GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

Bully: Scholarship Edition Hands-On

The PC version is finally upon us. Is Bullworth Academy still worth the tuition?

82 Comments

Today marks the two-year anniversary that Bully was released on the PlayStation 2 amid a hailstorm of negative publicity, much of which occurred when Florida attorney Jack Thompson attempted to have the game banned from store shelves. Among the controversial content: general bullying, wedgies, stink bombs, all manner of pranks, and boy-on-boy kissing. Since that time, Thompson has been disbarred and Bully received generally glowing reviews. A special Scholarship Edition was also released on the Wii and Xbox 360. Now, finally, it has come to the PC and is just as fun as the original.

Teach the jocks to play nice.
Teach the jocks to play nice.

Bully: Scholarship Edition comes with the standard PC features, such as the ability to change resolution and antialiesing video settings, as well as customizable mouse/keyboard controls. Bad-boy Jimmy Hopkins handles just fine, although you may want to increase your mouse sensitivity from the default settings to increase the speed in which you race through Bullworth Academy on your skateboard. For those more familiar with console controls, BSE will also support an Xbox 360 wired controller, which handles swimmingly. And fear not, Rockstar appears to have cleaned up the bugs and crashing issues that blighted the 360 version of the Scholarship Edition.

Unlike the Wii and 360 versions, the PC will not include the local multiplayer minigames, though that's not a surprise given the nature of the platform. In terms of single-player content, it appears to be identical to the 360 and Wii Scholarship Editions in that it includes four new classes (biology, music, geography, math), as well as some new missions. Classes are generally fun minigames, such as dissecting a frog in biology (a breeze with the keyboard and mouse) or playing the school song in what is basically a simplified Guitar Hero. Passing classes earns you new items and skills. For instance, you learn to grapple and execute a three-hit melee combo in gym class from the wrestling coach. The excellent soundtrack and voice acting remain stunning even two years after the original Bully.

These preps are going to learn the hard way.
These preps are going to learn the hard way.

When we weren't in class, we were performing early story missions, beating up bullies who were always ready to fight, and avoiding school prefects that were hot on our mischievous tail. Breaking into student lockers is a quick way to get your hands on new kick-me signs, stink bombs, and a Bullworth lettermen jacket. Jimmy was quickly becoming a Bullworth Legend after the Big Prank mission in which we lit a bag of flaming dog excrement on fire in front of the teachers' lounge and pulled the fire alarm--Coach was not happy. The conversation system is largely the same, and paying compliments to girls, as well as giving gifts of flowers or chocolate, will lead to a quick kiss. We also visited the boys dorm, changed into nothing more than a pair of tighty whities along with a skeleton T-shirt (left over from Halloween), and taunted prefects with a clear dress-code violation. Then, we searched the grounds for parts that could be traded with the local hobo--a Korean War vet--for new fighting moves.

This PC edition is set for release next week at $29.99, which is a decent bargain for anyone who hasn't played through one of the more original games of the past two years. Stay tuned for the full review.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 82 comments about this story