Bully Scholarship Edition Review

Platform: Nintendo Wii/Xbox 360/PC

Genre: Action

Published By: Rockstar Games

Developed By: Rockstar Vancouver

ESRB Rating: T

Overview: Bully Scholarship Edition is an enhanced version of the original Bully for the Playstation 2. The Scholarship Edition included several new missions, new classes, new characters, new rewards, and also Multiplayer Mini Games for 2 players. The game takes place in a fictional boarding school in New England named Bullworth Academy. The player controls a young 15 year old boy name Jimmy Hopkins, who has been expelled from previous schools because of his mischief. His mother and new stepfather places him in Bullworth Academy while they go on a year long honeymoon. Throughout the game, you go through several chapters, each focusing on trying to control one of the several cliques. In order to beat the chapter, you have to go through missions, some needed to be done in order to move forward in the game, and some are optional that are just there to unlock new things. After you successfully complete a mission, you will get rewards, including money, clothing, and also new items/weapons. Also, usually in a mandatory mission, some or one of the cliques respect for you will either increase or decrease. The lower the respect level, the more likely the clique members will bully or even attack you when you are in their sight. While you have to complete missions in order to continue through the game, you have the option of attending classes in order to gain new and improved skills, clothing, or items. When you are skipping class, prefects/cops will go after you, and if they succeed in catching you, you are sent straight to class. The more pranks and fights you start, the higher your trouble meter goes, which raises the authority figures attention on you. If caught, you may have to serve detention.

The main object of the game is to gain the respect of all the cliques and fight the final boss by doing the mandatory missions.

Single or Multiplayer: The main game is for one player with an option of playing mini games with up to 2 players

Difficulty: The game is easy at first, but as you progress through it, some of the missions started to get trickier. There are missions that are later in the game that are extremely easy, but mainly they get difficult as the game goes on. The classes work the same way as well.

Age: The game is meant for mid age teens (15+). The game is not as violent as other Rockstar games, but it is not meant for young kids. This is because throughout almost all of the missions, you have to fight or use weapons against other people. There is also some sexual themes and the use of alcohol and smoking shown. The game is not recommended for children or teens without a certain mental maturity level.

Game Length: If you are playing Bully for the first time, the game is significantly long, especially when doing the tricky missions. If you choose to try and complete the entire game, with all stats to 100%, then the game will be even longer, taking up to many game days to complete. However, if you have played Bully several times before, then the game length will shorten a little.

Replay: It is a good replay game, whether if you are trying to get 100% this time, you just want to see the funny cut scenes again, or just like beating up everyone in general.

Effects/Graphics: The graphics are decent, but the movement of the characters is more realistic. The sound effects however are much better, and since almost everyone says something in the game (whether in missions or just walking around), the game does seem almost lifelike.

Out of 1 through 5: **** = 4 stars

Final Thoughts: Bully Scholarship Edition is a very unique game, and the game experience is unlike any other game on a Nintendo Console. The game is worth buying and keeping because even after you beat it the first time, there is always the want to complete it with 100% in all stats. If you are looking for a game that is humorous but also for young mature audiences, then this is the game for you.