Bully IGN review = 8.9

[BlaqRenaissance]

IGN (http://ps2.ign.com/articles/739/739134p1.html)

Bully is an interesting game. Leading up to its release, it didn't receive the gameplay coverage or high-end expectations from insiders that Grand Theft Auto usually does, and yet, somehow kept that franchise's reputation for excessive violence and adult behavior. That's why I think that, in a lot of ways, Bully is going to surprise people with what it is -- ie: much better and funnier than most were giving it credit for, while coming across as much tamer than those who feared it expected it to be. Regardless, Bully is a great, well-crafted action game that has one of the best senses of humor around and dozens and dozens of hours of fun.

[CAG 79]

Nice.

I'll be picking it up tomorrow.

[RAMSTORIA]

my girlfriend wants me to get this game tomorrow... i think ill wait for a price drop.

[stag8603]

I wish I had a PS2 right now. Oh well. I'd love to play it though.

[javeryh]

Nice score but I think I'll pass. I'm sure it's good but I have way too many other games to play. If it blew everyone away I'd probably pick it up but I've got plenty of B+ games to play...

[JebusMcLucifer]

Most excellent. Can't wait 'till I get off work tomorrow.

[jalu6]

Still on the fence here. Looks like a lot of fun, but I still haven't beaten Okami and as my girlfriend kindly pointed out, I've never actually beaten a Rockstar game before, even though I own all of them but Manhunt. Maybe I'll just throw The Warriors back in instead.

[Brak]

Been playing it for a little while. I love it.

[Mr. Anderson]

So I have this, Okami, FFXII CE, and Guitar Hero II to get in the next month. Fantastic.

[CAG 79]

Just picked up the Collector's Edition and damn this thing is huge!

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/4952/dsc00595po1.jpg

[RedvsBlue]

Is there a real bully inside the box?

[DiscoDuck8k]

Jeez, what all comes in the CE anyway?

I'll be picking it up soon, they told me to check back in a few hours when I called at 11.

[javeryh]

WTF is in that thing?

[CAG 79]

WTF is in that thing?

- A "Bully" Dodgeball
- A "Bully" Comic
- Rockstar sticker

Not really worth the extra $10 but I'm just a sucker for Collector/Limited/Premium Editions.

[Roufuss]

Can't wait to get this at Best Buy tommorrow... $5 RZ cert, $5 GGC, and a $10 gift card means I'm walking out with Bully for $21.49 after tax ;)

It's just a long wait until then.

Hey, wow, Best Buy actually has it in today but I have to wait until tommorrow to get my $10 gift card for buying Sims 2 Pets... damn.

[BlaqRenaissance]

http://www.ebgames.com/gs/bully/bully_detail.jpg

[MadFlava]

Jeez, what all comes in the CE anyway?

I'll be picking it up soon, they told me to check back in a few hours when I called at 11.

From EBgames website:

Order the Bully Special Edition exclusively at Gamestop/EB Games now and receive the ultimate in video game collector’s editions. For $49.99 the special edition gets you Bully for the PS2, the official Bullworth Academy dodge ball, and an exclusive limited edition Bully comic book. Available while supplies las

[shieryda]

I love Rockstar. I still haven't truly "completed" any of the other titles from them, but I have been anxiously awaiting "Bully". I'll be picking it up tonight on my way home. I plan on making some good progress in the game this weekend.:bouncy:

[Supercake]

Glad it got a good score, but I'm going wait for a drop, lots of other games to play. It looked like Rockster's best yet IMO, and that seems to hold true. Just gotta wait for player impressions now.

[-Never4ever-]

So is it just a reg game case inside, or one of the "Metal Book" covers (ie, the SEs of MK:A, RE4 and FFXII)?

[CAG 79]

So is it just a reg game case inside, or one of the "Metal Book" covers (ie, the SEs of MK:A, RE4 and FFXII)?

Regular game case with the embossed logo.

[graf1k]

Regular game case with the embossed logo.

Is the outside case/box metal or cardboard? I'm retarded but if it's metal I'll have to buy the SE. Otherwise I can live with the normal version for $10 less I think.

