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Since cartoonist Jim Davis dreamed up a certain orange cat in 1978, his life was never the same. The lasagne-loving lazybones we have come to know and love as Garfield now appears in over 1,200 newspapers around the world. Garfield television series, T-shirts and telephones are already a way of life for many - a game was perhaps inevitable.

This platformer opens with Garfield and Odie's evening viewing interrupted by an explosion inside their television set. Fearing retribution from his owner, Jon, Garfield endeavours to patch up the set using most of the remaining bits. Predictably, something goes horribly wrong - Garfield and Odie are sucked into the television set by a mysterious force. Garfield is forced to negotiate the electrically hazardous circuit boards inside the set, as well as battle Odie through reruns of the film genres still buzzing around the set.

As if the novelty of eliciting any movement at all from Garfield wasn't enough, the game promises cutesy animation, fiendish puzzles and a satisfyingly violent bonus level. And absolutely no lasagne.

Platform adventures with America's feline slob and his doggie nemesis.

Journey through the fantasy levels inside Garfield's broken television set, but watch out for Odie.

The game kicks off with a little preamble through Garfield's broken television set. If jumping on and off transistors and the like proves too much for you at this stage, then it's time to jack this in now.

The set from Plan 9 From Outer Space greets you on this, the first proper level. Running across cemeteries and in and out of tombs, reach the safety of the teleporting remote control by escaping the vampire bats, killer skeletons and, er, Odie.

The Castle Slobula boss level sees a hapless Garfield menaced by a vampirised flying Odie. Remember that one thing vampires can't stand is sunlight - keep bashing away at Odie until he is forced to retreat into one of his three coffis. When he's inside, jump on the lid and open the blind above, letting the sunlight in. Go through the process three times with all three blinds and you'll be granted access to the next level.

Escape from tombs by jumping on rising platforms that transport you to empty graves. Trigger the platforms by learning which of Odie's dangling tongues start the mechanisms.

You become a sabre-toothed pussy in this prehistoric level. New adversaries here include small thunder clouds which hover above you, waiting to strike you with lightning bolts. The 'Captain Caveman' baddies can also knock you for six if they catch up with you. Defend yourself with a carefully aimed bone.

The Cave Cat boss level puts you at the mercy of a giant green Odiesaurus which is stamping up and down above you, trying to knock you out in the ensuing avalanche. Knobble him by pushing the falling boulders and catapulting them skywards.

Garfield - hardly an animal dedicated to physical pursuits of any kind - was perhaps not the obvious choice to star in an energetic platformer. Still, at least he doesn't seem to have anything too geographically ambitious to tackle on each level.

Indeed, the decidedly unimaginative design of much of this game would suggest more of a dash from one side of the screen to the other, rather than the meandering explorations I enjoy in games of this type.

Despite the game's impressive size, it really is rather ated by current Megadrive standards, and the imposition of a curiously inappropriate licence doesn't help.

Why? That's the only thing I can really say about this sorry platformer. Even though it does contain some nice little graphical touches, like Garfield being eaten by the TV (if only!), and doing dances when you leave him standing still (which will probably be all of the time!), Garfield is one of the worst games I have ever had the misfortune to play.

It gets too frustrating too quickly, and there are not enough clues about what it is you're supposed to be doing. It's slow, dull, and not much goes on at the best of times. In short, it's about as exciting as a waterproof anorak stand at a trainspotters' convention. Avoid at all costs.

Graphics 69%
P. Garfield himself is quite faithfully realised.
N. Much less effort was clearly spent on the bland backgrounds.

Animation 67% N. Strenuous movement can cause flickering.

Music 65%
P. Jazzy tunes reminiscent of the Garfield television series.
N. Nothing even remotely memorable beyond the titles.

Effects 60%
N. Nothing outstanding here.

Playability 69%
N. Hampered by overly oblique puzzles, suspect crash detection and sluggish character control.

Lastability 66%
N. Ditto, with the unadventurous level structures providing little incentive to keep playing.

Overall 67%
Unless you're desperate to see Garfield on your Megadrive, you'd be best advised to look elsewhere for your platform fun.