Bully

Other products by Rockstar Games

Product Features

• Great humor and voices bring the hilarious story to life
• Takes groundbreaking and original gameplay and humorous tongue-in-cheek storytelling to an entirely new setting: the schoolyard
• As a troublesome schoolboy, you'll stand up to bullies, get picked on by teachers and play pranks on malicious kids
• You'll also win or lose the girl and ultimately learn to navigate the obstacles of the fictitious reform school, Bullworth Academy
• At long last, stand up for the nerds, geeks, and unrepresented!

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0009SQF0C
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches ; 5.4 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: October 17, 2006
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (94 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,744 in Video Games (See Bestsellers in Video Games)

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Product Description

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For far too long, the bullies of Bullworth Academy have been stealing lunch money and making life miserable for students. For far too long, you've taken a back seat as nerds were taunted and put on display. And for far too long nobody has put the bullies in their place. Finally, the time for sweet revenge is here! The Rockstar tradition of groundbreaking, original gameplay and humorous tongue-in-cheek storytelling invades an entirely new setting: the schoolyard. As a mischievous schoolboy, you'll stand up to bullies, get picked on by teachers, play pranks, win or lose the girl, and ultimately learn to navigate the obstacles of the worst school around, Bullworth Academy - a corrupt and crumbling prep school with an uptight facade.

The joy of cliques. View larger.

Payback comes at the most unlikely times. View larger.

Don't put anything past the brilliant nerds. View larger.

Preppie or jock, which will you choose?. View larger.

Life at the academy
The story follows Jimmy Hopkins, a teenager who's been expelled from every school he's ever attended. Left to fend for himself after his mother abandons him at Bullworth to go on her fifth honeymoon, Jimmy has a whole year at Bullworth ahead of him, working his way up the social ladder of this demented institution of supposed learning, standing up for what he thinks is right and taking on the liars, cheats and snobs who are the most popular members of the student body and faculty. If Jimmy can survive the school year and outsmart his rivals, he could rule the school.

Using the "living sandbox" game style similar to Rockstar's previous titles, players complete goals and experiment with items in the game world. A rival may dare you to drop a firecracker into a toilet or scare some sense into the kid who took your lunch money. Don't spend too much time roaming the halls, however, as you may actually be punished for skipping out on important classes. Choices you make outside of school will also impact how friends and foes in the school view you after you buy new clothes and sport a new haircut.

Mini games abound
Bullworth Academy pride themselves in rigidly sticking to the curriculum at all times, to this end consistent truancy will result in punishment. The esteemed staff of the Academy, though occasionally questionable in their recreational habits, ensure that the pupils have a firm grounding in the key academic subjects. Alongside the strict principals of loyalty, trust and ruthless ambition that are ingrained in every pupil in the academy by the principal Dr Crabblesnitch, core subjects include English, Gym, Shop Class, Photography, Art and Chemistry. Each subject comprises a series of five tests to be passed with flying colors. Of course on passing each test a due reward, in the form of gameplay features will be earned by the player. Bullworth Academy's educational system is provided through a host of exciting and innovative mini games lovingly developed by Rockstar Vancouver to accompany the main storyline of Bully.

Do a double clique
Just like any other crumbling prep school, Bullworth Academy has its cliques. You'll have to choose whether to side with football jocks, well-dressed preppies, or try to turn them against each other while you laugh at the antics with your fellow greasers. Clique membership becomes even more exciting as your clique rises to the head of the class- making a name for themselves and striking fear into the hearts of those who might cross you. Don't be surprised if some cliques offer up some surprises, as those bug-eyed nerds just may have the scientific know how to create weaponry that can keep those bullies at bay.

Ready yourself for a hilarious return to campus living with Bully, the outrageously funny debut title from Rockstar Vancouver, available exclusively for PlayStation2 computer entertainment system.

Product Description

Bully PS2 You are not going to take it anymore. From edgy publisher Rockstar's Vancouver development team comes this dark comedy set in the most vile and sadistic setting yet in a Rockstar videogame:the schoolyard. As a troublesome schoolboy, you will laugh and cringe as you stand up to bullies, get picked on by teachers, play pranks on malicious kids, win or lose the girl, and ultimately learn to navigate the obstacles of the fictitious reform school,Bullworth Academy.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

243 of 250 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The PS2's very own version of "The Catcher in the Rye", October 17, 2006

By	Nite - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Bully may very well be one of the most controversial games of all time simply based on the fact that Rockstar made it. With only a name to their game, it was turning heads. People feared the worst. Mostly that the game would be as violent as Grand Theft Auto, but in a high school setting.

Let me set some minds at ease. There are no guns. The game doesn't even have any blood. Also, you can't kill anyone. Lastly, violence is rather discouraged.

You do not play the Bully. Instead you assume the role of Jimmy Hopkins, a boy trying to survive at Bullworth Academy. He's basically your run of the mill student. Your task inside the school is the same as they are for just about every student in high school. Pass your classes and stay out of trouble. Going to class actually is enforced for a time. Your classes are mini-games that you'll play. You're allowed to try and ditch class but there are consequences for not going. However, in this game you'll want to go to class just because participating in said class is actually fun, and can improve your skills. The mini games are fun and addictive. After a while it's no longer enforced, which I actually found rather sad. The aspect of going to class doesn't get nearly enough attention, but the mechanic works.

