Flutter Jump

"Press and hold while riding Yoshi to do a flutter jump! It's perfect for when you need to go just a LITTLE higher than normal!"

- Board

The Flutter Jump (also known as Hover in Super Smash Bros. Melee) is a characteristic jump technique used by various characters throughout the Mario series and the Yoshi series. It can be used to prolong descending after a jump and to keep a character airborne temporarily. The Flutter Jump has a distinctive appearance and is executed by rapidly moving one's legs and in some cases one's arms as well, until the character starts to float and "walk" on air. This technique can be utilized to reach remote locations, or simply to rescue a character from a bottomless pit.

The Flutter Jump was first used by Yoshi and seemed like an ability exclusively available for their species alone, similar to the Ground Pound. During the different installments however, other characters were shown to be able to perform a Flutter Jump, such as Luigi or Ludwig von Koopa.

Super Mario Bros. 2
While the Flutter Jump was not introduced until Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Luigi could use a jump similar to it back in Super Mario Bros. 2. This was a holdover from the original mechanics of Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, from which Super Mario Bros. 2 was adapted, but was probably welcomed as a way to help make Luigi less of a clone of Mario.

Super Mario Bros. 3
In Super Mario Bros. 3, Raccoon Mario or Tanooki Mario can perform somewhat of a flutter jump using his tail to float for a short period of time.

Super Mario 64 DS
Long after its debut in the Yoshi series (see below), the Flutter Jump reappeared during Super Mario 64 DS, where both Luigi and Yoshi can use it. Luigi's ability is different from Yoshi's (it allows him to slow his descent rather than gain height), and is called Scuttle or the Scuttle Jump in the Super Mario 64 DS instruction manual, while Yoshi's Flutter Jump was called Flutter Kick in and out of the game. By using the Flutter Jump, Yoshi jumps slightly higher.

Super Mario Sunshine
The Flutter Jump ability returns in Super Mario Sunshine, now used by Yoshis who serve as Mario's mounts. It can be used after every jump of Yoshi's Triple Jump to extend its covered distance.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii
The Flutter Jump returns for New Super Mario Bros. Wii which features the special jump technique as a characteristic of the Yoshi species again. Apart from that, Ludwig Von Koopa is shown using a Flutter Jump technique during his two boss battle appearances. He is able to execute it multiple times in a row without descending or touching the ground.

Super Mario Galaxy 2
The Flutter jump can be be done with Yoshi in Super Mario Galaxy 2. As with previous games, players can perform this trick by holding down the button on the Wii Remote after jumping with Yoshi. This move can be used to get to places that Mario and Luigi can't usually reach. It can also help to stop the player from falling and it can be used to avoid enemies. There is also a glitch that allows Yoshi to endlessly flutter jump. Yoshi can still eat while in a Flutter Jump in this game.

Super Mario 3D Land
As in Super Mario Bros. 3, Mario can use a Tanooki Suit to float in midair in Super Mario 3D Land.

New Super Mario Bros. 2
Once again, Ludwig, as in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, was demonstrated to know the flutter jump during his fight against Mario in New Super Mario Bros. 2. This time, however, he used it to grab some chains above.

Also, Raccoon Mario's "flutter jump" returns.

Yoshi series
The Flutter Jump first was shown during the events of Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and was featured as a unique trait of the Yoshi species. The move allows the Yoshis to move through the air for a short time, aiding them on their quest to reunite Baby Mario with his brother. Its mechanics then were adapted for all of the following Yoshi series platformers.

Super Princess Peach
Within the Toad Jump minigame of Super Princess Peach, Toad is capable of performing a Flutter Jump of sorts as the player controls him within the minigame. Toad's variation of the jump involves him wildly flapping his arm to in order to keep himself afloat for a longer period of time. This jump allows him to stay above enemies and various pits throughout the course he must complete. The duration of his jump is dependent on how long the player blows into the mic of the Nintendo DS (as his jumps are initiated by blowing into the microphone).

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Another variation of the Flutter Jump appears in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. It serves as the field ability of Mario's Yoshi partner and while riding on him, he can use it to reach ledges that cannot be reached with a normal jump. The ability is similar to Parakarry's move in the previous game.

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
The Flutter Jump makes a reappearance in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. During the game, Mario and Luigi can obtain the ability to use the Flutter Jump by equipping a certain badge.

Super Smash Bros. series
The Flutter Jump appears in all three installments of the Super Smash Bros. franchise, again as a move exclusive to Yoshi. The Flutter Jump serves as Yoshi's mid-air jump and covers the greatest distance of all the other mid-air jumps to compensate for the fact that Yoshi lacks a significant recovery move.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
The Flutter Jump is Yoshi's special ability in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games.