Cow (Mario)
A bovine racer that became playable in Mario Kart World.
The Cow, also called Moo Moo, is a species in the Mario Kart series that resembles a real-world cow and typically walks on all four legs. Originally a non-playable background character in Mario Kart 64, it became a playable racer in Mario Kart World, a move that inspired the addition of other former non-playable characters as drivers.
Quick Facts
- Series
- Mario
- First
- Mario Kart 64 (1996)
- Other names
- Moo Moo
- Based on
- Cattle
Facts from the source article.
Appearances
Cows made their debut in the background of Moo Moo Farm in Mario Kart 64, where they were non-playable and stayed off the track. In Mario Kart Wii, they appeared on Moo Moo Meadows and could wander onto the road, becoming obstacles for racers. Both courses were later brought back in Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart 8. Mario Kart Tour introduced a Mii costume and a kart based on the cows, with the costume later returning in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The cows also show up on billboards on tracks like Toad's Turnpike. In Mario Kart World, Moo Moo Meadows returns with the cows as obstacles, but one cow becomes a playable character. The game includes missions where players dodge cows or rescue them from being abducted. Unlike many characters, the cow has no alternate costumes to unlock. Beyond Mario Kart, cows appear in the Mario Party series, Mario Pinball Land, Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, and Yoshi's Crafted World. They are also part of a Mario-themed skin pack in Minecraft, replacing that game's cows. A Lego Super Mario minifigure of the cow is planned for the "Bowser's Rumbling Race" set, releasing in January 2027.
Critical reception
Since its appearance, the Cows have been described by critics as one of the best cows in video games. Kate Gray of Nintendo Life praised their round, unintelligent appearance in 64 and 8, describing them as 'much too dumb to live', and called the Wii design 'an incredible update on a timeless cow classic', though she felt their role as a road hazard was spiteful. Famitsu writer Abu Yamazaki wrote positively about the cow's energetic and cute appearance, saying they 'can't get enough of [its] exquisite expression'. One victory animation showing the Cow stretching and presenting its nipples caused discussion on social media due to the detailed rendering, with some joking this explained the game's high price. Automaton Japan saw the detail as reflecting how far depictions of animals have come, calling the attention to the nipples 'almost a reward'. Alexandra Wells from Screen Rant praised the Cow's inclusion as Nintendo's way of 'keeping its games the perfect amount of weird', comparing it to Tingle and Piranha Plant becoming fan-favourites. IGN France declared the Cow's inclusion crazier than Piranha Plant's, representing developers 'exploring the Mario universe to the maximum'. Steve Watts from GameSpot respected the unconventional inclusion and praised how it 'enabled a smorgasbord of other, equally unconventional racers'. Moises Taveras of Endless Mode described playing as the Cow as a saving grace, reminding that 'joy and good...can still be found.'
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