A Week of Garfield (Famicom) Playthrough
5Playthrough of A Week of Garfield (Garfield no Isshukan/ガーフィールドの一週間), Towa Chiki's 1989 action platformer for the Nintendo Famicom.
A Week of Garfield is a 1989 side-scrolling action platformer for the Family Computer (Famicom), developed by Mars Corporation and published by Towa Chiki. It was released exclusively in Japan, which makes it something of a curiosity for Garfield fans and collectors outside the region.
The game’s story is straightforward: Garfield sets out on a weeklong search to rescue his missing friend Odie. Each of the seven stages represents a day of the week, and Garfield must make his way through different areas filled with enemies such as birds, spiders, frogs, and mice. His primary attack is a short-range judo kick, but power-ups add variety, allowing him to throw bones, use bombs, gain super speed, or even enjoy temporary invincibility with lasagna. Hidden items provide health and other benefits, though not every item found is helpful.
Levels are designed with locked doors and hidden keys that must be found to progress, often encouraging exploration and attention to detail. Each stage is timed, adding a layer of urgency that pushes the player to keep moving forward.
Visually, the game captures Garfield’s distinct look in its own way, with recognizable character sprites and colorful, if simple, environments. The presentation reflects the 8-bit era well and gives the game a nostalgic charm. The soundtrack is light and repetitive, but it adds to the quirky, offbeat atmosphere of Garfield’s adventure.
The gameplay is challenging, with enemies placed to keep the player on their toes and hazards that require careful movement. The mechanics can feel stiff at first, but with practice, players may find a sense of rhythm in the timing of jumps and attacks. The lack of modern conveniences such as continues or generous checkpoints makes progress demanding, but it also provides a sense of accomplishment when a level is finally mastered.
While not the most polished platformer of its time, A Week of Garfield offers a unique experience thanks to its unusual premise and Garfield’s enduring personality. For fans of the comic strip, there is something enjoyable about seeing the lazy cat thrown into such an active role. For retro enthusiasts, the game’s quirks and challenge make it an interesting title to explore, both as a piece of Garfield history and as an example of how licensed characters were adapted to video games in the late 1980s.