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Bully
This game has no blood, though there is fighting (as one would expect in a game featuring bullies in an out-of-control boarding school). It has violence, but as usual with Rockstar it's mostly slapstick and a bit satirical (the first "weapon" mission has you sitting in a tree picking out jocks at football practice with your slingshot).
The graphics are on par with, or perhaps slightly better than, GTA San Andreas. Check out the night lighting on the football field.
I like Rockstar's sandbox games because they tell a great story with great characters and also let you do what you want, when you want. Some people seem to get a big kick out of the blood and violence of the GTA series, but if violence doesn't serve the story and theme, why include it? Any attempt to peg this game as another of Western Civilization's apocalyptic marks is seriously fishing.
Fans of the first two GTA games will appreciate the "respect" statistics. These are similar to the system in The Warriors, in which groups are pitted against each other. Here there are nerds, jocks, greasers, bullies, and preppies. You'll also find tons of statistics for nearly every event in the game. For example, you can slip on banana peels on the ground ... the game keeps track of how many times you do this!
This game is generally easier than the GTA series, so those of you who were frustrated with the difficult missions in those games will appreciate the ability to enjoy the plot of this game.
Attending class in Bully is very much like "going to the gym" in San Andreas. You can go until your statistics are maxed out, then you can pretty much ignore it. But classes are very diverting while they last. Also, if you're not in class when you're supposed to be, you must evade the prefects.
Bully is an amazing game with strong control, a wealth of features and options, a wonderful plot and characters, and an amazing instrumental soundtrack. I recommend it very highly.
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