[JebusMcLucifer]

Is the outside case/box metal or cardboard? I'm retarded but if it's metal I'll have to buy the SE. Otherwise I can live with the normal version for $10 less I think.

The big box is cardboard.

[DiscoDuck8k]

Just got my copy. It's a pretty fun game so far, seems somewhat easy but still really cool.

[defiance_17]

I just picked it up as well. I'm still not sure if I want to put Okami on hold for this or not...

[keithp]

Damn it! ANOTHER game I'm gonna have to get!! Sigh...

Any better deals this week than $35 with a Best Buy GGC?

[pete5883]

Damn it! ANOTHER game I'm gonna have to get!! Sigh...

Any better deals this week than $35 with a Best Buy GGC?
Pick it up as part of TRU B2G1 starting next week.

[bil4ltool]

This game got a 10 from 1up, which is outrageously high, but still pretty cool. This game might be next on my list after I beat Okami.

[xrickyb86x]

nice! gamefly just shipped the game yesterday and it should be here tomorrow. im excited. too badd god hand wont be getting much love after bully arrives on my doorstep.

[mykevermin]

I just saw a clip of this game on a CNN piece, replete with year-old quotes from Jack Thompson about how it's a "columbine simulator." The piece must have been produced prior to last week, as it claimed Thompson hadn't played the game (though it mentioned that he lost an injunction to delay the release). At any rate, with or without old quotes from Thompson, it was a fair piece.

I have to give Thompson credit; he can carry himself professionally in front of a camera. I hope some internet geek is cataloging his behavior online so they can expose him for being an immature, shortsighted, unprofessional brat at some point in time, and destroy what credibility being a middle-aged white attorney has brought him.

[Vampire Hunter D]

Had 15$ off in coupons so i picked up Feast[dvd], Bully, and just for the hell of it the stragety guide too.

[keithp]

Any more opinions, likes, or dislikes on the game now that ya'll have played it a little more?

Trying to decide between this or Okami....

[Trakan]

I can't believe this game is rated Teen and Thompson is still having a shitfit.

[mykevermin]

I can't believe this game is rated Teen and Thompson is still having a shitfit.

I can't believe you can't believe Thomson is having a shitfit.

[CAG 79]

Any more opinions, likes, or dislikes on the game now that ya'll have played it a little more?

Trying to decide between this or Okami....

I would say get both. Okami is a great game and it's definitely worth the money. Bully is such a fun game. There aren't any fustrating missions and it's real easy to pick up and play.

[richbastard]

This game mega owns. RockStar does it again MasterMinds.

IGN ** 8.9 / 10
GamePro ** 4.5 / 5
1UP ** 10 / 10
Games Radar ** 9 / 10
GameBrink 92 / 100
Game Informer ** 8.5 / 10

[mykevermin]

quiet, you.

[javeryh]

I hope some internet geek is cataloging his behavior online so they can expose him for being an immature, shortsighted, unprofessional brat at some point in time, and destroy what credibility being a middle-aged white attorney has brought him.

Wait, he's credible?!?!?!?

[Trakan]

I can't believe you can't believe Thomson is having a shitfit.

Heh.

Well, I believe it, but this can't be what Thompson had in his mind when the game was first announced. Now I know this motherfucker is crazy, but I don't know how anyone can call this a 'columbine simulator.'

[Roufuss]

I've only played for 15 minutes so far and I can already tell this game is another Rockstar success.

Easily one of my favorite companies this gen... the only game they disappointed me on was State of Emergency, but every other game they have put out has been golden. I cannot WAIT until they start making next gen games.

I love the story, the main characters, and the fact the school feels so... alive. The game tracks so many stats as well... this game is so awesome.

Pulling the fire alarm is hilarious stuff... tons of small touches have gone into this game. I'm still not really finding any negatives after 3 hours of play.

[CAG 79]

8.7 from Gamespot (http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/bully/review.html?sid=6160199).

I'm currently in the final chapter of the game and so far I have no complaints.

[javeryh]

8.7 from Gamespot (http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/bully/review.html?sid=6160199).

I'm currently in the final chapter of the game and so far I have no complaints.

Holy crap you blew through that!

