Mario Kart World’s Cow Has a Big Drawback Compared to Other Racers

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In the upcoming release of Mario Kart World on Nintendo Switch 2, the game boasts an extensive lineup of racers, including seasoned veterans from previous games and a multitude of fresh faces. The newcomer generating the most buzz at the moment is Cow, a character previously known for being an obstacle to avoid in the Moo Moo Farms course of Mario Kart 64. Cow’s promotion to full racer status in Mario Kart World comes as Nintendo seeks innovative ways to enrich the franchise, thus allowing characters who were previously just obstacles, like Cow, to become playable “NPC drivers.

The majority of people haven’t had the opportunity to test out Cow or Mario Kart World as of now, as they won’t be able to until Nintendo Switch 2 launches on June 5th. However, fans are already quite smitten with the character’s appearance, and Cow has already gained a significant following in the game. It appears that Nintendo anticipated this affection for Cow, given the extensive redesign of Moo Moo Farm within Mario Kart World, which now serves as a sort of sanctuary dedicated to the character and her racing prowess.

That being said, there is one potential downside that might make players pause before choosing Cow, or any other non-player characters for that matter.

In contrast to previous games in the Mario Kart series, a significant shift in Mario Kart World is the availability of alternate costumes for the game’s characters. Popular figures such as Mario, Luigi, and Peach can acquire new appearances by progressing through the game. These alternate looks can be selected during character selection before each race. Nintendo has unveiled numerous intriguing new designs, which promises to enrich the game’s diversity. However, during a recent hands-on session for Mario Kart World, Nintendo clarified that NPC drivers will not receive costume upgrades, so you won’t see characters like Cow in biker gear or Dolphin sporting beachwear.

Some enthusiasts might find it disappointing that the new Mario Kart World doesn’t offer costumes for its new racers, especially since this is a first for a mainline game and the development team has come up with creative and distinctive designs for the older characters. It seems like a lost chance not to include these costumes for one of the game’s major new additions, such as dressing Cow in a “Cow-rio” outfit complete with a red hat and blue overalls, or even giving him a biker look similar to Wario and Waluigi – though the image of a cow in leather might be a bit darkly humorous.

There’s a chance that Nintendo might address this issue with Downloadable Content (DLC). At the moment, it’s unclear how they plan to manage additional content for Mario Kart World. However, considering past experiences, it’s likely we’ll see more support for the game in its early stages compared to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The Switch version of the previous game didn’t receive much post-launch support until years later, and Nintendo is unlikely to make the same mistake again. A Cow costume DLC pack could be a great addition to Mario Kart World, whether it’s offered for free or as a paid item. Given the character’s current popularity, it seems reasonable to assume that Nintendo might be considering this, especially if players show enough interest. Furthermore, characters like Monty Mole could also benefit from new outfits, not just Cow.

It’s quite probable that fans of Mario Kart World who had already decided to play as Cow won’t be swayed from their choice just because she doesn’t have any alternate costumes. There appears to be a strong fascination towards the non-playable characters, and Nintendo’s designers have skillfully integrated her into the game’s environment. With the diverse cast of characters in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, it must have been challenging to introduce new ones. Introducing characters that were previously just obstacles enriches the game experience, even if they can’t change their outfits like other characters can.

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2025-06-03 21:43