Rare Cows Spotters Guide
Since the release of Conker’s Pocket Tales on the Gameboy Color, Rare’s portable team has been hiding a secret Easter Egg that serves as a shared signature, spanning across their library of on-the-go hits.
This secret is the Rare Cow; an unsuspecting bovine chewing on a daisy that has surreptitiously appeared in ten unique appearances, just waiting to be glimpsed by eagle-eyed fans.
We’ve taken care to list each known appearance of the Rare Cows below, detailing the prerequisite methods to reach their locations in each title, along with photographic evidence of their existence.
#1 – CONKER’S POCKET TALES – VULTUREVILLE COW
The location of the first pair of Rare Cows can be found in Conker’s Pocket Tales once you’ve managed to best Hsstamean and arrive in the western town of Vultureville. Venture onto the Undertaker’s property and then begin to head northeast to discover the trail that leads to the graveyard; you’ll find that you’re able to pass through the gaps in the headstones at the most northern point. From here, you’ll need to find a secret path just beyond the Morgue that allows you to wrap around the outside of the graveyard. Once you’ve followed this path to its end, you’ll find that the trail opens up to a larger clearing below, where the Rare Cows can be spotted idly chewing their daisies together.
#2 – MICKEY’S RACING ADVENTURE – REALLY RAPID RAPIDS COW
Finding the Rare Cow in Mickey’s Racing Adventure requires a bit of investment. You’ll need to reach Goofy’s “Fairground Follies” racing campaign, which can only be accomplished once you’ve collected enough Railway Pennies and have managed to accumulate at least 12 Mickey Tokens with Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy. Once you have access to Goofy’s second track, Really Rapid Rapids, you’ll need to follow the track normally until you arrived at a bare log bridge after the purple overpass. If you gather enough speed following the first log bridge, and skirt along the northern shores, you should be able to locate a hidden pen that houses the Rare Cow in the center of the track.
#3 – PERFECT DARK GBC – CARRINGTON INSTITUTE COW
The Carrington Institute is home to the next Rare Cow, where Joanna Dark begins her training in Perfect Dark GBC. You’ll begin with the ‘Basic Training’ simulation in an urban interior, but once you’ve managed to use covert measures to pass through each room, you’ll be granted access to the exterior of the facility. Avoid entering the ‘Search & Rescue’ portion of the training, and instead make your way through the streets as you head to the north; use the Falcon 2 to dispatch any opposition that stands in your way, and eventually you’ll arrive at a brick wall. Trace the surface of the wall horizontally and you should find the Rare Cow, spray painted across its surface as a bit of bovine graffiti.
#4 – PERFECT DARK GBC – DEATHBALL STREET STADIUM COW
The Rare Cow can also be located in the multiplayer mode of Perfect Dark GBC, though it requires a bit more investment than its campaign counterpart. You’ll need to progress to the second Jungle Base during the single-player mission so that you can unlock the River Crossing scenario, and the Target Range scenario in the Extras menu. Clear both scenarios in the menu and you’ll access the Street Stadium map, and the ability to play Deathball against your friends. Next, you’ll need to link up with a second Gameboy Color with its own copy of Perfect Dark GBC via Link Cable to experience the multiplayer mode; once you’ve connected, you’ll find the Rare Cow in the northeast corner of the Street Stadium Deathball map.
#5 – DONKEY KONG COUNTRY GBC – SLIPSLIDE RIDE COW
You’ll need to undergo quite a trek to locate the Rare Cow in Donkey Kong Country GBC, as it’s located on the frigid heights of the fourth world: Gorilla Glacier. Once you’ve reached the summit, you’ll need to enter the second stage, Slipslide Ride, and progress through the cavern until you’ve arrived at the Star Barrel. Ascend to the next level and you’ll encounter a series of ropes guarded by Zingers; there’s a hidden Bonus Barrel above the third Zinger, so you’ll need to leap across to the fourth rope, and then climb it until you can safely jump back to the third. After reaching the Barrel, you’ll be taken to the Bonus Room, which features the Rare Cow in between a series of ropes you’ll need to climb across for bananas.