I just started it last night and within the first 5 minutes little Jimmy called corporate lawyers "scum of the earth" and right then I knew I would love this game.

[keithp]

How many hours do you have in it so far, Jasonlives13?

[shieryda]

What is the average time to complete this game?

[CAG 79]

How many hours do you have in it so far, Jasonlives13?

Well I just beat the game a few minutes ago and my final playtime was around 20 hours and about 77% complete. The game lets you go back and play after you beat it so that you can finish up those side missions and collect the rest of the items that you may still need to achieve 100% completion.

In a nutshell this is what I thought of the game:

+ Original
+ Good Story
+ Funny Cutscenes
+ Enjoyable Missions

- Minor camera issues

[Roufuss]

Well I just beat the game a few minutes ago and my final playtime was around 20 hours and about 77% complete. The game lets you go back and play after you beat it so that you can finish up those side missions and collect the rest of the items that you may still need to achieve 100% completion.

In a nutshell this is what I thought of the game:

+ Original
+ Good Story
+ Funny Cutscenes
+ Enjoyable Missions

- Minor camera issues

Yep, I have the same +'s and -'s now too. 20 hours seems short, I think I'm at 4 or 5 hours in and have only done a few missions and I'm still exploring the school and everything you can do. The stats page tracks EVERYTHING that is possibly worth tracking.

[King]

Damn has anyone passed shop class? I move the analog stick the right way but I keep getting it wrong for some reason.

[Roufuss]

Damn has anyone passed shop class? I move the analog stick the right way but I keep getting it wrong for some reason.

Yea, I screwed up that one too and it hasn't come back.

[CAG 79]

Damn has anyone passed shop class? I move the analog stick the right way but I keep getting it wrong for some reason.

You just got to spin the joystick real fast, the same goes for button presses.

[Roufuss]

The seasons actually change while you're doing story missions to simulate a real year... the small touches in this game are awesome.

[CosmosTheMouse]

Well I just beat the game a few minutes ago and my final playtime was around 20 hours and about 77% complete.



Man, you went through that WAY too fast.

I think i'm at about 20 hours and only about 25% finished. When I get a game like this I seriously take my time and do/look at every single little thing so I can to soak in the gameplay. I think I actually may have been playing the carnival arcade games about as much as I have been playing the actual game.

[anomynous]

This game features Boy on Boy action:

http://www.gamebrink.com/playstation-2/1833-Bully-video-2.html




smh @ this gayness

[javeryh]

This game features Boy on Boy action:

http://www.gamebrink.com/playstation-2/1833-Bully-video-2.html




smh @ this gayness

So what?

[SpikeSpiegel]

I was going to pick this and Tales of Abyss up at TRU B2G1 today, but they didn't carry either game. I think I'll wait for price drops/ sales on both. Afterall the holidays are approaching I'm sure I can find these for at least $30 each.

[Reality's Fringe]

I remember plugging dudes in Fable. I'd be all over some bitches in bowerstone, then head up to the hookcoast for some man-chowder to keep my character warm through the night. He wasn't gay, he just liked penis.

[keithp]

...(looks around for David85 to chime in any second...)

[Blackout]

I picked this up last night and its really good. I played maybe 3 hours and I have 10%. The details in the game are so much fun. I like how you can go to class and do all that stuff. So far I'm loving the game.

How many chapters does it have?

[CAG 79]

I picked this up last night and its really good. I played maybe 3 hours and I have 10%. The details in the game are so much fun. I like how you can go to class and do all that stuff. So far I'm loving the game.

How many chapters does it have?

6 chapters total.

[JeffreyLebowski]

The seasons actually change while you're doing story missions to simulate a real year... the small touches in this game are awesome.
I am just starting out Chapter 2 now and I am blown away by the minor touches that make this game sweet as hell.

For example, when the campus is decorated with all of the jack-o-lanterns for Halloween, you can destroy them by kicking or sling-shooting them. I only got a couple of them destroyed before passing out at 2am. When I woke up, Halloween was over and all the jack-o-lanterns were gone. I figured I had lost my chance to unlock the special item from destroying all of the pumpkins.

