Curious George Review on Game Boy Advance

Most anyone reading this will know who Curious George is, he is a monkey that is well, curious. Pretty simple premise for a children’s television show that airs on PBS networks and is popular. We are focusing on the licensed title for the GBA here so enough talk of the show.

The story behind the game is good hearted and, as is most stories, forgettable since it doesn’t really impact the game levels (though there are slide shows between levels to help guide the story along). George is trying to find an artifact unique enough to save the museum where the “man in the yellow hat” works, which is in danger of closing.

I came into this review with a chip on my shoulder, there is no way that a licensed game about a children’s property involving a monkey that is nosy was going to be good. I was completely wrong, while Curious George is not the perfect platformer, it is not the worst. The play mechanics are just as complex as those of Super Mario Bros, just with a more kiddie friendly wrapping, which obviously will turn off many gamers, too bad, they don’t know what they are missing.

Licensed titles usually are crappy efforts that aren’t worth buying, let alone playing. Anyone ever play Total Recall on the original NES? The Rocketeer on SNES? Should I list some more? Curious George is one of the rare titles that breaks out of the predefined mold that so many have fallen into before, and after (boy do we have some crappy licensed games in the decade or so since this game was released). Action adventure fans will be right at home with Curious George, platforms are well placed and there are very few unfair hits (falling into the water and hitting an eel in the jungle levels jumps to mind).

Offensively, there isn’t much that poor old George can do to the enemies in the levels other than avoid them. Even Sonic has the capability to bash enemies off the screen and out of harming him, George can’t even do that. This is probably due to the non-violent nature of the license which is used in the game as well as it can be. Avoiding enemies and trying to get as many of those lightning bugs as you possibly can, which act as coins for Mario or rings for Sonic, get 100 of them and you get an extra life. This is not that much of a necessity as there are more than enough to go around (by the time I reached the third level, I had over 12 lives in reserve already without going out of my way for bugs).

Interacting with the environment was a nice little touch, throughout the levels you will come across plants, crates, statues, and whatever else. Stand in front of these and press the R trigger George will tap them causing them to relinquish their hidden lightning bugs (usually 10 or so, so search them out).

If you are an action gamer fan, get over the license situation and check out Curious George for the GBA. The challenge level is set lower than Sonic or Mario but don’t let that turn you away, just enjoy it and search every level high and low.

Curious George by Namco
Developer: Torus Games
Platform: Game Boy Advance
Genre: Action-Platform, License/Not just for kids
Rated: E for Everyone
Score: 75/100
Available at most used game stores