  • GarfieldCitA MD CaveCat.png

  • Garfield Caught in the Act MD, Stages, Cave Cat Boss.png

Cave Cat 3,000,000 B.C.
Password:
GarfieldCitA MD Sprites Password.png
GarfieldCitA MD Sprites Password.png
GarfieldCitA MD Sprites Password.png
 

GarfieldCitA MD Catsablanca.png

Garfield Caught in the Act MD, Stages, Catsablanca Boss.png

  • GarfieldCitA MD Catsablanca.png

  • Garfield Caught in the Act MD, Stages, Catsablanca Boss.png

Catsablanca
Password:
GarfieldCitA MD Sprites Password.png
GarfieldCitA MD Sprites Password.png
GarfieldCitA MD Sprites Password.png
 

GarfieldCitA MD CurseofCleofatra.png

Garfield Caught in the Act MD, Stages, Curse of Cleofatra Boss.png

  • GarfieldCitA MD CurseofCleofatra.png

  • Garfield Caught in the Act MD, Stages, Curse of Cleofatra Boss.png

The Curse of Cleofatra
Password:
GarfieldCitA MD Sprites Password.png
GarfieldCitA MD Sprites Password.png
GarfieldCitA MD Sprites Password.png
 

GarfieldCitA PC AlienLandscape.png

Alien Landscape
Password:
GarfieldCitA MD Sprites Password.png
GarfieldCitA MD Sprites Password.png
GarfieldCitA MD Sprites Password.png
 
The level is exclusive to the PC version and Garfield: The Lost Levels. It has no boss encounter.

Garfield Caught in the Act MD, Stages, Final Boss.png

Season Finale

Bonus Levels

Garfield Caught in the Act MD, Bonus Stage, Whack-a-Mole.png

Whack-a-Mole
This is a whack-a-mole game played if the player finds a Mallet Key item in the preceding level. It can also be played from the options menu without playing the main game. The goal is to hit the characters that pop out of each hole before they go back in the hole. Each hole corresponds to a button on the Mega Drive's control pad: X, Y, and Z in the top row and A, B, and C for the bottom row. If the player does not have a Six Button Control Pad, Up+A, Up+B, and Up+C substitute for the top row. The player is a shown a character at the beginning that must not be hit; the bonus level ends if the player hits this character or fails to hit another character. The player is not punished for hitting a space with no character. Occasionally, one of the letters comprising GARFIELD appears, and if the player hits all of these letters, the game awards an extra continue.

Garfield Caught in the Act MD, Bonus Stage, Commercial Break.png

Commercial Break
This bonus level is played after each level. Garfield flies through a tunnel and must collect a certain number of Pookies before the tunnel ends for an extra life or a continue (the number required increases as the game goes on). Garfield moves using the D-Pad. Coffee mugs boost Garfield's speed, while blue energy balls slow him.

History

Development

Main article: Garfield: Caught in the Act/Development.

Production credits

Mega Drive version

Sega Interactive Development
  • Lead Programmer: Michael Fernie
  • Lead Artists: Michael Chung, Art Wong
  • Programmers: Kevin Burley, Ala D. Diaz, John LaSalvia, Pravin Wagh
  • Artists: Robert Barrett, Kathleen Bruno, Sandra B. Christensen, Petra Evers, Maureen Kringen, Michael Tamura, Rob Titus
  • Music Director: Tristan des Prés
  • Music: Tristan des Prés, Dwight Stone, Jeffrey Glenn Tveraas
  • Sound Effects: David Delia, Jeffrey Glenn Tveraas
  • Audio Programmer: James Dobson
  • Project Managers: David Brooks, Frank Hsu
  • Special Thanks: Carmen Bayacal, Rachel Wong Coleman, Kenneth C. Dullea III, Jack Loh, Nancy Nakamoto, Rodney Nakamoto
Source:
In-game credits
Garfield Caught in the Act MD credits.pdf
[4]

Windows PC version

POV
  • Game Engine: Kevin Burley
  • Game Conversion: Kevin Burley
  • Windows Shell: Mike Terlecki
Sega InterActive Development Divison
  • Lead Progammer: Michael Fernie
  • Lead Artist: Mike Chung, Art Wong
  • Programmers: Kevin Burley, Ala Diaz, John Lasalvia, Pravin Wagh
  • Artists: Kathleen Bruno, Robert Barrett, Sandy Christensen, Maureen Kringen, Michael Tamura, Rob Titus, Petra Evers
  • Music Director: Tristan Des Pres
  • Music: Jeffrye Tveraas, Dwight Stone
  • Sound Effects: Jeffrye Tveraas, Dave Delia
  • Audio Programming: Jim Dobson
  • Project Management: David Brooks
Special Thanks
  • Thanks To: Carmen Bayacal, Joyce Takakura, Jack Loh, Rachel Coleman, Ken Dullea, Rod Nakamoto, Nancy Nakamoto
  • Special Thanks To: Jim Davis, Jill Hahn, Glenn Zimmerman, Mark Acey and all the folks at Paws
Source:
In-game credits

  • PC Conversion: Kevin Burley
  • Windows Code: Kevin Burley, Mike Terlecki
  • Producer: Mark Nausha
Source:
US manual
GCitA PC US Manual.pdf
[5]

Magazine articles

Main article: Garfield: Caught in the Act/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

GCitA MD-GG US PrintAdvert.jpg
Mega Drive US print advert
GCitA MD-GG US PrintAdvert.jpg

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
60
[6]
Consoles + (FR)
75
[7]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
60
[8]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
60
[9]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 6 (RU)
70
[10]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
80
[11]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
55
[12]
GamePro (DE)
47
[13]
Gamers (DE)
47
[14]
Hobby Consolas (ES) PAL
77
[15]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
65
[16]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
54
[17]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
67
[18]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
70
[19]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
85
[20]
Svet Igara (YU)
85
[21]
Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) PAL
67
[2]
Todo Sega (ES)
81
[22]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
79
[23]
Video Games (DE) PAL
59
[24]
Sega Mega Drive
67
Based on
20 reviews

Garfield: Caught in the Act

Mega Drive, US
GCItA MD US Box.jpg
Cover
GCitA MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
GCItA MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
Garfield CitA EU Cover.jpg
Cover
GCitA MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Garfield MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, PT
GCitA MD PT cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, SE (Rental)

Mega Drive, GR (Zegetron)

Mega Drive, AU
Garfield CitA MD AU Cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, BR
Garfield MD BR cover.jpg
Cover
GCitA MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, ZA
Garfield MD ZA Box Front.png
Cover
GCitA MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart

PC version

PC, US
GCitA PC US Box Front.jpg
Cover
GCitA PC US Manual.pdf
Manual
PC, US (Expert Software)
Garfield PC US ex back.jpgNospine.pngGarfield PC US ex front.jpg
Cover
Garfield pc us disc.jpg
Disc
Garfield pc us backcover.jpgGarfield pc us frontcover.jpg
Jewel Case
PC, US (Expert Software; alt)

Technical information

Main article: Garfield: Caught in the Act/Technical information.

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
CRC32 f0ff078e
MD5 b8591488ca46b51c1d39b6869fa23006
SHA-1 9fff7dea16c4d0e6c9d6dbaade20c7048bb485ec
2MB 1995-09 Cartridge (US/EU)

References


Garfield: Caught in the Act

Garfield CitA Title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Maps | Hidden content | Development | Magazine articles | Reception | Region coding | Bootlegs


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