To my utter surprise, in a later level, I found the rest of the pumpkins in the school's boiler room and was able to destroy each at will -- which unlocked the special item. The game-makers actually included the fact that the pumpkins would be stored in the basement at least for a little bit after the holiday was over. How cool is that?!!

Sorry for the long description, but I really couldn't believe it when I saw it.

[youruglyclone]

Yea, I screwed up that one too and it hasn't come back.

classes are on a 3 day cycle.

chem, english
art, gym
shop, photography

the 3rd set is locked inititally. so yeah have some patience and in 3 days you'll have shop again.

[onetrackmind]

i really need to get this game...

[sonicbooom]

I hadn't heard about this game until just now. Looks like I've really been out of the scene, aside from rpg's..

I plan on getting this later on.

I'm looking it up right now, but does this game in progressive scan? I just found it has widescreen, can't find info about progressive scan though.

Edit: it is widescreen, but no progressive scan.

[shieryda]

Hilarious when you kiss one of your girlfriends in front of another girl who likes you. They start pulling each other's hair!

I love just running around in this game, and looking for all the collectible objects. The NPC dialogue is pretty hilarious, too.

I hope Halloween rolls around again, because I missed out on smashing the tombstones. Does this game only go through the course of 1 school year, or can you play for multiple years before finishing the entire game?

I think I'm about 26% complete right now...

[CAG 79]

Hilarious when you kiss one of your girlfriends in front of another girl who likes you. They start pulling each other's hair!

I love just running around in this game, and looking for all the collectible objects. The NPC dialogue is pretty hilarious, too.

I hope Halloween rolls around again, because I missed out on smashing the tombstones. Does this game only go through the course of 1 school year, or can you play for multiple years before finishing the entire game?

I think I'm about 26% complete right now...

Yeah the Halloween event will only happen once same for Christmas.

[-Never4ever-]

I'm a few hours in. It's pretty much Warriors + GTA + School Theme - all the violence and car-stealing of the GTA series.

Overall, a great game, though the LE sucks all sorts of ass.

[Roufuss]

It was a decent game... finished with 70% in about 14 hours, I don't feel like doing the optional crap just for costumes.

A very very lackluster final "boss"... the buildup wasn't anywhere near the finale. Chapter 5 just seems kind of rushed and tacked on at the last minute since none of the characters are really developed.

I mean, they never once mentioned a bunch of dropouts living in the industrial park, and never mentioned Edgar before you beat his ass. It really seems like Rockstar lost alot of steam after Chapter 4, like "well, Jimmy united the games, wtf do we do now, let's add some filler in!" And that boss fight with Gary was simple as hell... the ending felt extremely tacked on to.

In the end, the principal character wasn't nearly as developed as I thought he would be, which was kind of disappointing, considering they went to great lengths to develop the other faculty.

So, it was a good game... not deserving of 10's but I'd give it an 8.5. It just dragged near the end, for me. I only paid $20 for my copy so I think I'm going to throw it on Ebay for $30... by the time I want to replay it it will be dirt cheap.

[io]

Interesting article/review in the San Francisco Chronicle:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/24/DDGSCLTG6F1.DTL

Reviews the game and talks about the overreaction in the media to this alleged "Columbine Simulator". This is a good review that is a little more mature than your typical IGN/Gamespot fare.

I've never played a Rockstar game save for 5 minutes of Table Tennis in an EB a few weeks back :D, but I might have to give this one a shot when it hits the magic $10 price point (which is on the high end of my CAGey ways - some I'll get at $10, some at $5, and some at $2 :D).

Good parts of the article:


In reality, the well-designed PlayStation 2 title from Rockstar Games is closer to a video game version of the movie "My Bodyguard," with fewer killings (none) than the typical episode of "Murder, She Wrote."



While it has many structural similarities to Rockstar's most notorious title, Bully is, at worst, Grand Theft Auto with misdemeanors. And it exposes the ridiculousness in much of the hysteria surrounding video games, which keep pulling a bigger share of the entertainment dollar but are still misunderstood by a large segment of the public and the media.



