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After two years of waiting, Rockstar’s school-based GTA makes its way onto the Xbox360. The question; is there any change to the original Bully which graced the PS2? Well, that can be answered straight away, yes and no. The game is the same but there are some subtle differences which add a fair bit of tweakage to the gameplay. Unusually, when Bully (or Canis Canem Edit) was originally released on the PS2, it surprisingly never really garnered any great praise, especially as it was a Rockstar title. The most logical reason for a lack of attention was because it was so late in the day for Sony’s console, but that’s all changed with Rockstar giving Bully the Xbox360 treatment.

We must lay the foundation to this review and that is that Bully: Scholarship Edition it is a PS2 game. There is no doubt about it; its look and feel has ‘dated’ stamped all over it. Not one part of the game looks ‘next-gen.’ It feels as if it’s a title that’s been ported from a later generation console to an earlier one, not the other way around. The graphics look outmoded and arguably even a little bit chunky. Characters have the distinctive ‘fingers that are superglued together’ effect along with a severe lack of blinking of the eyes. It sounds like we dislike the game, but surprisingly enough, we didn’t. If you’re looking for a schoolyard romp simulation Bully can’t be beaten, but then again its competition is thin. So what exactly makes Bully: Scholarship Edition so endearing? It’s everything mentioned above. In an industry that revels in the constant advancement of technology and graphical power, the chunky graphics and appealing storyline creates a fantastic experience.

Take the plot for example. It revolves around Jimmy Hopkins, the stereotypical school dropout, who has been expelled from every school that he has ever been to. He’s then subjected to the dreaded ‘new kid’ treatment at the toughest boarding school around, Bullworth Academy. Expectantly, as the year flies by Jimmy hits it off with his fellow pupils and gains both popularity and power in the process. The storyline is genuinely funny and should not be missed. It’s well thought out, well acted and gleams care and attention. It plays out over five chapters in which you’re tasked with conquering five cliques (groups of similar children) to gain your rightful role as ‘leader’ of the school. It’s not original in films or literature, but it’s a new concept found in video games.

The story is strong enough to cover up some of the weaknesses in the gameplay. For example missions are rinsed and repeated style and they’ve got a severe case of “haven’t I just done this?” The main story doesn’t take that long to complete, but there is some value in completing the game’s side-missions, which show’s off the game’s sense of humour and unrelenting satirical edge. The main area where Bully: Scholarship Edition shines is in its characters. They really are world unto themselves. Each character injects some new favour into the game. It fully represents a microcosm of school life. The feeling of nostalgia is captured in such a way that it feels like it has hit the nail spot on its head perfectly. When the characters engage in combat with you, or with each other, their personalities shine through. A prime example is where the Geeks come to fisticuffs, they don’t throw punches, they charge in just flailing. Elsewhere the jocks shoulder charge like they are playing American football.

Even with its niggles, outdated graphics and repetitive mission structure, Bully feels like it deserves a place in the Xbox360’s catalogue. There is a very robust storyline, but then again what else have we have come to expect from Rockstar. In true typical fashion there are some seriously memorable characters. It's difficult to write much more, as they aren't any multiplayer components. Bully is a chief example of where the good outweighs the bad. Hopefully Bully can really make it to the top of the class second time around and get the A that it deserves.

Score: 8/10

Alec is the newest member to the team and when not bullying small children, he's playing on his Nintendo DS or Playstation 3. He'll be handling those platforms as well as general content. Good luck Alec, welcome to Avid Gamer.

	1. 24-05-2008 01:21
	I love this game. I'm not too often impressed, but this game did it for me. The interactivity is great. I just wish there was more customization. Guest Report

Kyle Kimoto

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