Monday, March 24, 2008 Playing school, Bully edition By Carlo Carrasco Sun.Star Cybercafe contributor
WHEN Rockstar Games first released Bully on the PlayStation2 in 2006, it quickly generated controversy and for many reasons.
For one, the game puts players into the shoes of a rebellious student named Jimmy Hopkins, whose character was viewed negatively by concerned parents. Aside from that, the game played very much like the recent Grand Theft Auto games where gamers can do a lot of exploration and even exploit the people around. On top of that, sexuality played a strong and lasting role in the game’s narrative, and clever players can make the protagonist make out with female students in the school.
Despite the controversies, Bully still scored positively with the critics and sold well. In its quest to widen their franchise’s appeal, Rockstar recently released an updated version titled Bully:
Scholarship Edition for the Xbox 360.
Bully: Scholarship Edition is a sandbox game set in a campus. Players will meet the rebellious Jimmy and witness how his story unfolds based on how they play the game and how they make their decisions on key story points. In the school, Bullworth Academy, players can interact with other students (varied types like bookworms, jockey-types, etc.) and take part in class in interactive fashion via mini-games like scramble (for English class) and playing instruments (for Music class).
Outside of class, you’ll be able to explore the huge environment much like GTA, but the setting is smaller and the place has a somewhat laid-back feel as the story takes place in a town. The game is rich with mini-games and these are nicely spread all over the town. You can have slingshot sessions on the field, play for prizes on a theme park’s booth games, and more.
Most appealing to me is the freedom to interact with different personalities (bullies, weaklings, intellectual types) and getting the opportunity to make friends or rivals. The more you interact, the more you want to discover new characters and develop your relationships
with them.
Not only that, this game lets you test the boundaries of campus rules (like going out during curfews) as well as taking part in brawls. All the activities that you participate in will help you develop Jimmy in varied and interesting ways.
Is this game enhanced over the PS2 version? It’s a mix.
Yes, because this particular version has additional stuff like eight new missions, some new characters, a few new classes, more character customization options and Achievements points tracking.
No, because the graphical improvements are very minimal (with the exception of the higher resolution, the game still looks like a PS2 game), the load times were not improved and this game has some serious bugs that can ruin your play.
Despite its school setting, Bully: Scholarship Edition is a game that’s meant to be played by young adults and older.
It does not have the swearing, brutality and sexual flavors of the GTA games, but it does have enough mature elements that make it inappropriate for younger players.
Despite these, Bully: Scholarship Edition surprisingly has more than enough stuff to satisfy hardcore gamers. The elements that made it controversial are present but the ironic thing is that this game strongly encourages players to attend the classes (absences from them meant paying a price).
With Grand Theft Auto IV all set for a worldwide launch on April 29 , Bully: Scholarship Edition comes in as the most timely seat-warmer for it. Sandbox gamers should get this.
