Red-Blue Panel

Flip-Swap Platforms are platforms that are found in Super Mario Galaxy 2, Super Mario 3D Land and Super Mario 3D World. 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. Flip-Swap Platforms 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
These platforms return in Super Mario 3D Land, where they function the same as 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
Flip-Swap Platforms also appear in Super Mario 3D World. Here, the panels are noticeably larger, and are again activated by jumps. They can not be flipped using Rosalina's spin attack unlike in Super Mario Galaxy 2 however.

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.
 * A similar type of platform made an appearance in "The Secret of the Dirty Lake" mission of Bianco Hills in Super Mario Sunshine. These platforms also flip over, though they are wooden and are not controlled by the player. Also unlike Flip-Swap Platforms, these have a yellow version found in a different level that never stop rotating.