Bully (PlayStation 2, 2006)

First of all, I love this game, I love Rockstar, and I love open world games. However, I do not think it is appropriate for children, or even teens that act out.
The game lets you assume the life of Jimmy Hopkins, a kid who has had some tough knocks in life, and now is getting dropped of at a boarding school so his mom can run around with Jimmy's new step-dad.
You begin the game at the gates of Bullworth Academy, and the game just says go to the principals office. From this moment out you create the game. If you so choose, you can just hang out in the quad for awhile and talk to people, or hit them, or jump in fountains, or eat apples off of the ground, the choice is yours.
Of course, if you skip class, or pick on girls, or hit boys the prefects will be after you, and as the game progresses the cops might be called in as well. I was shocked the first time I bumped into a lady in the Vale and the cops grabbed me, this game is serious about crime and punishment. Which is a good thing in my opinion.
The missions are a blast, the cut scenes laugh out loud funny, and the voice acting well above par. As Jimmy you will have to do everything from bike races, to beat downs, panty raids to fetching lipstick for Cook, and of course, lots and lots of taking down the kid powers that be.
Most of the game revolves around Jimmy taking on the cliques at the school and becoming their boss. Nerds become your first loyal friends, followed by bullies and preps, greasers, and jocks.
Of course Jimmy is still expected to go to school while trying to become king of the heap at Bullworth. Classes are fun mini games, from pushing buttons as called for, or word scrambles or even a game of dodgeball. Each class you pass gives you a benefit, english improves taunting, while chemistry grants you more weapons to make, etc. Once Jimmy passes all five levels of a class he is no longer required to attend. Of course Jimmy can try to skip class, but if a prefect catches him he is sent right to school.

To wrap up, this game is great. I could not be happier with it, and I am usually pretty hard on games. This game gets my 5/5 seal.

5/5
+ Open world gameplay
+ High replay value
+ Great side quests and mini games
+ Just plain fun to play
+ Laugh out loud funny

- No skate board tricks
- Lock on system sometimes off

the shmoopie's tip: To run press and hold x, of course you tire out and need to walk after a while, to avoid this tap x repeatedly, and you will sprint and never tire. This also works on bikes and skate boards.