Despite the absence of the violence of the GTA games, if you enjoyed Rockstar's previous outings then you'll enjoy Bully
GAMEPLAY (8 ) - As you probably already know your protagonist is Jimmy, who has basically been dumped off at a rather sinister private school by his Mom and new Step-Dad. In many ways this is similar to the GTA games. You have missions that are related to the main story and need to be finished before the story moves along. You'll also have plenty of errands which are not necessary but are generally quite easy and will give you some extra cash. In addition to these are the classes to attend. These are also not necessary but most of them are enjoyable minigames and some will give you handy bonuses upon completion. You also have the ability to simply leave the school and explore the town of Bullworth. While you can't do some of the over-the-top actions from the GTA games you can still confiscate bikes and get into fights with other teenagers. There just won't be any deaths or dismemberments! Overall all of the missions and errands tend to be on the easy side but are still fun due to the fact that they are usually set in humorous situations.
GRAPHICS (7) - Graphics are not bad but basically look like a PS2 game with higher resolutions. This is certainly not a game you'd use to show off the capabilities of the 360 but they more than get the job done. Upon release it was reported that there were some serious glitches with the game but when I first installed it Xbox Live automatically downloaded a patch and I did not experience any problems.
SOUND (9) - Both music and voices are excellent. Hard to describe the different background themes. They almost feel like something from the sixties or seventies, but were very catchy and seem to fit the game perfectly. One of the game's biggest strengths is the voice work. All of the different characters sounded very believable, which was important since the missions always start with a cutscene that involve a fair amount of talking. One of the better jobs of voicework I've heard in a game.
VALUE (9) - Just as in the GTA and other "sandbox" games, you can spend an almost infinite amount of time here even if you complete the main story. There are plenty of extra-curricular activities to keep you busy for a long time. Of course gathering achievements can take a decent amount of time but there was also an amazing amount of different outfits to either find or buy for Jimmy, many of which will give you a good laugh at Jimmy's expense! Anyone should be able to get this game for under $30 at this point and you will get more than your money's worth.
Overall (8.5) - As I stated before, if you enjoy the GTA games then you'll most likely enjoy Bully. Though it certainly doesn't have some of the mature themes from those games there will still be plenty of fun (and funny) things to do that will keep you entertained and laughing. Recommended for young teenagers and up.