Few video game companies have had as much of an impact as Rockstar. Throughout the years it has never been afraid to court controversy, and its games are known for their attention to detail. Many of its franchises, such asGrand Theft AutoandRed Dead Redemption, have become staples. However, there is also a graveyard offorgotten Rockstar franchisesthat includeMidnight Club,Manhunt, andBully.
Plenty of gamers have been particularly disheartened by the lack of attention Rockstar has paid toBully. Taking place in the fictional school of Bullworth Academy, it follows Jimmy as he navigates a relatable social scene filled with cliques. Jimmy attempts to shake up the school’s hierarchy and put a stop to bullies' reigns of terror. Although it has seemed likeBullywould never be resurrected, recent actions by Rockstar offer a little more room for optimism.
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Rockstar Is Embracing Remakes and Remasters
In recent years, Rockstar has been churning out many remakes of its classic games.Take-Two Interactive’s quarterly reportin August 2021 revealed that the company planned to release nine new iterations of previously released titles. In November 2021, Rockstar releasedGrand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition,a remaster ofGTA 3,GTA: Vice City, andGTA: San Andreas. The trilogy received a lukewarm response, and whileGrand Theft Autofans were happy to revisit generation-defining title, many complained of technical glitches and below-expected quality.
GTA 5was originally released in 2013, and it received its first remaster in 2014. In 2022, Rockstar released yet another port ofGTA 5for current-generation consoles, taking advantage of the superior technology to offer higher frame rates, better resolution, and faster loading times.GTA 5’s PS5 and Xbox Series X remasterwas received better than theGTA Trilogy. Although the degree to which Rockstar has managed to polish an eight-year-old game is impressive, many believeGTA 5has been milked enough, and the studio should be focused onGTA 6instead.
Rockstar is not done blowing the dust off its old franchises. In April 2022, Remedy announced that it had entered an agreement with Rockstar to developMax Payne 1and2remakes. TheMax Payneseries, which began in 2001, embraces a neo-noir atmosphere around its titular detective, and is notable for introducing a bullet-time mechanic that so many modern titles have emulated. Although a release date for these games has yet to be revealed, Remedy has confirmed they will be available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Rockstar’s focus on remakes and remasters opens the possibility thatBullymay be the next title resurrected. Although the storyBullytells is one that has stood the test of time, its controls, visuals, and mechanics are more dated. A good remaster could fix these issues and ensure that a new generation can experience the chaotic, charming world of Bullworth Academy.
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Rockstar New England Has Already Laid the Groundwork
For years there have beenBullyrumorsclaiming that Rockstar is working on either a remake or a new entry. The rumors have taken many forms, with some claiming the protagonist will be a woman, and others claiming it will have a map many times larger than the original. However, one should always take these rumors with a grain of salt.
Fortunately, in 2022 fans received confirmation that Rockstar had once worked on aBullysequel. Developers from Rockstar New England spoke to Game Informer about the ups and downs ofBully 2’s development, and revealed some of the ambitious ideas they had. According to one developer, they hoped for theBullyseries to “sit alongside Rockstar games of the time, such asGrand Theft Auto 4andRed Dead Redemption.” They had lofty plans, including the ability for players to enter every building, and for NPCs to remember the actions of players.
Unfortunately, due to factors including major layoffs,Bully 2never saw the light of day, and many of the developers left Rockstar New England. However, the hard work was not all lost. Some systems originally dreamed up forBully 2found their way into other Rockstar games. For example, the in-depth social system meant forBully 2was implemented inRed Dead Redemption 2. In typical Rockstar fashion, some seemingly pointless but still impressive systems were going to be added, such as a grass system that would allow it to grow realistically. Players would be able to improve their lawnmowing skills to create patterns on people’s lawns.
It is not too late for Rockstar to get around toBully 2. Best of all, it would not require the company to start from scratch, as a lot of the groundwork has been laid out by Rockstar New England. The fountain of original ideas forBully 2demonstrates that a hunger to create the game is present, and Rockstar would not have to worry about a lack of enthusiasm for the project from its team.
Bully’s cult-classic status is deserved, and years later the game still manages to drum up interest. Although it has been a long time sinceRockstar has acknowledgedBully’s existence, this does not mean it is over for the series. There may be avenues for fans to enjoy more of theBullyuniverse, either through a remake or a new entry.
Bullyis available now on Mobile, PC, PS2, Wii, and Xbox 360.
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