Bully (Canis Canem Edit in Europe) is a role play adventure from the people who make Grand Theft Auto. You play juvenile delinquent student Jimmy Hopkins who aims to rise through the ranks of the school system in order to put a stop to bullying.

You explore the school world as Jimmy, taking on tasks, getting into fights, committing vandalism and interacting with students and teachers to become more popular in the school's cliques: nerds, preppies, dropouts and jocks. Each has their own hangout spot and attire.

You attend courses with five increasingly difficult classes. These reward you with clothing and abilities to help your quests for school supremacy. English lets you apologise to authority figures. Chemistry grants you throwable weapons. Gym unlocks new fighting moves.

If you break the school rules, teachers and policemen will attempt to grab and subdue you. The more rules you break the harder authority figures try to catch you. Eventually you will be busted and restart at the nearest police station or the school principal's office without your weapons.

Over the years, Bully has been controversial. It has been criticised for glorifying or trivialising school bullying and its sexual (kissing) content. However, the game offers a captivating, cartoonish dip into the world of school hierarchy.

You can choose how to treat the other students in the school, and are encouraged not to be mean spirited. The consequences of your actions are clearly seen. If you aren't nice to people in the school you soon end up on your own. This is Ferris Bueller territory which is not only a lot of fun, but played in the right context can offer some helpful reflection about the impact of our actions on other people.