Bully review

There's more to fighting than just brawling, and Jimmy has a small arsenal for when things get hairy. He carries an upgradeable slingshot (which enables you to lock on to targets or aim in over-the-shoulder or sniper modes,), and he can also grab firecrackers, stink bombs or rotten eggs. He'll also get a potato gun and a bottle-rocket launcher later in the game, but in the meantime he can grab whatever else is lying around - we're talking bats, Frisbees, trash can lids, dishes and even dead rats.

It's worth noting that you won't always have to fight - once you're infamous enough, you can usually stop a big kid picking on a weaker kid with a quick insult.

Although violence, pranks and cheeky missions are central to Bully, the game is still about going to school. As a result, you'll have to hew to the rules - vandalism, fighting or putting kids in lockers will raise your "trouble" meter, while hitting girls, adults or little kids will spike it through the roof and bring down a swarm of prefects or cops to take you down. Get caught too many times, and you'll have to mow lawns or shovel snow in a detention minigame.

Above: Passing art class rewards you with better flirtation skills

You'll also have to attend class twice per day, which sounds boring but isn't. Two of the six "subjects" - Chemistry and Shop - are just about pressing buttons on cue, but others are more addictive, offering up short word games, dodge ball matches and even the old arcade game Qix. And passing them means earning rewards that range from faster bicycles and new fighting moves to better flirtation skills and the ability to whip up prank weapons in your dorm.