Penguin Mario

Penguin Mario (referred to as Penguin Suit Mario in the Prima walkthrough guide) is a power-up that first appeared in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. He becomes the Penguin Mario after gathering a Penguin Suit. After Mario has become this form, he can throw Ice Balls at enemies and freeze them. Mario can then use the frozen enemies as platforms or pick them up and throw them against the wall or other enemies. However, the Ice Balls are slightly weaker than the one thrown by Ice Mario, they freeze the enemies for a much shorter time and flying enemies simply fall from the air. He also gains a good traction on ice, stopping him from slipping like normal Mario. While in this form, Mario can slide on ice with great speed, defeating some enemies and destroying Brick Blocks, allowing him to find secret areas. If he gets a running start, Mario can also slide a considerable distance on the surface of water, and can jump up from the water in order to obtain certain Star Coins or blocks. Also, Mario can swim a lot better in this form, with much more accuaracy and precision, like Frog Mario did in Super Mario Bros. 3.

In Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, although Penguin Mario doesn't appear in the game, there is a suit based on him that the player can unlock for Miis to wear. It is one of the suits unlocked after paying 10 blank cards. The same suit also appears in Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

Penguin Mario also appears in New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U. The catch is that the suit can only be obtained in the Toad Houses in Superstar Road. Otherwise, it acts much the same as before. The suit is also used in a few Challenge Mode levels. In New Super Luigi U, however, the suit can be obtained within certain levels in the game, in spite of the fact that the Luigi levels are supposed to be based off of the penguin-free Mario ones.

Trivia

 * Penguin Mario's special abilities are very reminiscent of the abilities of Shell Mario from New Super Mario Bros., which include better and faster movement underwater and sliding into enemies to defeat them. Penguin Mario, however, requires ice beneath him to properly slide and seems to be slightly weaker than Shell Mario, since sliding into Dry Bones won't defeat them.