A candid look at the worst side of high school.
While Bully is a lot of fun to play the most remarkable thing about it is how well it presents high school students. While many of the portrayals are fairly stereotypical the game manages to capture the awkwardness and insecurity of teenagers extremely well. Most of the standard high school cliques are represented, and as is common in high school, each one expresses feelings of superiority to all the rest.
In addition to the setting, the gameplay makes you feel like a teenager. Jimmy gets around mostly by skateboard or by bike and, when he needs to, by foot. Plus, authority figures are ever present to bust you in case you step out of line, such as when you are out past curfew. That said, even if Jimmy manages to avoid detection late at night he will eventually pass out from fatigue, again showing his age.
Jimmy has classes twice a day, at set hours, and being caught outside of class will cause prefects to give chase. However, it is beneficial for Jimmy to attend classes. Passing classes will provide bonuses such as being able to make stink bombs, or unlocking better bikes. Additionally, once you complete all the classes you'll never have to go again, and no one will care if you wander around campus during class hours.
Aside from the school the player is able to explore the surrounding town of Bullworth, which offers much to see and to do. Bullworth feels like a real town, complete with a shopping district, a posh neighbourhood, a city hall, and even an amusement park. In town the player can stock up on supplies (which is almost useless since supplies can be found scattered around the map), buy new outfits and haircuts, and even make some extra cash through odd jobs like mowing lawns. There is also plenty of exploring to do, as Jimmy can swim, as well as climb tall buildings (provided there's a ladder).
Underpinning Jimmy's adventures is a solid gameplay system. Vehicles control as they should, most notably the skateboard, which becomes increasingly difficult to steer at higher speeds, and is useless on grass. The combat system has been well crafted, but fights are never that difficult unless you are surrounded by enemies. Also, since it's possible to unlock new fighting moves and weapons, the combat stays fresh throughout the game.
There is nothing particularly special about the way this game plays. What is special is how it feels. All the politics and cruelty present in many high schools is brought to light and presented by way of a tumultuous story. All the while the game does a fantastic job of making you feel like a teenager, but in that horrible “new kid at school” way. With all this, plus a vivid world to explore, it's very easy to see past Bully's minor flaws and instead enjoy the unique experience the game offers.