#6 – MICKEY’S SPEEDWAY USA GBC – UTAH COW
You’ll find the next Rare Cow returning to the dusty plains in Mickey’s Speedway USA GBC. In order to reach this desert destination, you’ll need to first place at least third overall in the ‘Traffic Troubles’ Circuit to unlock the option of racing in the second cup, ‘Motorway Mania’. If you can manage to outpace your rivals in a roadtrip across the States of Seattle, Montana, and Yellowstone, you’ll arrive in Utah, which serves as the final track of the second circuit. As you start your engines, you’ll begin driving to the west along a straightaway – keep to the left side of the track as it turns to the north, and you’ll be primed to spot the Rare Cow’s outline etched into the dirt on the left side of the track.
#7 – MICKEY’S SPEEDWAY USA GBC – SECRET TRACK! COW
The Rare Cow also receives a fitting tribute track of its own in Mickey’s Speedway USA GBC, though it requires quite a bit of legwork to unlock. To start, you’ll need another Gameboy Color with a copy of Mickey’s Racing Adventure to operate alongside Speedway USA GBC. You’ll need to purchase the Post Office Key from Chip N’ Dale for 20 Disney Dollars and 9 Acorns, and then use the ‘E-mail’ feature once inside to communicate with your copy of Mickey’s Speedway USA on Gameboy Color using the IR Link. Once a connection has been established, you’ll unlock the ‘Secret Track!‘ on Mickey’s Speedway USA GBC; a cow-shaped course on an asteroid belt that features the Rare Cow donning a space helmet from the sidelines.
#8 – BANJO-KAZOOIE: GRUNTY’S REVENGE – SPILLER’S HARBOR COW
The Rare Cow can also be seen during the bear and birds first time travel escapade on the Gameboy Advance with Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty’s Revenge. Ignoring the bear-sized paradoxes, you’ll need to progress through the adventure until you’ve arrived at the seaside town of Spiller’s Harbor. Venturing into the fourth world and heading west will take you to the beach, where you’ll find the Rare Cow sketched into the sand to the left of Castoff’s Castle. Curiously, the interior of the sandcastle features a milk carton, possibly serving as a second reference for the time traveling heifer.
#9 – SABRE WULF (GBA)- MAYOR’S OFFICE COW
The expedition for the Rare Cow continues with Sabre Wulf for the Gameboy Advance. If you’re able to progress to Mount Knightlore, and retrieve the toboggan for the children in ‘Snowy Knoll’, they’ll provide you with a key for the Mayor’s Office in Blackwyche Village. Unlocking the door and heading inside reveals a Cow Costume positioned to mimic the previous incarnations of the Rare Cow. As a bovine bonus, collecting the costume and giving it to Captain Fingers at the Blackwyche Docks will have him dress up as the Rare Cow during the Wedding at the conclusion of the adventure.
#10 – IT’S MR. PANTS – MAX’S MYSTICAL MUDDLE COW
Not even the quirky, oddball puzzler It’s Mr. Pants was safe from an appearance from the Rare Cow, though glimpsing it is reserved for only the most dedicated players. You’ll need to start by beating all 25 puzzles in Easy and Medium mode to unlock the ability to play the Hard puzzles, which in turn unlocks the Special mode when beaten. After you’ve managed to clear all 100 puzzles, you’ll unlock Max’s Mystical Muddle Mode. Fortunately, you’re not required to beat Muddle mode, as the Rare Cow will appear in a collage that crowds the screen the instant the challenge is failed.
ARE THERE STILL RARE COWS TO BE FOUND?
While the Rare Cow has made a number of appearances so far, there may still be cameos yet that we haven’t seen. The Gameboy Advance lineup is a definite contender for future sightings, with Banjo-Pilot, Donkey Kong Country GBA, Donkey Kong Country 2 GBA, and Donkey Kong Country 3 GBA potentially housing a reference long since hidden away. Some grazing could be possible on the Nintendo DS as well, with Diddy Kong Racing DS and Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise from the portable team as well.
We wish anyone interested in hunting for the Rare Cows in these remaining titles the best of luck – you may be fortunate enough to glimpse one that has eluded us all for decades!