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A fun little game that slowly unfolds an adventurous epic. Bring on the third installment!

Late last year, Tell Tale Games released Out From Boneville, the first in a series of games based on Jeff Smith’s popular “Bone” comics. While the game was applauded for its loyalty to the original source and its throwback style to the old adventure games of yesteryear, Out From Boneville's greatest flaws came with its lack of difficulty and oh so short playing time (it could be completed in just a little over an hour).. However, it spawned a great interest from fans of the comic and gamers alike and garnered enough popularity to bring forth the second installment, The Great Cow Race.



Picking up immediately following the events of Out From Boneville, The Great Cow Race follows the Bone cousins. After a scuffle some mean locusts, two bloodthirsty mutant rats, a grumpy dragon and some playful possums, the cousins find themselves separated. However with the help of a young woman named Thorn and her Grandma Ben, they are finally reunited. However, the risk of danger is nowhere near eliminated, as a mysterious cloaked figure lurks nearby. We have yet to know this enigma’s intentions but they are anything but good.



The Great Cow Race begins shortly before the conclusion of the previous game, which is nice because it gives us a brief refresher of what is going on. The game takes place entirely in town, where the annual Cow Race is about to happen. Grandma Ben, despite not being a cow, is the race’s longtime champion and is determined to win again this year. Meanwhile, the conniving Phoney Bone sees an opportunity to strike a fortune with the Cow Race. Thus, along with some help from hobo Smiley Bone, Phoney sets up a betting scheme that he hopes will make him a jackpot of money er… I mean eggs. Fone Bone, the most normal of the trio, is facing a dilemma, he is in love with Thorn but he is afraid to express his feelings. So much drama! So much action!



While The Great Cow Race possesses the same point-and-click style of gameplay and comic book presentation of its predecessor, it is obvious that the good folks at Tell Tale Games have listened to their audience. The game focuses more on puzzle solving and story progression. You also get the chance to play as all three Bone cousins this time around, as you guide them through their dilemmas which ultimately lead to the Great Cow Race. We get to know the cousins and the rest of the characters a little better and some of the mysteries presented in the original shed a little more light. On top of that, we still get the same witty writing and acceptable voice acting found in Out From Boneville.



The difficulty issues have been resolved, as the puzzles require a bit more patience and brainpower. With some more slightly complex puzzles and problems comes a slightly longer amount of playing time. I would say another hour or two have increased the game’s lifespan. Hence, The Great Cow Race is a good way to kill the afternoon.

While the game still possesses some of the flaws found in the first chapters, these flaws are becoming slowly cared upon. With a definite step up in quality, The Great Cow Race is a fun little game that slowly unfolds an adventurous epic. Bring on the third installment I say!

Head to the Tell Tale Games site now to download the game for $12.99, or buy it on CD for $17.99!

Review by Walt Ball.