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Bully: Scholarship Edition

EMAIL PRINT wii

8.2 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 34 critic reviews
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Based on 28 votes
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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]

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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.

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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]

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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.

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GameSpy

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

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GameTap

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

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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.

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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.

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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

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IC-Games

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

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GameZone

The Wii version succeeds with intuitive motion controls.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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PALGN

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Kombo

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

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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.

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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.

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GameTrailers

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.2 (out of 10) based on 28 User Votes

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

James D gave it a9:
Though there is not very much that is new for those that have playd the PS2 version, those who haven't really owe it to themselves to get on board. There are a few new missions and subtle co-op elements not to mention 4 new classes to attend. This game is still worth it because of these add ons

william l gave it a10:
This was a game that i really enjoyed playing when you can people wedgies and Chinese burns on the arm.The game is like your in a real school that you have to attend class on time and you get holidays to play on the streets.You can also get jobs to earn money to get stuff.The problem with this game is it is too short and very easy to complete.

Mark gave it a10:
This is the best game I ever played. It is never boring. The tasks are challenging and I like that. It is the only game I ever play.

Sophie gave it a10:
unfortunately on metacritic you can't give a game 20 out of 10! Bully is honestly the best game I have ever played. I very rarely actually stick at a game, but I spent every second I could on Bully, and actually finished it! It is an excellent game, a great story, challenging in parts but ALWAYS a hell of a lot of fun.

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.

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Bully: Scholarship Edition

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