Outside of class, however, is where the game really begins to shine. If you're familiar with the gameplay of Grand Theft Auto, then you'll easily adapt to Bully. For starters, each and every student at Bullworth Academy has a unique personality. You'll make friends and you'll make enemies. The missions are fun and quite an experience. The game is original. Even better, the story sequences are filled to the brim with humor, quite simply it's one of the funniest games I've played.

In addition, you can also venture outside of the school. Jimmy can get a job to help him buy food and other things, and he's able to help people around town do some of their errands and chores as well. You'll also be able to date, go play some arcade games and plenty more. All the things most high school students do.

Jimmy isn't without a mischief. He's got a slingshot, a bat and a few other things he can use. Again, you can't kill anyone with these things, and eventually the objects will break anyway. Besides, if you beat up a kid, you have to serve detention. Part of the point of the game really is staying out of trouble.

The game also takes on a more realistic feel. There's a clock in the corner that shows you what time it is. If you're caught wandering around the school after hours there are consequences. If you stay out too late, you'll actually get tired and fall asleep.

The game looks and sounds brilliant. Fantastic voice acting really brings the story to life. The game also has some great visuals. The school and environments look astonishing.

Bully is a great game to be sure. It's almost like an interactive teenage drama come to life. A lot of the game is humorous and fun. But most importantly, it isn't Grand Theft Auto and it does stand on its own.

39 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars School Days Aren't Always Fun and Happy, October 29, 2006

By	Lisa Shea "LisaShea.com" - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

People can pick on the Rockstar group for their Grand Theft Auto series, but I actually found the Bully game much more redeeming. You're a schoolboy taking on the stereotypical cliques.

It's pretty clear why you're a depressed teenage boy when the game starts. Apparently your dad has died, and your mom has remarried an elderly, grumpy old man who wants you out of the picture. Your mom is more than happy to dump you off at a stay-all-year school while she goes off with Mr. Moneybucks.

On top of that, the school officials are pretty nasty to you right from the start. Hogwarts this is not! Then as you go into the run-down dorm, other kids start beating up on you! It's time for you to stand up for yourself and make a stand.

There are various groups of kids in this school - the nerds, the jocks, the greasers and the preppies. Activities you do raise or lower your respect level with each group. You have to go to class too - and be there on time! If you're able to manage your schedule properly, you can participate in some pretty fun mini-games (the word scramble can be challenging!) to earn you new skills.

There are girls to court, and usually they want a specific item. So you have numerous quests to go on. The bully activities range from escorting a nerd safely to his locker, to running races and protecting yourself from attacks. You get clothing along the way, and can customize your look (within school regulations, of course).

It's a bit depressing, sometimes, to see how these mid-teen guys treat each other, but this does actually happen in many schools. I'm sure pretty much every person who was once a teen can name the cliques that existed in their school.

The graphics are rather good for a PS2, and the sounds, while again a bit depressing for a teen environment, work well with the game too. On one hand I can not really like the swearing in the game, but certain teens do in fact swear far worse than this game does!

I'd even say this is more like Fable than other Grand Theft Autos, with some of the ways that you can choose how you react in situations.

This game won't be enjoyed by people who are squeamish about violence - it does, after all, involve teen guys all bashing each other for very inane reasons. It also involves a lot of bullying - as you might imagine. Still, if you can deal with those issues, you'll find a really involving game that might actually make you think about how to treat others well.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars After all is said and done...its worth the price of admission., October 19, 2006

By	Underwear X "A gamer who must constantly dodg... (Reno, Nv United States) - See all my reviews

Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

After having played through a large portion of Bully, I can say this: Though its gameplay style may mimic other Rockstar titles (mainly the Grand Theft Auto series), Bully stands out on its own with many tweaks, themes, options, and fun to warrant itself as a standalone game worthy of praise, and not just another clone.

And yes, though the game was initially controversial, those same morons who continue to seek out the gaming industry for all the blame of messed up children who were going to do something bad either having the game or not (think of all the music, movies, and real life situations that include violence and sexual themes, etc.)...they came after Bully strictly because of the title and theme. The FACT is however, you'll find the games protagonist far from a Bully (this is nowhere near beating up hookers with a baseball bat, instead think of maybe a Bart Simpson with a little more edge.), and the title is a bit misleading...anyhow...

Even though the PS2 is on its last wheels, Bully manages to dredge up some very decent graphics for this title. Ambient sounds, music, and atmosphere are some of the best around, with tons of characters always surprising you with something new that may catch your ear. Whats really great about this game is that (and not to compare to the GTA series, but its inevitable)there seems to be a heavier emphasis on interaction with objects. You can break into certain lockers, pick up a large variety of objects and even climb trees, pull fire alarms etc. even when not in a mission.

I really enjoyed the missions overall, they gave a great sense of being in the schoolyard with its many cliques and funny themes. Lots of missions and side quests will keep you entertained for hours...appealing to both casual folks who may just want to finish the storyline or those who obsess on getting the game to 100% completion.

Most folks won't get that far, but its nice to know that theres always something you can do and come back to the game for if you get tired of it anytime soon. It may not be the absolute groundbreaking title you were thinking of, but its definitley a great game. If you enjoy the open ended feeling of 'free in a sandbox' style, or perhaps want a diversion from the same old GTA theme, pick it up and give Bully a shot.