Flipswitch Panel
- "Flipswitch" redirects here. For the galaxy named for them, seeFlipswitch Galaxy.
- "Switch Panel" redirects here. For the orange P Switches also known as Switch Panels, seeP Panel.
| Flipswitch Panel | |
|---|---|
 A Flipswitch Panel fromSuper Mario 3D World | |
| First appearance | Super Mario Galaxy (2007) |
| Latest appearance | Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2025) |
AFlipswitch Panel[1][2] is an object inSuper Mario Galaxy,Super Mario Galaxy 2, andSuper Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2. It is a type of switch appearing in severalgalaxies throughout the series. Each Flipswitch Panel starts off as a blue panel with a question mark on its face and a nut in each corner, turning yellow with an exclamation mark whenMario orLuigi steps on it, but it turns back to a blue question mark if it is stepped on again. (The only exception is the Flipswitch Panels in theGateway Galaxy, which all have circles on them rather than question marks or exclamation marks.) However, a Flipswitch Panel does not change if Mario or Luigijumps and lands on it again before walking off it; Mario or Luigi must step onto another Flipswitch Panel or a regular platform in order to change the color of the Flipswitch Panel. When all of the Flipswitch Panels are stepped on in a specific area, they turn green and display a square on each of them. After this has happened, they no longer change. After this, an event occurs within the immediate area. A galaxy called theFlipswitch Galaxy has a planet made completely out of Flipswitch Panels. Sometimes Mario or Luigi is chased byCosmic Clones on Flipswitch Panel planets. When Flipswitch Panels are stepped on, a tone is heard. The only exception is the panels in theRolling Masterpiece Galaxy inSuper Mario Galaxy 2, where no distinct tone can be heard and they instead produce a strange atonal sound when rolled on. The tones always remain in harmony with the background music and its chord structure, though they are detached.
Flipswitch Panels reappear inSuper Mario 3D World andSuper Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, where they are known asSwitch Panels.[3] They act as they did in theSuper Mario Galaxy series, except this time Switch Panels can be found on walls (and are activated by being brushed up against) and their color can be changed between yellow and blue even if the player jumps off and back on them without completely leaving them. When all Switch Panels in a series are activated, they turn into green "!" Switch Panels.[4] Making the last Switch Panel yellow gives the player 2,000points. The GamePad (
) on theWii U or the
button on theNintendo Switch can also be used to activate the Switch Panels.
Locations[edit]
Super Mario Galaxy[edit]
| Galaxy | Mission | Area | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gateway Galaxy | Grand Star Rescue | Located inside the second of the twometal planets in the galaxy. | When all of the Flipswitch Panels have been deactivated, the firstGrand Star is released. |
| Good Egg Galaxy | Dino Piranha,Dino Piranha Speed Run | Optional planet of Flipswitch Panels found between theBitten Apple Planet and theBlock-Climb Planet. | First set of Flipswitch Panels makes the next set appear, and the second set makes aLaunch Star appear. |
| Flipswitch Galaxy | Painting the Planet Yellow | The entire main planet in the galaxy is composed of multiple Flipswitch Panels. | The player must activate all of the Flipswitch Panels on the planet to make thePower Star appear. |
| Dusty Dune Galaxy | Soaring on the Desert Winds | Found under aThwomp in a secret tunnel accessed via aWarp Pipe to the right of the Starting Planet. | When the player activates the two Flipswitch Panels, a large number ofStar Bits appear. |
| Toy Time Galaxy | The Flipswitch Chain | Found at various points on theChain Planets near the end of the galaxy. | The player must activate all of the Flipswitch Panels on these planets to make the Power Star appear. |
| Dreadnought Galaxy | Dreadnought's Colossal Cannons | Located at various intervals separated byelectric fences on theMini Chomp path. | The first set deactivates the electric fence leading to the next set; the next set deactivates all electric fences and makes any remainingMini Chomps disappear. |
| Snow Cap Galaxy | Star Bunnies in the Snow | Scattered at different points around the small planetoid, some hidden under snow. | After all five Flipswitch Panels have been pressed, a small hatch on the top of the planetoid opens and reveals aFire Flower. |
Super Mario Galaxy 2[edit]
