Red-Blue Panel

Red-Blue Panels or flipping panels are platforms found in Super Mario Galaxy 2, Super Mario 3D Land, Super Mario 3D World, and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury. They are flat metallic tiles suspended in midair, colored red on one side and blue on the other side, that flip over if a certain command is performed.

Super Mario Galaxy 2
In Super Mario Galaxy 2, when Mario performs a spin move, the platforms will flip over, causing the red platforms to show while the blue ones are hidden, or vice versa. Red-Blue Panels appear as the primary stage element of the Flip-Swap Galaxy, though minor sections of the same platforms also make an appearance in various parts of the Chompworks Galaxy and the Grandmaster Galaxy as well. In order to successfully make his way through the areas in which these platforms are present, Mario must skillfully spin to make them flip at exactly the right moment. Otherwise, he will fall into open space and lose a life.

Super Mario 3D Land
Red-Blue Panels return in Super Mario 3D Land, where they function the same as in the previous game. They are now activated simply by jumping, making the player plan their jumps in order to avoid falling down a bottomless pit.

Super Mario 3D World / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
Red-Blue Panels also appear in Super Mario 3D World and its Nintendo Switch port Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury. Here, the panels are noticeably larger, and they are again activated by jumps. While Rosalina can spin, the move does not affect the panels, unlike in their first appearance. In Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, they are utilized in the mission Bully the Cat Bullies in Fort Flaptrap.

Trivia

 * A glitch utilizing these platforms can be performed in the Flip-Swap Galaxy, which allows Mario to "jump" much higher than he would normally be able to.