The publisher of the controversial "Grand Theft Auto" franchise has gone back to school, literally, in "Bully." The game is set in an environment more nightmarish than San Andreas: high school.

Gamers control 15-year-old Jimmy Hopkins, a new student at Bullworth Academy, a boarding school for the rich and snobby. There, Jimmy is picked on by bullies. He's an outcast who doesn't fit in with the various cliques of jocks, preppies, nerds and cheerleaders.

Each day, Jimmy is responsible for going to five classes between 9 and 1. Although he can skip school to explore, playing through the classroom mini-games opens a wealth of gaming experiences. Shop class lets you build BMX bikes you can use in the game, and gym class provides new wrestling moves and improved dodge-ball performance. And you have to attend each class only five times.

The open-ended game has many minigames that are just plain fun. There are also assorted missions. One sends Jimmy on a panty raid at the behest of his gym teacher, and another involves stealing the school mascot uniform. Jimmy can skip his 11 p.m. curfew and explore the area, but he automatically falls asleep at 2 a.m. from exhaustion.

There's so much depth in this game that you won't want to put it down. The variety of activities keeps things fresh, and the story is both entertaining and realistic. Although there is violence, it's with fists, slingshots and baseball bats, not guns or knives, and the game is rated Teen, not Mature as is "Grand Theft Auto."

There's no blood or death. Any violence is aimed at bullies (as you protect the nerds on escort missions), not innocent kids. It's worth noting that there are some sexual situations.

As in high school itself, the goal is to make it through the year. Rockstar has created an unusual game experience that, despite some of the controversy that first surrounded it, delivers important messages about growing up. It's a game teenagers and adults can relate to and enjoy playing.