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| '''Bully: Scholarship Edition''' is a re-release of [[Bully]] for the [[PS2]], [[Xbox 360]], [[Wii]], [[Windows]], [[PS4]], [[iOS]] and [[Android]] Not everyone grows up to be a jewel thief or a criminal mastermind, but loads of people were students at some point in their lives. Rockstar Games, the makers of the critically acclaimed Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series, developed a game in 2006 that comes off as a T-rated, toned-down version of GTA. Unlike the GTA series, there are no guns or blood. Instead, you use potato launchers and slingshots. Getting in trouble will not get you a “Wasted” screen but rather a “Busted” scene. [https://moteefe.com/store/bully-game-merch Bully: Scholarship Edition] is an open-world game where you play as fifteen year-old delinquent Jimmy Hopkins, who spends the game navigating boarding school Bullworth Academy. In an environment riddled with stereotypical cliques and corrupt authority figures, you have to learn how to make a name for yourself and become King of the School. | | '''Bully: Scholarship Edition''' is a re-release of [[Bully]] for the [[PS2]], [[Xbox 360]], [[Wii]], [[Windows]], [[PS4]], [[iOS]] and [[Android]] |
| The first chapter of this game is essentially the tutorial chapter and your initiation into Bullworth Academy. Unfortunately, the open-world aspect of the game is locked until you beat this chapter. Without any fighting skills or protective weapons, and a large number of students who hate the new kid (a.k.a. you), you are left to fend for yourself. The rundown of the first chapter is to attend classes, learn your way around the school, and of course, build some reputation for yourself. Fair warning: in this chapter, every clique, besides the nerds, will try to assault you and interrupt the missions you need to progress. These cliques involve the bullies, preps, greasers, jocks and townies. However, once you beat the first chapter, the school gates open and the game world opens up completely to the player.
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| To avoid spoilers, I am not going to detail every chapter of the game and what it entails. However, beating the story missions allows you to build a reputation and slowly earn respect from the various cliques in the game. Earning respect means cliques are less likely to attack you, and when other cliques do try to fight you, your new allies are willing to protect you.
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| Beating the story missions allows you to build a reputation and slowly earn respect from the various cliques in the game. Photo courtesy of Jason Le ʼ23.
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| The story missions in this game are as serious or ridiculous (depending on your point of view), as they are in GTA. For instance, you might find yourself going on a date with the prettiest girl in school, only to have yourself set up in a trap by the greasers. Someone might steal your trophy for winning the town’s bike race. You will have to enter an abandoned apartment in search of some items while greasers are throwing firecrackers and swinging their sledge hammers at you. On the ridiculous end, you might have to help a drunk Santa Claus get his business back by vandalizing the opposing business at their photoshoot. The main missions give you a wide variety of things to do and moments to enjoy.
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| The gameplay is quite interesting. Similar to GTA and even real life, there are things you can and cannot do. While in high school, you are not allowed to experience an open-world without going through some hoops. For instance, you will get into some trouble for not following the dress code, cutting class, bullying your fellow classmates, or outright physically assaulting a student or prefect. However, just because something is not allowed, does not mean you cannot do it. The weapons you are given are a toned down version of weapons you would find in GTA. Rather than guns, you can earn firecrackers, itching powder, marbles, a potato gun and much more.
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| Attending Chemistry class can offer you a chem set that allows you to make some stink bombs and firecrackers. Photo courtesy of Jason Le ʼ23.
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| Bully offers a wide variety of things to do outside the main missions. For instance, there are plenty of collectibles, classes to take, races to complete, costumes to unlock, and much more. The game offers players bike races and go-kart races after completing a certain mission on top of other mini-games. You can attend classes to earn some perks that will help you throughout the game. For example, attending Chemistry class can offer you a chem set that allows you to make some stink bombs and firecrackers. Attending English class will increase your charisma which you can use to either insult your classmates or apologize to class bullies. Side missions allow you to earn money to buy new bikes, ammo and pay off bullies to prevent them from attacking you. This can be helpful, especially early in the game. Unique to Bully: Scholarship Edition are the new additions to the game, years after the initial 2006 release of Bully. This version of the game includes four new classes: Biology, Music, Math, and Geography, eight new missions and various costumes to unlock.
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| Aside from Jimmy Hopkins, the characters in this game are overtly ridiculous. While running around the map, you will often hear characters say questionable but hilarious things as they go about their school days. Prefects and teachers will act hostile in a way that screams “midlife crisis.” Cliques fit their respective story archetypes and are extremely stereotypical. Greasers act like the typical teenage wannabe gangsters. Preps flaunt their wealth and find every opportunity to brag about it. Jocks are portrayed as meatheads who love nothing more than beating up a nerd. The nerds constantly play a knockoff version of Dungeons and Dragons while camping at the library or arcade. Townies hate the students. Bullies are just there to be bullies. Funny as it is, the quirkiness of the characters never fail to impress me.
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| Of course, there are a couple bugs that are an issue. The biggest issue is that sometimes missions fail to load. This requires the player to restart the game, which already takes a hefty amount of time, even with a mid-tier PC. Sometimes, players will randomly fall out of the world, clip through walls, be trapped in certain spots or even clip through the bed. Windows 10 also has a notorious bug that crashes the game. Unfortunately, Rockstar refuses to fix these bugs, forcing players to rely on fan made patches.
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| Since Rockstar Games released the original version in 2006 and remastered it as Bully: Scholarship Edition in 2008, the graphics are outdated for 2021 standards. Cutscenes are less cinematic and not up to par with other Rockstar Games. The dated quality of the character models and game mechanics can also make the game feel awkward. Stealth mechanics are unrefined, while some other levels are overly simplistic, involving just running around and pushing people. However, the vast number of things to do and the variety of missions almost make you forget its flaws.
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| If you’re looking for a toned down version of GTA and a worthwhile open world game, give Bully a try and see what it has to offer. Rockstar Games made Bully available on PS2, and its subsequent remasters have made it available on PC, Xbox 360 (and Xbox One through backwards compatibility), Wii, iOS, and Android devices.
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| Both versions contained new missions and subjects on top of all the original [[Bully|PlayStation 2 version]] content and two player mini-games; additionally, the Wii version implemented motion controls into gameplay in many situations. | | Both versions contained new missions and subjects on top of all the original [[Bully|PlayStation 2 version]] content and two player mini-games; additionally, the Wii version implemented motion controls into gameplay in many situations. |
