Freezing water[1] is a hazard for Mario in several games, due to its low temperature.
History
Super Mario 64
In Super Mario 64 and its remake Super Mario 64 DS, freezing water appears in Snowman's Land in two forms. The first type of water cannot be touched at all, and any character who makes contact with it loses three wedges of health and bounces away, in a similar manner to lava. This water is only found in a large pool underneath the Bully's platform. When pushed off, the Bully will melt in the freezing water and be defeated.
The second type makes up the freezing pond and acts much like regular water; however, this water is so cold that the player will begin to lose a wedge of their health meter for every two seconds they are in it, and will not recover health automatically like regular water.
Super Mario Galaxy
Freezing water also makes an appearance in Super Mario Galaxy in the Freezeflame Galaxy. Like regular water, it can be swam in; however, if Mario or Luigi stays in it for too long, they will lose one slice of their Health Meter. Therefore, to traverse it, an Ice Flower is required. When jumping into this water, the screen will "tingle" for a split-second.
Freezing water's purpose is similar to lava in any fire-related Galaxy or level, except now in an ice-related Galaxy. They both serve as obstacles that cannot be gone through without an Ice Flower. However, unlike Lava, the player can swim around in it, and it takes about two seconds in freezing water for Mario or Luigi to take damage. Also, when Mario or Luigi take damage, they will not move uncontrollably, unlike lava.
There is a exploit that allows Mario or Luigi to traverse freezing water without using an Ice Flower or taking damage over time. Usually, Mario or Luigi can not jump in water unless they are next to land. However, a second player utilizing the Star Cursor can make Mario or Luigi jump, even if they are in water. Jumping out of the freezing water immediately cancels the code for taking damage in water. This means that if the second player makes Mario or Luigi jump consecutively within around 2 seconds of each jump, Mario or Luigi will safely be able to swim across freezing water.
Trivia
- In Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS, if the player loses their last piece of health in the freezing pond, the drowning animation is still used. Also, the low health alarm will be heard as well when the player has one or two wedges left.