Games

Best of 2008 | 07 | 06 | 05
Advanced Search

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.

Bully: Scholarship Edition

EMAIL PRINTwii

8.1 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 34 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 27 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >

Game Info

Publisher: Rockstar Games

Developer: Rockstar Vancouver

Genre(s): Action, Adventure

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: March 3, 2008

Summary

Both the Wii and Xbox 360 versions retain the wit and deep gameplay of the previously released PS2 title "Bully" and boasts additional new content. Bully: Scholarship Edition takes place in the fictional New England boarding school of Bullworth Academy and tells the story of 15-year-old Jimmy Hopkins as he experiences the highs and lows of adjusting to a new school. Capturing the hilarity and awkwardness of adolescence perfectly, Bully: Scholarship Edition pulls the player into its cinematic and engrossing world. [Rockstar Games]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Bully

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website Predict this Metascore

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

1UP

Among the deluge of E-rated minigame collections targeted at the casual market, Bully provides a welcome breath of fresh air for a more hardcore Wii audience.

Read Full Review >

NGamer UK

A classy cinematic adventure with bite-sized, mission-based gameplay and the most viciously funny script we've ever heard. It's a real gem, and excellent on Wii. [Apr 2008, p.48]

Read Full Review >

PGNx Media

The polished graphics, new missions and classes, and multiplayer mode are all icing on the cake for a game that is genuinely funny and provides a rather unique experience.

Read Full Review >

GameSpy

One of Bully's most incredible achievements is in the realm of sound.

Read Full Review >

GameTap

It takes the GTA formula and condenses it into a game that requires a quarter of the time commitment.

Read Full Review >

Games Master UK

Fun, charming, and completely entertaining. This is sandbox gaming without the gangsters. [Apr 2008, p.54]

N-Europe

Just like that girl you somehow really liked back in school: Ugly and sometimes shallow yet always great company. Get this in your 2008 yearbook. You won’t regret it.

Read Full Review >

Game Chronicles

The motion controls might be a bit gimmicky, and just about gave me a case of tennis elbow – but the storyline and characters make Bully one of the best games on the market.

Read Full Review >

Extreme Gamer

The extra content in the Scholarship Edition don’t really justify another purchase, however everyone else should spend some time schooling some Bullies at Bullworth

Read Full Review >

IC-Games

This is a top class game that deserves the credit and respect it has been getting.

Read Full Review >

GameZone

The Wii version succeeds with intuitive motion controls.

Read Full Review >

Game Informer

Bully was a fantastic release late in the life of the PS2, and I’m pumped that the folks I know who’ve become gamers this generation now have a chance to experience it for themselves. For those of us who’ve already had our fun the first time, I’m not sure a second run at high school is really in order.

Read Full Review >

Nintendo Power

School often doesn't leave people with the fondest of memories, but Bully: Scholarship Edition is well worth attending. [Apr 2008, p.86]

Cheat Code Central

While Scholarship Edition is a better game, the extra content and much-improved controls simply don't warrant a fifty-dollar purchase from somebody who's already played the PS2 version of Bully. But if you haven't, and you're looking for a fun, engaging, and lengthy Wii gaming experience, it's certainly tough to go wrong with Bully: Scholarship Edition.

Read Full Review >

NZGamer

While not every element of the game is on the same level of polish, the overall package gives you so much to do that you could conceivably be running around Bullworth for several dozen hours.

Read Full Review >

n-Revolution Magazine UK

If you've not experienced Bully before, it's well worth picking up on Wii. [Issue#21, p.76]

Nintendojo

Bully: Scholarship Edition is the best sandbox title available on Wii.

Read Full Review >

Zentendo

What Bully doesn't do perfectly it makes up for by doing so much all at once and connecting it all cohesively into an entertaining world that rewards players for almost everything they decide to take the time to do.

Read Full Review >

PALGN

The Wii version is slightly better looking and has motion controls that are reasonably well implemented, as is the extra content.

Read Full Review >

NintendoWorldReport

A good game that features fun gameplay, an entertaining story, an interesting gameplay environment, and plenty of places to explore. You’ll enjoy it if you like exploring a world that feels alive. Its greatest flaw is its sub-par graphics.

Read Full Review >

IGN

The graphical update from the PS2 isn’t as much as we would have liked to see on Wii (the two versions look nearly identical), but the motion control is entertaining, the new classes are well made, and multiplayer is a nice distraction from the main game.

Read Full Review >

Gamestyle

For those who missed out first time around, this is a great opportunity to catch up, and the extra additions and the nicely-done Wii controls make for an even better package.

Read Full Review >

Kombo

It's not exactly Grand Theft Auto caliber, but Bully: Scholarship Edition is still an entertaining open-world romp through Bullworth Academy.

