Canis Canem Edit 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 and even dead rats.

Although violence, pranks and cheeky missions are central to Canis, the game is still about going to school. As a result, you'll have to follow 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.

Above: Passing some classes 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.