There is no blood in Bully, and the most menacing weapon I could get my hands on was a baseball bat. Jimmy can't kill people, and there was less sex talk during the eight hours that I played than the typical 22-minute episode of "The Golden Girls." The biggest knock against Bully is the constant fistfights. (At approximately the halfway point, I had engaged in more than 400.) But the writers are pretty careful to make sure that almost everyone who gets a beat down pretty much deserves it.



The furor that surrounded Bully in recent months highlights the stupidity of trying to ban a game that no one has actually seen.


And the best one:

Even if you agree that video games are too violent, focusing energy on Bully is like trying to raid a crack house and accidentally smashing in the door of the doughnut franchise across the street.

[shieryda]

I can't get past the "Jealous Johnny" mission. I've managed to only get 1 out of the 3 pictures, and those bastards I'm supposed be spying on won't cooperate with my camera lens. Any suggestions for this mission?

[CAG 79]

I can't get past the "Jealous Johnny" mission. I've managed to only get 1 out of the 3 pictures, and those bastards I'm supposed be spying on won't cooperate with my camera lens. Any suggestions for this mission?

Just follow them with your camera equipped with the zoom level all the way up that way you can easily just press the R1 button to snap the picture and still be far away.

[Dezuria]

"I'm hot. You're hot. Let's...Make...Out."

That boy on boy kiss has funny lines. I tried it multiple times in a row. :)

[Graystone]

I just picked this game up today. I was at EB couldn't find anything I want and grabbed a copy. Its a good game, I like it a lot. To bad that it won't sell that well IMO.

[thebob101]

Great game, about 10% the way thru. How long do you estimate this game is playing hours wise?

[Roufuss]

Great game, about 10% the way thru. How long do you estimate this game is playing hours wise?

I did all the story missions and a few random side quests, all the classes and other assorted things and finished the game at 70% in 15 hours.

[evophile]

I did all the story missions and a few random side quests, all the classes and other assorted things and finished the game at 70% in 15 hours.

Yep that sounds about right. I was about to get 100% (cant help it I'm a completist) in about 22 hours, and the last few hours were spent at being 99.78% without knowing what the hell to do next.

And of course it was the most stupiest easiest thing.

[DiscoDuck8k]

Finished the main storyline today and now I'm going around doing whatever is left, which is quite a bit.

Near the end everything kind of just flew by.. maybe since I saw several things coming way in advance. Still a really awesome game though.

[jlarlee]

I've played just about every rockstar game but this is the first one to hold my interest long enough and not frustrate me so I could finish it. The ending did seem to happen fast but this game was a perfect rental for a week off

[Backlash]

How does the time work in this game? I mean, if I just want to wander around and find stuff or mess with people will I miss out on things I am supposed to be doing? I feel like I ought to go to all the classes. Also, I don't want to miss too many seasonal things - is that controlled only by missions or does the game advance through seasons based strictly on time?

In general, the time thing makes me feel like I'm under pressure to just follow the missions and go to classes, unlike the GTA games.

[jlarlee]

How does the time work in this game? I mean, if I just want to wander around and find stuff or mess with people will I miss out on things I am supposed to be doing? I feel like I ought to go to all the classes. Also, I don't want to miss too many seasonal things - is that controlled only by missions or does the game advance through seasons based strictly on time?

In general, the time thing makes me feel like I'm under pressure to just follow the missions and go to classes, unlike the GTA games.

You won't miss anything. The only way to change the seasons is to finish the chapters. Plus after finishing the game you get a chance to finish all the side quests in the endless summer mode.

[shieryda]

I'm so excited to continue playing this game now! I finally finished the "Jealous Johnny" mission the other day. Prior to this, I was only able to get 1 or 2 of the photos needed to complete the mission (I must have tried 20 time to get them all). I completed that mission on Sunday, and now only have 2 more Shop classes to complete before continuing with the main story.

Be sure to finish all the classes before you get to Chapter 5, because you will eventually get expelled not be able to go to any more classes at this point.

Has anyone been able to get all the yearbook photos?

[62t]

Play the game for 2 hours today and it deserves the high score.

[mrchainsaw]

So this game is kinda like the GTA series mission wise, right? It sounds like I'll like it since I like the GTA series but I haven't heard too much talk about it.

