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RockStar Games have a penchant for attracting attention.
The cynical amongst us would say that the company have created a
business model around the idea that if a game attracts publicity for
being over-the-top; it will sell, whilst the more conservative
amongst us might suggest that RockStar Games simply like to produce
fictional playgrounds of an adult nature with wish-fulfilment in
abundance. Whatever the case may be, the games they produce sell.
Even
RockStar Game Presents: Table Tennis, the most unlikely of
candidates, performed greater than anyone could have expected, and
yet Bully, renamed Canis Canem Edit for it’s European
PlayStation2 roll-out under censorship and media pressure, although
easily having recouped any productions costs, could easily have been
said to have performed under expectations.
And so here we are, with Bully: Scholarship Edition
for the Xbox360 (also being simultaneously released on Wii). A
concession to the title’s underperformance at retail? Or perhaps
simply a wish on behalf of it’s developers to widen the title’s
potential audience, and have more people play their game? Whatever
the reason, Bully: Scholarship Edition is fundamentally the
same game that launched on PlayStation2 in 2006.
A Third-Person Action-Adventure title, set in the
sandbox of Bullworth Academy and the surrounding town, with a host
of unwelcoming characters and a taste for the uncomfortable,
Bully: Scholarship Edition has all the hallmarks of a more
traditional RockStar Games release. Where in which the original had
been criticised for allowing people – especially children – to enact
the role of a bully at school, the point had clearly been missed.
Assuming the role of the extremely troubled Jimmy Hopkins, the
players’ main goals begin as that of a peacekeeper, defending nerds
from bullies and running errands. It’s only as the story rolls-on
does the player become forced in a merciless agenda, and even then,
it’s with good, moral intentions.
The Missions in the title roll-through five Chapters –
each progressing through the school year – and guide you along an
inviting, if well-trodden, storyline. The Missions vary from a wide
range of tasks, such as getting to places, beating bosses,
outwitting nerds and many more. Each begins with a Cut-Scene
explaining the activity and all have been well realised. Most
Missions are limited by the in-game clock – to which the player is
at all times held hostage. If in bed by 2am, Jimmy will awake at
8:30am without fail. However, Jimmy will pass-out immediately at 2am
should you not
 make it, and things begin to get hazy around 1:30am.
Also, the area – both school and town – is patrolled by Prefects,
Police, Teachers and various other nasties that want to keep you
down. Get caught by one of these and your Mission will end, and
should a Lesson be in progress, you will immediately be forced to
take it.
Lessons in the title are presented as Mini-Games.
Dissections for Biology, rhythm puzzles for Chemistry and Music,
word puzzles for English and basic Maths solutions for, well, Maths.
Each of these is entertaining and is a well presented use of the
subject matter; it’s clear that no aspect of the environment has
been ill-considered. The animation is everything; RockStar Games’
Bully: Scholarship Edition isn’t without flaws – far from it –
but it’s a larger than life world. Jimmy Hopkins is a supposedly
lower class student of low intellect and a troublesome background,
but with a surprisingly adult wit, and so acts as a presence
intimidating similar to the four lead kids from South Park,
and as immediately likeable. The rest of the cast represent RockStar
Games’ fondness of the most grotesque and unsightly of human
characteristics as any of the Grand Theft Auto and
Manhunt
series. Single stereotypes fleshed-out and personified; the
drunken bum Santa, the pervert teacher, the unwashed, overweight
cook, the ape-like bully and the geek; all imaginable before even a
single piece of character art has been shown, and all exactly how
many would imagine them.
Unfortunately, bugs litter the game – speech samples
informing you it’s an English Class when the Loading Screen (of
which there are far too many) clearly stated it was Maths,
Re-Spawning at the wrong Checkpoint, inaccurate control set-up
information, sticking points and hilariously bad physics are all
common in a brief hour play. The Lock-On System is woefully
inaccurate, often resulting in the player hitting their team-mate as
opposed to their rival – and occasionally failing the Mission
because of it.
Bully: Scholarship Edition remains decidedly last-generation
in its’ looks. Having hoped that the sight of
Dynasty Warriors
finally shifting shape was the sign of the end of direct
PlayStation2 ports, it’s unfortunate that a little more care hasn’t
been paid to the often jerky frame-rate and glitchy, rough textures.
The Character Models are all very- well realised, yet already look
very dated. The soundtrack however, is excellent. Although it also
is full of glitches and can be quite repetitive, it is brimming with
hilarious one-liners and some of the best scripted interactions in
videogames.
Bully: Scholarship Edition is a direct port of a game from a
previous generation of videogame consoles, and one that hasn’t aged
well. There are many elements of the title that disappoint and many
that it would be thought a company with RockStar Games’ profile
would not allow in a final retail version. The gameplay is of a
moderately high standard at the best of times, yet always
traditional and rarely particularly inventive. In other words, we’ve
all seen Bully: Scholarship Edition before. However, what
sets it apart is its’ character; it’s perfectly realised world that
is more fun to be entertained in than most. It’s a game that
confuses from its’ very core; you’ll like it, but you’ll never be
quite sure why. The fact that it will have you coming back for more
time-and-time-again may just be enough though.
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