Though Curious George for Xbox does a good job of visually emulating the re-envisioned, cel-shaded, computer-imaging imaginings of the new movie based on the old kids books, to play it is probably too difficult for its intended audience.

Controlling George trough a variety of typical A to B, platform hopping, balloon borrowing, banana filching tasks, while clearly designed to appeal to kids aged 5 - 8, has all the technical conundrums of a bad action/adventure game made for older gamers.

Lining up a jump from vine to vine or chandelier to window ledge, for example, is an unforgiving affair; impossible if the swooping camera angle decides to go goofy on you, which it does, randomly, or sometimes not at all and our hapless monkey disappears off camera for a while, perfectly safe though you'd never know it.

There's also the frequent need for a well timed double jump. Good luck with that, Suzy. Precision double-tap at a jump's zenith or you'll never accomplish any given level's otherwise simple objective. A game needs to be easier than this if it's going to engage the tots; more perilous if it's going to attract older kids.

Curious George smacks of off-the-shelf game design with some balloons thrown in; a rush-to-deadline job that's going to sell well based on the bright, yellow-hat flavored jacket, surely overlooked by actual game enthusiasts yet eagerly snatched up by hordes of soccer-moms because it looks like an obvious kiddie game that veritably screams "add-to-cart" and maybe nobody will notice its shortcomings.