Bully

Rockstar Games, PS2, $39.99

When Rockstar decided on a game that let you relive the “joys” of high school, the first question asked was ‘why?’ If you’re in high school or college, you probably don’t need more academia-induced stress in your life. And even if you’re out of school do you really want to go back? In the case of Bully, you just might. Starting out as Jimmy Hopkins, a disenchanted outsider (duh), you find yourself needing to win over the jocks, nerds and even teachers all while making the daily classroom grind on time. Classes, consisting largely of rhythm-based and logic-based puzzles, can then in turn increase your abilities at dealing with various situations - excel in art class and you’re smoother with the ladies. Do the English homework and sweet-talk your way out of trouble.  Visually, Bully isn’t pushing any envelopes, even for a late-gen PS2 game, but as it focuses more on interesting gameplay, it doesn’t need to. Like GTA, Bully features a variety of open-ended missions, thousands of lines of dialog and dozens of unique characters for you to interact with as you live out the school year. The gameworld is smaller than you may expect but in addition to the school there is the nearby town, each offering endless possibilities for a 15-year old to explore.  In the end, Bully is less a bullying simulator as some crackpots may suggest, and more of a “feel good”, if overly-clichéd, movie version of prep-school education. Play it right and you’ll get to be the Jake Ryan of Bullworth Academy. Otherwise, it’s Wedgie City for you, Donger. Peter Suciu

www.rockstargames.com/bully

Love: Open ended gameplay, colorful settings and characters

Hate: Load times longer than home room, music is love it or hate it

Score: 8.75/10