Recently, Bully, Rockstar’s beloved 2006 boarding school sim, was rated for modern consoles in Taiwan. Although you can already play Bully on current systems, the new rating sparked speculation—could it be a remaster, a special re-release, or even a sequel? As it turns out, the game is being added to GTA+, Rockstar’s premium GTA Online membership service. Whether you’re a GTA+ subscriber or not, if you haven’t yet experienced the unique world of Bullworth Academy, now is the perfect time to dive in and explore its charming halls and quirky characters.

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• Read More: PlayStation Plus is adding this classic sci-fi shooter series, but only for Premium members

“Bully: Rockstar’s Unique Twist on the ‘One City Block’ Game Concept”

Deus Ex director Warren Spector has long envisioned creating a game set within a single city block, aiming to explore a small area in incredible detail rather than sprawling across a vast, shallow open world. While Bully is now nearly 18 years old and might not meet the depth expectations of modern titles, it remains Rockstar Games’ closest attempt to this concept. The game offers a focused and richly detailed environment, capturing the essence of Spector’s idea within its carefully crafted world.

Note

Bully is actually known as Canis Canem Edit in the United Kingdom, because the Brits had a bone to pick with the word ‘Bully’ and how it reflects badly on those who experience any bullying in school. It was overturned once Bully: Scholarship edition came around, though.

Rockstar Games has significantly evolved its approach to game design and world-building over the years. In 2006, their games were already ambitious, but the scale has increased dramatically since then. Take Red Dead Redemption 2, for instance: it offers players a vast, multi-state region of the United States to explore. Similarly, Grand Theft Auto 5 presents an expansive rendition of the fictional state of San Andreas. These modern Rockstar titles are designed with exploration in mind, often utilizing vehicles as the primary means of traversal. This design philosophy necessitates sprawling environments that can accommodate long drives and diverse landscapes. Even at their most compact, contemporary Rockstar games typically encompass at least one major US city, providing a rich, detailed urban playground for players to experience.

Bully, another Rockstar title, takes a notably different approach to world design. Unlike the sprawling cityscapes of Grand Theft Auto, Bully focuses on a more intimate setting: Bullworth Academy and its surrounding small town. This already compact environment is further distinguished by its gradual reveal to the player. The game begins with access limited to the school grounds, creating a sense of confinement that mirrors the protagonist’s situation. As the story progresses, new areas of the town become available, each expansion feeling like a significant milestone. This controlled unveiling of the game world creates moments of genuine excitement and discovery, comparable to the iconic “stepping out of the vault” scenes in the Fallout series. By restricting and then slowly expanding the player’s access to the environment, Bully crafts a unique sense of progression and exploration within its smaller, more focused setting.

Bullworth Academy: The Hidden Gem in Rockstar’s Crown of Virtual Worlds

Bullworth’s dual setting of town and academy stands out as a remarkable video game environment. Its appeal lies partly in its dynamic nature, particularly evident in the changing seasons. The game’s representation of autumn is especially noteworthy, with its evocative environmental design creating a strong sense of place and time. This seasonal shift reaches its atmospheric peak during the Halloween night sequence, showcasing the game’s ability to capture specific moods and moments.

This changing atmosphere markedly distinguishes Bully from Rockstar’s other open-world titles of the PS2 era. While the Grand Theft Auto Trilogy games of that period – set in Liberty City, Vice City, and San Andreas – offered expansive urban playgrounds, their environments remained largely static throughout the player’s journey. In contrast, Bully’s evolving setting adds a layer of depth and realism, enhancing the player’s connection to the game world and contributing to its enduring appeal as a perennial fall favorite for many gamers.

The static environments in Vice City and San Andreas are understandable given their geographical settings—locations that typically lack distinct seasonal changes. However, this consistency in climate and atmosphere can lead to a more monotonous feel in the game world. Even Grand Theft Auto 5, despite its technological advancements, only briefly deviates from its perpetually sunny Los Santos with a single winter scene.

In contrast, Bully leverages the changing seasons as a core element of its storytelling and world-building. Set over the course of a full academic year at Bullworth Academy, the game uses seasonal transitions to reinforce the passage of time and enhance the player’s immersion in the school experience. This dynamic approach to environmental design not only adds visual variety but also strengthens the narrative, allowing players to feel the progression of the school year. By incorporating these seasonal shifts, Bully creates a more nuanced and believable setting, effectively selling the fantasy of a year in the life of a student at Bullworth Academy. CopyRetry

Grand Theft Auto and Bully offer distinct fantasies, each catering to different aspects of youth experiences. While GTA presents an exaggerated, adult-oriented world that may appeal to teenage imaginations, Bully focuses on a more grounded, albeit heightened, portrayal of adolescent life.

Bully’s game design reflects this focus through its attention to everyday teenage activities. Players spend considerable time engaging in typical youth pursuits like cycling or skateboarding around town. The academic aspect is simplified into brief minigames, striking a balance between realism and gameplay accessibility. While occasional outlandish events occur, they serve to punctuate rather than dominate the overall experience.

What sets Bullworth apart is its commitment to a specific vision: small-town New England life. Rather than attempting to be an all-encompassing sandbox, the game excels in its focused representation of this particular setting. This approach results in a more cohesive and immersive environment, offering players a unique glimpse into a well-realized fictional community.

Regardless of whether a sequel ever materializes, Bully’s distinctive take on teenage life and its vivid depiction of Bullworth make it a worthwhile experience for players seeking a different kind of open-world game.