Read Full Review >

GameDaily

This Wii version doesn't see much in the realm of visual improvement, but with a handful of new missions, characters and classes, as well as good use of the remote, this is a necessary purchase for those who missed out the first time.

Read Full Review >

ZTGameDomain

This “late-to-the-party” edition is chock full of enough extra content to make the wait worthwhile, and if you have already seen all Bullworth has to offer on the PS2 there is enough here to at least warrant a rental.

Read Full Review >

GameTrailers

Its clever writing, nuanced characters, and well-developed system of virtual hijinks and interaction have really stood the test of time.

Read Full Review >

G4 TV

The Wii version is a genuine improvement over the PS2 one. The extra content is solid, the controls are good, and the game itself holds up really well.

Read Full Review >

GameSpot

Bully offers plenty of memorable moments and crafts an adolescent world that is both surreal and painfully truthful, so don't be surprised if it causes you to relive portions of your own painful youth.

Read Full Review >

Eurogamer

It's far removed from everything else on the system, and still just as mischievous and entertaining as it was a year ago. The dialogue is full of life, the missions make you laugh out loud and the whole thing is infused with wayward, playful charm.

Read Full Review >

Games Radar (in-house)

Bully's still a captivating, cartoonish adventure that packs a ton of activity into its deceptively small world, and it's still a lot of fun to run around dodging prefects and thwacking preppies with a slingshot.

Read Full Review >

Gamer 2.0

So the verdict is simple: If you’ve never played it, buy it; just don’t expect an engrossing experience. Simply expect to be entertained with a few genuine laughs.

Read Full Review >

GamingTrend

The game isn't so much about gratuitous violence as it is about Imperialism. The point of the game is not to spend all your time fighting and running from the hall monitors as it is about conquering the groups and reigning over the campus.

Read Full Review >

Gaming Age

It can be funny and disturbing while being challenging and clever. It's just too bad more care wasn't taken in making it available on a new platform.

Read Full Review >

Worth Playing

While some of the missions are entertaining enough for a quick diversion, the game's overall quality is lacking, with uncharismatic and unengaging characters everywhere you turn, tired clichés, and sloppy gameplay.

Read Full Review >

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.1 (out of 10) based on 27 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Aaron P. gave it a10:
People don't understand the game you are not the bully you are a new kid at a boarding school in bullworth and you try to get friends but one of your friends Gary turns on you and will try to run the school and get the preps bully's jocks nerds and greasers to hate you. then you do missions in each chapter to get one of these classes to have up to 100% of respect for you. you try to stop bullying of other classes with bullying. this is a great game recommended to anyone 13 or older a great free roaming world this is a wii game for sure.

Andrew C. gave it an8:
First of all, this was one of my favorite PS2 games, so keep in mind, this review might be a little bias. I thought this game was great. It was not perfect but very good. There is not much of a visual update from the previous version but the added content is there(primarily in the classes). Alot of the added content seems to be unlockable items, kind of disappointed about that., but this is still a game most should play. Yes, it is very easy but the missons are alot of fun and plenty of interesting things to do in between times. Even though I have 100% this game on the PS2 I am still having a blast playing through this classic again and finding "new" things and reliving good memories. This may not be for everyone but everyone should give it a try. I am sure if you are unfarmiliar with the PS2 version this game will be a very fresh/new/fun experience for you.

Open Minded Person gave it a10:
Great game, deserves a nine, but I'm giving this a ten to offset the obviously biased opinions of those who gave zeros.

Annoymous gave it a7:
This game is pretty fun. No, you will not have the urges to give people wedgies and Chinese Sun burns when playing this game. Video games just don't seem to have an affect on you. Some might say so, but they haven't even played the games for themselves. Anyways, the game is fun and hilarious. Some problems are that the game is just too easy, the final boss level took me 2 minutes to complete and the ending isn't so good. There isn't much to do outside the school apart from Lawn mowing and paper routes for money or going to the carnival and pretending to have fun. It's worth a rent, though.

Dan C gave it a9:
Ardnas S., you obviously haven't played the game. In it you're encouraged to stick up for weaker kids, and get serious punishments if you hurt girls or younger children. About the game, it's generally very good. The graphics are lackluster, especially the people, but the scenery's quite good. It's great fun but a few annoying glitches can be frustrating.

Roberto R. gave it a7:
Though the missions can be a tad too easy and repetitive, the strength of the game is its witty and brutally honest satire of high school life and teenage drama.

R. L. gave it a10:
The only flaws: too short and to easy! But otherwise a great game.

Games

Sony

Microsoft

Nintendo

Other Platforms

Upcoming &Recent Releases

Bully: Scholarship Edition

Game Info

Summary

Also On Metacritic

What The Critics Said

What Our Users Said

Upcoming &
Recent Releases