Ice Mario

Ice Mario is a form that Mario can take upon touching an Ice Flower, granting him ice-related powers. It is often viewed as a parallel to Fire Mario.

There are two variations of Ice Mario; the first has only appeared in Super Mario Galaxy, the second has been used regularly from New Super Mario Bros. Wii onwards. Between Super Mario Galaxy and all further games, both the appearance and abilities of Ice Mario vary greatly. Even though the Ice Flower first appeared in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, it didn't change Mario's clothes until Super Mario Galaxy.

Super Mario Galaxy
When Mario grabs an Ice Flower in Super Mario Galaxy, his body turns into solid ice. While granted this form, any water or lava he touches freezes solid in the form of a hexagonal platform (which melts after a period of time if left unoccupied). This allows Mario to walk or skate across vast distances of water or lava with ease and safety. Ice Mario can also freeze water spouts and waterfalls, which usually grant him passage to higher areas. This form also makes its user immune to fire attacks, as seen when a Magikoopa fires a fireball at Mario; it also prevents damage from torches when the player jumps on it. Like Fire Mario, this power-up has a time limit. A downside of this power-up is that Ice Mario's midair spin is diminished. Ice Mario's midair spin gains almost no height, unlike Mario's regular form. Therefore, Ice Mario cannot jump as high.

This power-up is introduced in the Freezeflame Galaxy, but can also be found in the Beach Bowl Galaxy and the Deep Dark Galaxy. Ice Mario is one of two power-ups in the game that was not carried over to its sequel, Super Mario Galaxy 2, the other being Flying Mario.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Ice Mario returns in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, but Ice Mario's appearance and powers have been changed. The Ice Flower here gives Mario, Luigi, Blue Toad and Yellow Toad the power to shoot Ice Balls, just like in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. Rather than turning into a living being of ice, Ice Mario's overalls turn red, while his cap and shirt turn light blue, similar to Fire Mario (likewise, Luigi and the Toads have their own take on this appearance). Unlike in Super Mario Galaxy, Ice Mario's power does not have a time-limit.

Ice Mario is not to be confused with Penguin Mario, an improved version of the former power-up. Ice Mario can only shoot ice balls, while Penguin Mario has more abilities. Penguin Mario can slide on his belly, destroying breakable blocks in his way. He also has better swimming abilities and the, ability to walk on ice without sliding. The Penguin Suit itself is rarer than the Ice Flower.

The Ice Balls can be used to neutralize the magical projectiles fired by Larry, Iggy, Morton, Roy, Ludwig, and Kamek. They can also be used to douse the fireballs spat by Bowser and Bowser Jr.. However they are unable to inflict damage to, or freeze, any of the bosses. Normal enemies will be trapped in ice cubes when hit by an ice ball. They will eventually try to free themselves, but the effect of this varies from enemy to enemy. Some will die after breaking free, releasing coins, but others can free themselves without taking damage. If the player lifts a frozen enemy, they will never break free as long as they're being held.

The frozen enemies can be ground-pounded to defeat them. Many frozen enemies can also be defeated by throwing them, which makes them slide in the direction they were thrown, defeating other enemies in their path until they shatter on a wall or fall of a cliff. Even undefeatable enemies like Dry Bones can be destroyed after being frozen and will not revive. However, some enemies and obstacles like Thwomps are so solid that Ice Balls shatter on them, making them useless. Other large enemies, such as Porcupuffers and Big Piranha Plants, can be frozen, but will break out immediately and ultimately cannot be harmed by ice. Flying enemies can be frozen in mid-air, allowing the player to jump off them, but after a while they will try to get free, and their block will fall and break on the ground, defeating them.

New Super Mario Bros. U
Ice Mario makes a reappearance in New Super Mario Bros. U, functioning identically to the way it did in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Miis can also make use of Ice Flowers to become Ice Miis.

Paper Mario: Sticker Star
Ice Mario appears briefly in Paper Mario: Sticker Star, whenever Mario uses any type of Ice Flower Sticker.

Mario Kart Arcade GP DX
In Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, Ice Luigi appears as a downloadable alternate color scheme for Luigi.

Super Mario Galaxy Trading Card description
''A CHILLY kind of flower power, Ice Mario is a form that Mario can take when he grabs an Ice Flower. When he powers up to this transformation, he can walk on any body of water or lava by freezing the liquid in hexagonal platforms and simply walking across.''

Trivia

 * The music played during the duration of this power up in Super Mario Galaxy closely resembles the music played for Fire Mario, but is played in A minor.
 * Ice Mario is also the only power up to debut in a 3D Mario game to later appear in a 2D one as well.
 * Although Ice Mario or Ice Luigi didn't appear in Super Mario Galaxy 2, the code for the ice forms still exist and can be accessed through hacking.