Also, any news of a price drop anytime soon? I know $40 is pretty good but I'm short on cash.

[Backlash]

It is fairly similar to the GTA games, in that it's free-roaming and mission-based, and there are also lots of sidequests and collection-type things. This one is much more mini-game based, though, IMO. For me, that's a good thing, and I'm really enjoying Bully so far (27% completed out of hopefully 85% or so when I'm done).

[ne2eire]

So this game is kinda like the GTA series mission wise, right? It sounds like I'll like it since I like the GTA series but I haven't heard too much talk about it.

Also, any news of a price drop anytime soon? I know $40 is pretty good but I'm short on cash.

I'm waiting for a price drop too. $20 seems fair for a game thats around 15 hours.

[Roufuss]

I'm waiting for a price drop too. $20 seems fair for a game thats around 15 hours.

$20 is an awesome price, $40 is a bit much.

[ne2eire]

$20 is an awesome price, $40 is a bit much.

Yup $20 is good. I'll wait for just before it goes GH, or hope theres a sale. Too many games to play

[Roufuss]

Yup $20 is good. I'll wait for just before it goes GH, or hope theres a sale. Too many games to play

I bought it at launch, loved it, but once the game is over there really isn't alot left to do, despite being a sandbox title, so I quickly sold it make my money back.

[62t]

hmm i probably should sell my copy and buy it back when it reach GH

[jlarlee]

I beat it during a rental period

[keithp]

Yup $20 is good. I'll wait for just before it goes GH, or hope theres a sale. Too many games to play

My thoughts exactly. $20 is my trigger price for alot of games.

[mrchainsaw]

It's only $33 or so at CC next week.

[Nirvanaguy777]

My girlfriend got me it as an early holidy gift along with some dvds, I'm very satisfied.

[Backlash]

I'm waiting for a price drop too. $20 seems fair for a game thats around 15 hours.

Well, like GTA, you can blow through it very quickly in 15 hours or so just doing the main missions, or you can extend the play by doing side missions and mini-games. I expect to take over 30 hours, most likely.

Edit: But I also got it for free during the FYE trade 4 deal, and I probably would have waited for a price drop otherwise :)

[javeryh]

I got a chance to play some Bully over the Christmas weekend and I'm getting back into it - I'm around 10% finished but I am having fun with it.

[shieryda]

I am starting to detest the "take photos of X" missions. I'm stuck on 2 right now, and can't progress until I complete them.:bomb: I'm around 68% complete.

[Dead of Knight]

I got this at BB for $28 with a gift card a few days ago, started playing it last night. I never played any other Rockstar games except for Max Payne, but this intrigued me. It's pretty cool so far.

[Blackout]

I'm having trouble on the Funhouse Fun mission. I go into the carnival thing into the funhouse. There is supposed to be nerds fighting jocks, but when I go in, there is nothing, and the door is closed and I can't get out. This has happened to me twice. Is my copy messed up or what is the deal?

[jlarlee]

I'm having trouble on the Funhouse Fun mission. I go into the carnival thing into the funhouse. There is supposed to be nerds fighting jocks, but when I go in, there is nothing, and the door is closed and I can't get out. This has happened to me twice. Is my copy messed up or what is the deal?


Did you crouch to go through the tunnel that is straight ahead as you enter?

[Blackout]

Did you crouch to go through the tunnel that is straight ahead as you enter?

LOL no I'll try that tonight. It looked closed though. Thanks for the tip.

[shieryda]

Does anyone have any advice for getting past the "Preppies Vandalized" and one of the other photo missions (something to do with "cheating", where you have to photograph a prep handing out answers to people)? I cannot for the life of me get past either of these 2. I am able to take "good photos", but it won't allow me to progress to the next stage in either mission.

Thanks in advance.

[Backlash]

I don't remember having to do anything unusual for those missions. You might have to go back to the person who asked for the photos once you take them, but if you have taken "good" photos then the game should tell you that. Sorry :(

[shieryda]

I don't remember having to do anything unusual for those missions. You might have to go back to the person who asked for the photos once you take them, but if you have taken "good" photos then the game should tell you that. Sorry :(

I'm starting to think that I bought a buggy game.:cry: