ic-games Review - Bully: Scholarship Edition - Reviews, Previews and Interviews for PC, Xbox 360, PS2, PS3 and Wii

ic-games Review - Bully: Scholarship Edition - Reviews, Previews and Interviews for PC, Xbox 360, PS2, PS3 and Wii ic-games Review - Home - Review, Preview and Interview for PC, Xbox,Xbox 360, PS2, PS3 and Wii

Bully: Scholarship Edition

Information
Reviewer: Liam Hunn
Developer: Rockstar Games
Publisher: Take2
Reviewed: Wii, Xbox 360
Genre: Action
UK Release: 04th Mar 2008
Article Date: 31st Mar 2008
Difficulty: N/A
Retail Price: £39.99
Price Comparison:
idealo.co.uk

Score Breakdown

Experience:
Gameplay:
Graphics:
Sound:
Overall Score: 87%

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Pros
Lots to do
Rockstar Wit

Cons
Long loading times

Screenshots

1 of 5

I never got to play the original version of Bully when it came out on the PS2. But I had heard it was a great game, and to say I was happy when I found out it was due a release on the 360 would be an understatement! And boy you won’t be disappointed if you’re planning on getting this game.

Bully: Scholarship edition is a port from the PS2 to Xbox 360, but has been well done. It does feel like a new game. Re-worked graphics, more levels, some form of multiplayer, new classes and characters and of course you now get achievements.

If you are like me and the rest of the IC-Games team and are impatiently waiting for GTA IV, I honestly can’t see another game out there that would be better to pass the time. Anything that involves Rock Star you know is going to be good and controversial.

Egg cars, give wedgies to geeks and nerds, pinch the girls bums and be a general pain to the schooling system. There’s even an opportunity to break some gravestones and smash some pumpkins. But you can always be a “goody goody” and go to class. Or perform one of the side missions that keep popping out throughout the game. Getting the idea yet? This game is full of stuff for you to do and it’s a game you can quite happily sit down and play with for a few hours solid, with no issues of boredom creeping in.

Of course, the point of going to school is to go to class, or that’s at least what we are told. Not so in the case of Bully. It’s up to you whether or not you go to class. But be warned, play truant you’ll have the prefects and teachers looking for you. If they find you, it’s straight off to class for you young lad. You’re not safe in the town either. If a police officer sees you during school hours he’ll march you straight back.

But being at school isn’t all bad. Each class is basically a mini game, with 10 classes in total and 2 available each day. Complete the mini game and you’ll complete that lesson for the day. Doing so unlocks new things such as weapons or clothing. So, going to school really is beneficial!

There are also missions to perform around the school and the large game map. Some people will ask you to collect things, perform a certain amount of actions such as set off a fire alarm or put 3 people in a bin.

There are also missions that need to be done to progress through the game. For example, one mission requires you to find all of the alcohol hidden by a teacher. Doing so unlocks the camera which in turn unlocks the photography class.

Then as well as the missions and classes, you have the achievements to unlock as well which will keep you busy and they mostly tie in nicely with the game as all of these things need to be done to get 100% in the game. Kick a football so many times. Setting off the fire alarm is another one and egging a car to name just three. There are radio transmitters to find for the homeless guy who will teach you new fight moves, and also the usual collectable missions which in Bully are find all the elastic bands and also to find some cards that are scattered around the map.

But there is another point to doing all of these side missions. At school there are different groups or “standings”. The nerds and jocks are the ones you think of straight away. But in Bully, you also have the Preppies, a group of rich brats, Greasers are the type of people you see in “Grease” as they all wear leather jackets and tend to make your life really difficult. The school also has Prefects, Girls and Teachers, with Townies found outside of the school.

But the main point of these groups are to make your life at the school as difficult or as easy as possible. It’s up to you how you want things to run in the school. You see, you have a social standing with each group, and performing certain actions will affect your standing with each group. So bully and commit pranks on one group will see your standing with them take a hit, but it could also rise with another. Play the groups well and life will be easy for you!

The game did have some bad publicity when it first hit the shelves. Many users complained about frame rate issues while playing. I have to say that I personally haven’t had an issue on that front. And since then there has been an update to resolve any issue people may have had.

The graphics aren’t brilliant. Some parts of the game do look better than others, and you get the occasional glitch or error, but being honest, they are hardly noticeable and don’t harm any of the enjoyment you will have from this game. Plus, there are worse looking games currently on the 360. This isn’t one of them! The one thing I will complain about is the very long loading times between every single thing you do. Go from one location to another and you’ll have another loading scene to watch. Again!

If it is something to pass the time with until GTA IV comes out then look no further than Bully. But I do feel you will be serving the game a huge injustice. This is a top class game that deserves the credit and respect it has been getting. But you do get the feeling Rock Star have released this as a stop gap for GTA fans. If it had been released at any other time then it would have had a longer life. With GTA IV just around the corner, it won’t. But don’t let that stop you from buying this game. Quite simply, it’s a game your collection needs.

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