Bully is a game like no other of its time.
We start off with Jimmy Hopkins, a rebel student, who was expelled from his previous institutions, several times. Rockstar Games wanted to tell a story from a teenager’s perspective to resonate with audiences in their late formative years. So, with that, Jimmy enrolls into Bullworth Academy, a private school, with its own pretentious student body, intertwined with narrow-minded cliques.
Hopkins isn’t like your typical Rockstar Games protagonist, he’s a diamond in the rough, but he’s got his heart in the right place. He advocates for the underdog and although he’s a delinquent, he’s dismissed as a “problem student” and isn’t favored by the principal. He’s a 15-year-old boy, and while his actions may not always be morally correct, he still aims to fight off the corruption within the school.
Rockstar Games perfectly captured the teenage angst in Bully, and Jimmy’s interactions with other characters is determined based on reputation. In Bullworth Academy, Jimmy has several classes, and there are mini-games included with each class that determine his grade depending on the player’s performance. You can interact with any NPC, you can kiss them, or you can insult them. Bully is an open sandbox game where anything’s possible. It’s like an academic Grand Theft Auto in essence. Albeit, GPA takes no effect overall and does not impact gameplay.
Rockstar has neglected to update Bully for quite some time, and the game has been reported to crash frequently, every 30-minutes or so. In Scholarship Edition, released 2-years later in 2008, four extra classes are added, eight new missions, and new costumes Jimmy can try-on. When Jimmy diffuses with the cliques at Bullworth, he can attain new outfits derived from their respective styles.
These cliques are cliché, and include the Preppies, Greasers, Jocks, Punks, Nerds, Townies, and Bullies. If Jimmy proves successful with a clique, that clique can assist him as a supportive back-up in combative situations. He also moves up the ranks and boosts his status.
Scholarship Edition includes a 2-player mode where players can face each other off for performance in class mini-games, adding replay value. The game’s map is robust, and Jimmy can traverse anywhere he wants, on skateboards, bicycles, motor scooters, and go-karts.
Weapons can be made or can be purchased in-game. Inventory weapons can be made or discovered. Throwable items can be utilized as weapons, and can be picked-up. Other weapons are a bit more extreme, like a detonator, a dodgeball, a “kick me” sign, a volcano 4000 firework, and even a spud cannon.
However, some controversial weapons have been banned from the Bully due to their sensitive content.
Missions and side quests are assigned too in-game, which progresses the storyline as Jimmy navigates his way through Bullworth. He deals with facing off bullies and confronting corrupt teachers, and there are even fun quests, like collecting mysterious items. Scholarship Edition remasters cinematic graphics and includes additional missions and errand tasks for entertainment value.
Early promotional material of the upcoming series misled the public, as many believed that Bully was about being an actual ‘Bully.’ Rather, it was the complete opposite, although the video-game was banned in Brazil due to the worry of perpetuating the bullying epidemic. However, the ban has since been lifted.
Jimmy is like a guard, representing the underdog who defies bigoted authority figures. The series carries a tone of youthful rebellion, redemption, and reveals the bittersweet realities of adolescence.
When playing this in retrospect, players amuse themselves over the game’s crude dialogue and interactions. Fans appreciate the game’s derisive, satire attitude on school life, and resonate with student-teacher dynamics. Upon Bully’s debut, the game was well-received and praised by audiences, scoring a 9/10 on Steam.
The original Bully is available to play on PlayStation 2, and its Scholarship Edition can be played on the Wii, Xbox 360, and on PC. Bully had technical limitations, yet enchanted audiences with its gritty charm and raw authenticity.
Bully may never receive a sequel, and fans agree adamantly that this is for the best.
Nonetheless, Bully is an iconic video-game that has a simple premise, and remains a beloved title to audiences. Bully is remembered for its vulgar, obscene, and humorous interactions and character-driven storytelling, which is what makes it a classic hit, captivating fans and critics alike.
