Blue switch (Super Mario Galaxy)
A blue switch[1] is a ! Switch functioning as a Ground-Pound Switch that appears in Super Mario Galaxy 2. During gameplay, Mario or Luigi must ground-pound the blue switches. Upon being pressed, a temporary effect occurs marked with a speeding-up ticking sound, ending with a ding. In the Cosmic Cove Galaxy, one freezes the water on a small planetoid, in the Chompworks Galaxy, one moves an elevator for a Gold Chomp, and in the Upside-Dizzy Galaxy, one briefly changes a field of gravity.
In certain stages with unusually fast obstacles, the switches cause the entire screen to turn black and white with a rippling effect, and the music to sound compressed. The main effect of hitting one of these switches, however, is that it will slow down all the obstacles around Mario or Luigi. The switches can allow him to pass under a Thwomp or jump on a fast-moving platform with ease.
Gallery
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ヒップドロップタイマースイッチ Hippu Doroppu Taimā Suitchi |
Hip Drop Timer Switch |
| German | Lahm-Schalter |
Lame Switch |
Trivia
- In a pre-release version of Super Mario Galaxy 2, an earlier version of the blue switch was shown as a sort of "side-flipping" switch, as opposed to looking more like a ! Switch.
- Sentry Beams' lasers, Amps' electricity, electric rails, Water Shooters' bubbles, coins, and Mario or Luigi do not turn black and white when a time-slowing blue switch is pressed.
