Mario Kart World’s Character Choice Explained: Where’s Link – And Why A Cow?

Enthusiasts of Nintendo games are abuzz with queries ever since the unveiling of Mario Kart World on the freshly launched Switch 2. The most frequently asked questions include “Where’s Link?” and, somewhat puzzlingly, “What’s with the Cow?”

The recently unveiled game signals a change in the character concept compared to the diverse team dynamic seen in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Characters like Link from The Legend of Zelda and Isabelle from Animal Crossing are no longer part of it.

From Hyrule To Nowhere

In the previous title Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, crossover characters were a fan-favorite feature.

Enthusiasts have an opportunity to compete using beloved characters like Link, The Villager, Isabelle, and either Inkling Girl or Boy – these are fan favorites from various Nintendo series.

These additions are from downloadable content packs that were initially launched for Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U. They comprised themed tracks such as Hyrule Circuit and Animal Crossing’s seasonal route, which have been carried over from the original game in the Deluxe version.

Initially, this action was generally applauded, if not outright embraced, by the majority of fans. Some even pointed out that the change brought Mario Kart a step closer to resembling Super Smash Bros. territory.

Currently, the beloved characters from Mario Kart are noticeably missing in the game called Mario Kart World, and this omission is intentional for a specific purpose.

A Return To The Mushroom Kingdom

During a recent conversation with Ouest-France, producer Kosuke Yabuki shared insights into the reasoning behind the game’s creation. In simpler terms, he explained the thought process that guided the development team.

“As developers, it would have seemed incongruous to add characters from other games to this universe. And it didn’t seem necessary, given everything we could already do with Mario.”

In other words: Why should we? A surprisingly blunt answer.

“We inevitably wonder how players will perceive this cast,”

Yabuki continued,

“But there are so many characters and so many costumes that there’s sure to be something for everyone.”

Why The Change?

Part of the reason for dropping crossover characters may come down to lore and design limitations.

In the development of “Mario Kart World“, there’s an emphasis on fostering a more unified Mario universe, not just in the layout of maps, but also in the selection of characters.

Outside characters like Link or the Inklings might feel out of place in this world.

This method further clarifies why locations such as Hyrule Castle and the Animal Crossing village have not been included. Since there are no characters from these franchises in the game, their corresponding settings were eliminated as well, maintaining the game’s more focused, Mario-oriented environment.

So… Why A Cow?

Without a doubt, one of the most unexpected yet beloved characters added to the cast is none other than the Cow – an unexpected racer modeled after a supporting character from Moo Moo Meadows.

Interestingly, this unconventional pick served as the spark for a significant change in design direction.

Developer Ryunosuke Ishikawa revealed the Cow’s origin story in the “Ask the Developer” Interview:

“Each new Mario Kart game features new characters to race with, but since we added so many to the previous game, we wondered where we could go from there. One of the designers came up with a silly sketch of Cow cruising along, and I thought to myself, ‘This is it!’” (Laughs)

According to reports, the Cow seems to have pioneered a fresh approach to team composition, drawing from an abundance of secondary characters in the Mario universe, particularly those who drive – often referred to as NPC drivers.

Cheep Cheep, Pokey and others soon followed.

It was thanks to the introduction of various “NPC drivers” that the idea to have Kamek appear as an item was born. When Kamek casts a spell, the racers are transformed into playable NPCs, so one by one they might all turn into Cow mid-race. I think it turned out to be a unique item that has never been seen before. In fact, Cow is a character who’s inspired a lot of different ideas, including obstacle characters like Camel and Giraffe”,

Shintaro Jikumaru, head of the planning team overseeing the overall gameplay design, reached a decision.

Emotion, Engines, And Expression

Giving a previously mute cow a full racing personality wasn’t without its challenges.

According to Haruka Asahi, our team has put in a great effort to ensure that the personalities of our NPC drivers are not perceived as less than those of established characters such as Mario.

As an ardent enthusiast, I delved into a world of sonic exploration, experimenting with everything from the deep croaks of frogs to the rhythmic beats of drums to perfectly encapsulate the distinctive engine roars that mirrored each character’s unique design.

“Smash Bros.” No More – But Hope Remains

It’s important to mention that while the developers haven’t ruled out further updates for this game, characters like Link, who was added as downloadable content in Mario Kart 8, serve as a precedent for potential future additions.

There’s chatter among fans that more expansions like this might come up in the future, possibly even for other Nintendo series, should they choose to do so.

One popular theory?

Regarding Link’s new look, it might be determined by the character design in a future Zelda game, but Nintendo hasn’t unveiled it publicly just yet.

In other words: his absence now doesn’t rule out a triumphant return later.

Rather than relying on the freewheeling collaboration feel of Super Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Nintendo is placing their bets on a unique enchantment in this installment – an intricately connected universe where even a seemingly insignificant cow in the background could capture the spotlight.

And honestly? That’s pretty Moo-ving.

2025-06-24 17:10