| Galaxy | Mission | Area | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sky Station Galaxy | Storming the Sky Fleet | TheFlipswitch Fleet Planet in this galaxy consists mainly of multiple Flipswitch Panels. | When the first set has been activated, it reveals the next set, which makes aLaunch Star appear when activated. |
| Rolling Masterpiece Galaxy | Silver Chomp Grudge Match | Just after thePalette Planet is an elevator leading to six Flipswitch Panels in a triangular formation. | When the Flipswitch Panels have been activated, the ruler bridge leading to the next planet appears. |
| Sweet Mystery Galaxy | Bulb Berry's Mysterious Glow | Just before thePresent Planet are five Flipswitch Panels located on various small planetoids. | After all five are pressed, a Launch Star leading to the next planet appears. |
| Mario Squared Galaxy | Make Mario a Star | The hands, face, and overall buttons on the8-Bit Mario Planet all consist of Flipswitch Panels. | Once every Flipswitch Panel has been activated, thePower Star appears back on the starting platform. |
| Grandmaster Galaxy | The Ultimate Test,The Perfect Run | Just beyond theFlower Grapple Area are 21 Flipswitch Panels in a square-like formation. | When every switch has been flipped, the Launch Star appears on the starting platform. |
Super Mario 3D World[edit]
| World | Level | Area | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| World 1-5 | Switch Scramble Circus | Almost the whole level consists of multiple sets of Switch Panels. | When every switch of one set has been flipped, a path gets opened, often leading into another set of Switch Panels. |
| World 4-5 | Spike's Lost City | In a secret room withSpikes. | When all switches are flipped, aGreen Star appears. |
World 6- Mystery House | Mystery House Throwdown | The final room has three Switch Panels behindThwomps. | When all switches are flipped, the last Green Star appears. |
World Castle-2 | Switchblack Ruins | Several rooms have sets of Switch Panels. | When every switch of one set has been flipped, the room gets lit up and a path opens. |
World Flower-1 | Switch Shock Circus | Almost the whole level consists of multiple sets of Switch Panels (andFizzlits). There is also a set in aMystery Box. | When every switch of one set has been flipped, a path gets opened, often leading into another set of Switch Panels or a Green Star. |
World Crown-Mystery House | Mystery House Marathon | A room has three Switch Panels, which are on walls behind Thwomps andRock Blocks, similar to the room in 6-Mystery House. | When all switches are flipped, a Green Star appears. |
Gallery[edit]
Artwork of a Flipswitch Panel fromSuper Mario Galaxy
Some Flipswitch Panels in the Gateway Galaxy inSuper Mario Galaxy
Some Flipswitch Panels inSky Station Galaxy inSuper Mario Galaxy 2
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | フリップパネル[5] Furippu Paneru | Flip Panel | |
| Chinese(Simplified) | 翻转板[?] Fānzhuǎn Bǎn | Flip Panel | |
| Chinese(Traditional) | 反轉面板[6] Fǎnzhuǎn Miànbǎn | Reverse Panel | |
| French(Canadian) | Tuile réversible[8] | Reversible tile | |
| French(European) | Dalle réversibles[9] | Reversible tile | |
| German | Umdrehboden[10] | Reverse Ground | |
| Italian | Interruttore a pannello (O variants)[?] | Switch-panel | |
| Pannello Alternato (?/! variants)[?] | Alternate Panel | ||
| Korean | 플립패널[?] Peullip Paeneol | Flip Panel | |
| Spanish | Panel alterno[7] | Alternate panel |
References[edit]
- ^2007.Super Mario Galaxy American instruction booklet.Nintendo of America (American English). Page 18.
- ^2010.Super Mario Galaxy 2 American instruction booklet.Nintendo of America (American English). Page 20.
- ^Musa, Alexander, and Geson Hatchett (November 22, 2013).Super Mario 3D World PRIMA Official Game Guide.Prima Games (American English). ISBN978-0-804-16249-4. Page 20.
- ^VideoGamerTV (October 25, 2013).SUPA MAZZA BRAZZAS: "I want to be a cat" (Videogamer.com).YouTube. Archived January 14, 2014, 10:23:55 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^2007. スーパーマリオギャラクシー (Sūpā Mario Gyarakushī) instruction booklet.Nintendo (Japanese). Page 26.
- ^超級瑪利歐銀河２ (Chāojí Mǎlì'ōu Yínhé Èr) manual.Nintendo (Traditional Chinese). Page 26.
- ^2010.Super Mario Galaxy 2 American instruction booklet.Nintendo of America (Latin American Spanish). Page 64.
- ^2010.Super Mario Galaxy 2 American instruction booklet.Nintendo of America (French). Page 42.
- ^Super Mario Galaxy, Le Guide Officiel. Prima Games, page 78
- ^Nintendo of Europe GmbH (2007).Super Mario Galaxy Spielanleitung. Frankfurt:Nintendo of Europe GmbH (German). Page 21.
