Rockstar's Bully

I'm about two-thirds of the way through the Playstation 2 game "Bully". So far, it is pretty good.

You can definitely see that there is some recycling of the Grand Theft Auto code. The world has the same look, and the running and bicycling in the game has the same feel.

Much like the GTA series, the protagonist is a standard anti-hero: a mildly amoral ends-justify-the-means character that is good by virtue of being less evil than his surroundings.

This game, just like the GTA series, is enjoyable by being cathartic. I was not a violent hoodlum in high school, nor would I want anyone to emulate the character, but, the game give me the opportunity to act out my own revenge fantasies against those that taunted me. Many argue that games like this cause violence. For me, though, it is an opportunity to vent frustration.

Some fun things I found out.

1. You can do a guy-on-guy kiss. There is a game play mechanic where you can trade flowers or candy for a kiss. There is a tall blonde guy that hangs out in entry of the school building that accept flowers for a kiss.

Later, in Chapter 5, when you lose all your rep, when you try to talk to the guy, he won't do it. One time he said, "I like women, okay? Loose women." :-).

2. There is a mission "The Big Game" in which the introductory video has you put on the mascot costume for a football team. If you are already wearing a hat, the video will, for a second or two, show the superposition of the two hats. I had my pirate hat sticking out of the side of the mascot hat.

I got the pirate hat by swiming around the river where I came across a half-sunken pirate ship. There is a beach nearby where there is a pirate. Beat him up to get his hat.

3. If you get caught sneaking around the insane asylum not during any mission, the guards will drug you if they catch you. The screen turns green and then you pass out.