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Pardon the dust! This page includes some jargon that hasn't been added to the site's glossary yet. I'll be around to fix this later, but sorry for the inconvenience in the meantime. |
Review: Garfield Kart
At a Glance
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How to Save and Pause:You can't save during a race, but the outcome of the race will automatically be recorded, as will any items you purchase from the in-game shop. To pause the game, press ESC at any time. Time needed per session:Races tend to last for two to three minutes, while a full Grand Prix can take fifteen minutes or more, so plan on playing for at least twenty minutes at a time.
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Does this game pose issues for Christian players?
 | No - this is a great game for Christians Players can sabotage other racers by tossing pies or other hazards in their way, but that's about it. |
Screenshots
![[view screenshot]](../images/screenshots/garfield_kart_0.jpg)
![[view screenshot]](../images/screenshots/garfield_kart_1.jpg)
![[view screenshot]](../images/screenshots/garfield_kart_2.jpg)
Game Overview
It seems like everyone wants to get in on the mascot-driven kart racer action these days. Today's randomly chosen mascot is Garfield, the titular character of many comics, cartoons, and movies. Although the lasagna-loving feline and his large ensemble cast are very popular and known for being family friendly, they don't seem like a good choice for a racing game, but somehow the developers managed to make it work.
Like most other kart racers, there is no story or campaign. The player simply selects the type of game they want to play, the tracks to race on, and then assembles their car from a list of available drivers, bodies, spoilers, hats, and boosters. Once these choices are made, the race begins, and after the race or cup is won, the player returns to the main menu to do it all over again.
Creating a customized car every race may sound tedious, but there's a good reason for it - unlike kart racers where the roster is limited to a few fixed options, here you can fine-tune your racing experience piece by piece. The character doing the driving determines how the car will handle, and you can make smaller adjustments by equipping different spoilers. Hats are optional, but they tweak how the game's unique items function during the race. Boosters cost a few coins to purchase, but they give you other advantages that may make a race easier. On the other hand, the car's body (or paint job) is simply cosmetic, so you're free to choose them based on looks rather than functionality.
Speaking of the items you can collect during a race, this game doesn't follow the traditional item types. Normally, there is a projectile, a shield, a speed boosting item, and one or two traps that can stall cars behind you. Items like these do exist in Garfield Kart (they're the pies, perfume, and lasagna respectively), but most of the items you'll find are entirely unique to this game. Pillows put the other racers to sleep, cursed gems explode after a delay, a magic wand allows you to trade places with another racer, and then there's the most devastating trap in the game: a group of UFOs that snare racers in their tractor beams!
Yet, as cool as these new toys are, it's worth mentioning that they are not given out randomly. When you collect an item pickup, the items you can get will be determined by where you are in the race. The best items, like the UFOs, are only available to the stragglers who need the extra help. Racers in the front usually gets pies or other less effective things. Players are divided over whether or not this is a good thing. Personally, I think so, as it levels the playing field a little.
All in all, this turned out to be a fun little racing game, though there's at least one major flaw that prevents it from being truly great: there's no multiplayer option. Playing games alone is fine for some, but this is a genre that thrives on friends playing with each other. Without this option, it'll get boring fairly quickly.
Like most other kart racers, there is no story or campaign. The player simply selects the type of game they want to play, the tracks to race on, and then assembles their car from a list of available drivers, bodies, spoilers, hats, and boosters. Once these choices are made, the race begins, and after the race or cup is won, the player returns to the main menu to do it all over again.
Creating a customized car every race may sound tedious, but there's a good reason for it - unlike kart racers where the roster is limited to a few fixed options, here you can fine-tune your racing experience piece by piece. The character doing the driving determines how the car will handle, and you can make smaller adjustments by equipping different spoilers. Hats are optional, but they tweak how the game's unique items function during the race. Boosters cost a few coins to purchase, but they give you other advantages that may make a race easier. On the other hand, the car's body (or paint job) is simply cosmetic, so you're free to choose them based on looks rather than functionality.
Speaking of the items you can collect during a race, this game doesn't follow the traditional item types. Normally, there is a projectile, a shield, a speed boosting item, and one or two traps that can stall cars behind you. Items like these do exist in Garfield Kart (they're the pies, perfume, and lasagna respectively), but most of the items you'll find are entirely unique to this game. Pillows put the other racers to sleep, cursed gems explode after a delay, a magic wand allows you to trade places with another racer, and then there's the most devastating trap in the game: a group of UFOs that snare racers in their tractor beams!
Yet, as cool as these new toys are, it's worth mentioning that they are not given out randomly. When you collect an item pickup, the items you can get will be determined by where you are in the race. The best items, like the UFOs, are only available to the stragglers who need the extra help. Racers in the front usually gets pies or other less effective things. Players are divided over whether or not this is a good thing. Personally, I think so, as it levels the playing field a little.
All in all, this turned out to be a fun little racing game, though there's at least one major flaw that prevents it from being truly great: there's no multiplayer option. Playing games alone is fine for some, but this is a genre that thrives on friends playing with each other. Without this option, it'll get boring fairly quickly.
Points of Interest
Many things to collect or unlock
As you play the game, you'll collect coins that can be used to unlock new items in the in-game store. You'll also sometimes win a new item upon completing a race. Hats and spoilers also come in tiers, with the more rare tiers being more powerful than the others.
Each race track is also home to three jigsaw puzzle pieces. These are often hidden and tricky to spot, but finding them all rewards you with a new picture in the game's gallery section.
Each race track is also home to three jigsaw puzzle pieces. These are often hidden and tricky to spot, but finding them all rewards you with a new picture in the game's gallery section.
Daily challenges
In addition to the normal racing modes (single race, cup, and time trial), there is a daily challenge option. This mode gives the player a specific task to complete, and offers new hats, spoilers, or other items as rewards. The length of these challenges can range from a single race to an entire circuit, so plan ahead if you're short on time.
No multiplayer support
This is a serious flaw for a kart racing game. In fact, multiplayer gaming is so central to the success of a kart racer that publishing a game without it is like selling lasagna without the meat sauce. Some people may enjoy it, but the majority will move on once something better comes along.
Heavy grinding
Making it so players need to unlock content is often a good way to make replaying a game more rewarding, but this time there is a little problem. Nearly everything in the in-game store is expensive. You'll need to endure days of repetitive gameplay in order to unlock the best items, some of which aren't even available in the store at first. Car bodies, which don't even effect gameplay at all, are especially expensive.
Occasional end of race bug
At the end of a race, the player is shown a short cutscene and returned to the main menu. When you unlock something, this is where you'll see the message. Unfortunately, the game sometimes gets stuck on this screen, playing the cutscenes in an endless loop. The only way off this screen is to close the game. On the plus side, you do keep any coins you earned during the race.
Concerns and Issues
Mild violence
This wouldn't be a proper kart racer without the ability to disrupt other racers, so everyone is able to cause trouble by throwing pies, planting explosive gems, and using other means to stall out or slow down someone else. None of this is actually depicted violently - at most, the victim will spin around in the air for a moment.