The recent reveal of an abandoned sequel for Bully, one of Rockstar Games' most successful titles, has left fans mourning what they could have had, with concept art revealing a title that could've been one of the studio's best. There are many gamers that loved spending hours upon hours pulling pranks and getting into fights in Bullworth Academy, and apparently, they could have had more. There were a few reasons why the game was shelved, but it probably shouldn't have been. Bully 2 could have been Rockstar's biggest game in its entire history if the leaks pertaining to its development are accurate, and although the studio hasn't officially announced its cancellation, prospects for it look bleak.
In the game Bully, players control Jimmy, a rambunctious schoolboy who attends Bullworth Academy. Although he's by no means a model student, he still has good intentions, and works to correct injustices in his new school. Although it might seem to some that Bully is just boarding school Grand Theft Auto, it's a very complicated game with its own nuances that set it apart from GTA. The game was a massive success due to its open world, compelling storyline, and a vast array of missions, content, and gameplay options. Recently, Bully 2 screenshots and details were revealed, and they have fans salivating. If it had been developed and released as planned, it's likely that it would have been massively well-received, and possibly even be one of Rockstar's best games.
From every building being explorable to an honor system that was eventually used in Red Dead Redemption 2, Bully 2 apparently had a plethora of new features for players to enjoy. The reasons for its abandonment are a question on the lips of almost every fan, and there's also the issue of whether or not it will ever see a full release. Bully 2 aimed to exceed GTA in of gameplay and exploration, and it would still be groundbreaking today if it had the chance. Given fans' reactions to the news so far, it's certainly possible, but nothing is for sure at the moment, and it's also possible that it will fade away into obscurity once more as soon as the next big gaming news comes along. In any case, it feels like Rockstar missed a big opportunity when it comes to Bully 2.
Bully 2's Rumored Features Show A Game Ahead Of Its Time
According to a Red Dead Redemption 2's Bully influences are plain, and reflect even more the missed opportunity that Rockstar had. Players' actions would have had weight and affected their experience for the rest of the game, instead of characters forgetting everything after a certain amount of time had ed or they had left their range. Another feature planned was that every building would have been enterable. Every single building, from the smallest tool shed to the biggest dorm building, had its own interior that could be explored.
Other, perhaps less exciting, features included a dynamic glass-shattering system and a grass-growing mechanic. Although the exact year that work on Bully 2 ceased is murky, it would appear to be around 2010 or 2013. Other titles have been influenced by Bully, and even GTA 6 should take lessons from what it did and what it had planned. If it hadn't been abandoned, Rockstar could have used this to flex its metaphorical muscles and show players and investors what the studio was capable of much sooner than it did with subsequent games such as Max Payne 3. Bully 2 could have been a best-seller for these features alone, especially given the time period it could have been released in.
Why Was Bully 2 Shelved By Rockstar Games?
The reason behind Bully 2's abandonment is something else that's not quite clear. For a game with such revolutionary features, a dedicated fan base, and a massively successful release, it would seem strange for a sequel to end up on the shelf. According to the same GameInformer interview, developers were pulled off of the title in order to work on other projects, such as the Anti-Western Red Dead Redemption, and neo-noir Max Payne 3. There were also a series of layoffs around the time it was rumored to be canceled, as well as a number of staff who quit the studio. The developers pulled from Bully 2 were reported to not return after their projects were complete, so it's possible that development simply slowed to a crawl.
Another factor could have been the developers' office culture. Rockstar New England, formerly Mad Doc, were the developers of Bully 2, and after their acquisition by Rockstar, there were apparently changes in attitudes among developers. Long shifts, late nights, and weekends spent sitting in chairs were apparently widespread, and one developer described the crunch as "endless." Overwork and underappreciation could have contributed to the game's delay and eventual shelving. A lack of communication among offices could have also been a factor when development slowed, or it may have been a combination of the two. Either way, Bully 2 not happening has to be one of Rockstar's lowest moments.
Will Bully 2 Ever Release?
Although the prospects for Bully 2 seem slim, there's still a chance that it will eventually be released in some form. There were apparently many developers who very much enjoyed working on Bully 2, more so than Red Dead Redemption or Max Payne 3. Some have said that they would love to continue work on it and see it get a full release. Some of the elements from the game have also been incorporated into other titles by Rockstar.
Perhaps the most compelling piece of evidence that Bully 2 may indeed see the light of day eventually is that the developers had a playable version ready before it was shelved, and that it is, or at least was, still at Rockstar New England somewhere. With a working build, and with GTA 6 in development, Rockstar has no reason not to pursue a sequel to Bully. The story was completely written out, and apparently, it had about six or eight good hours of game content so far, fully mapped-out terrain, mobile NPCs, and even some rough buildings and houses. One developer described it as "fully rendered, fully realized."
With so much work put into the game, and so many developers who would love to see it fully conceptualized, it seems like a shame for Rockstar to leave Bully 2 on the shelf. Hopefully, the recent outcry by fans will force the studio to take another look at it, continue work on it, and eventually release it to the public. Whether or not that will happen remains uncertain, but if it does, it would still be a bit of a ways off. The graphics would in all likelihood need an update, and many core gameplay aspects would need some revisiting. Work may need to begin from scratch, which means that it could take years for another Bully game to come to consoles. Even so, there are many fans who would say that it's worth the wait.
Source: GameInformer
