 |
|
| | Title:
Bully
..............................................
System:
Playstation 2
..............................................
Genre:
Fighting/Adventure
..............................................
Publisher:
Rockstar Games
..............................................
Developer:
Rockstar Vancouver
..............................................
Release:
10/16/2006
..............................................
Online:
No
..............................................
ESRB:
Teen (T)
..............................................
 |
The kings of controversy are at it again. Rockstar is a company that has had their share of the spotlight due to generically fun games and a lot of hype from controversy. It was only a few days after Rockstar announced Bully--where players could fulfill the role of a bully--that parents, teachers, and politicians were all over the game. Victims of former [and current] bullies spoke out emotionally how a game like Bully could only further ruin the lives of nerds. Parents wrote taut letters about the distress their kids went through dealing with bullies and how this game would only make matters worse for other bully-magnets. What’s more important, Jack Thompson voiced his opinion on why a game like Bully aught not to be housed on store shelves, at all.
What’s entirely fascinating about all the criticism and negativity surrounding Rockstar’s current endeavor is that none of the people who voiced their opinion against the game, even knew what it was about. The idea of having the option to give someone the ubiquitous “wedgie”, or the infamous “wet-Willie”, set more people ablaze than the fact that the game has yet to show signs of housing ‘M’ rated content. The use of any four letter ‘F’ words, the use of guns or knives, pimps or prostitutes, cocaine or "SPANK", blood, or the forbidden sight of “hot coffee” hasn’t even been promoted, in any way, as content appearing in Bully. It would be even more shocking if Rockstar hacked, cut, and jilted the adult related content down to a point where Bully escaped with a gasp-worthy ‘T’ for Teen rating.
School yard blues
Like all other controversial Rockstar games, the protagonist is the key to opening the can of controversy. Players will jump into the role of Jimmy Hopkins. This kid is a troubled young boy of 15 years, coming from a home where his mother is heading on her fifth marriage. Already, Jimbo has been expelled from a previous school for several unnamed misdemeanors. To set Jimmy straight, his soon-to-be step-father enrolls him in one of the toughest schools around: Bullworth Academy. Jimmy isn’t your average kid, though. He’s tougher than any other kid his age, given his rough childhood, and he’s slightly more mature than the average 15-year-old. In the same way, however, Jimmy's precocious toughness has singled him out as a loner. Basically, Jimmy isn’t especially friendly or likable.
The flip-side to Bully is that Jimmy has an arch-rival, which happens to be none other than the principal...Dr. Crabblesnitch. This guy actually grew up with only one toy, and that toy happened to be a three-legged wooden horse. In addition to this, the Doc’s father was prone to beating him with a cane--a method in which Crabblesnitch believes should be applied at Bullworth. See, the Doctor was also a student at Bullworth Academy, and graduated to become a history teacher at the academy. It wasn’t long after that Crabblesnitch stuck around enough to become the principal. At Bullworth, it’s going to be a short walk to disaster for Crabblesnitch and Hopkins, and aught to be an interesting feud in the Rockstar world of gaming.
Class time fun
Using a more structured time scheme than GTA, Bully allows players to play through each entire day in the life of Jimmy Hopkins. From waking up and getting dressed, to hopping back into bed at night, players will have complete control over Jim and his day. However, as mentioned, Jimmy’s day is still clocked with appointments. Getting to class on time is essential; otherwise there’ll be punishment to spare. While in class, Jimmy can learn and acquire skills that will be essential for getting through Bullworth in one piece. Items such as slingshots, firecrackers, and other school-hazards can be made using a chemistry set that stays with Jimmy. Shop class allows Jimmy to upgrade mechanical items, such as his bike. There’s also English courses, gym to help increase Jimmy’s fighting skills, art to improve Jimmy’s chances of talking to girls, and more.
Like Rockstar’s other open-ended franchises, the majority of the game will be composed of carrying out tasks and requests for other students, social cliques, preps, teachers, and faculty workers. As of course, applying oneself to any specific group will raise that group’s respect level, while possibly putting Jimmy in the cross-hairs of another group. Like GTA, Jimmy will have to run errands for people, beat people up for other people, protect people, retrieve items and perform other oddities. All tasks successfully completed will render Jimmy with some sort of reward, whether it is a worthless item, a useful item, or cash. Seriously, though, Rockstar may be aiming for the Teen rating, as none of the missions, so far, will opt into the adult-oriented territory.
Pages
|
|
| |
