Red and blue blocks

"Spin to make the ledges pop out and go back in! Boi-yoi-yoing!"

- Star Bunny

Red and blue blocks, also referred to as colorful blocks, are special stage elements appearing in the Flip-Out Galaxy in Super Mario Galaxy 2. They are blocks that push out of the main giant wall sections in the galaxy. When the player spins, the red blocks push out of the main wall sections while the blue blocks retract into the main wall sections, and vice versa. The player can use these blocks as temporary platforms or wall-jump up them to access other areas of the level. Cosmic Clones are able to pass through them in order to follow the player's exact movements, just as they are able to pass through any other obstacle they encounter if necessary.

The same blocks make another appearance in Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D in the level Switcheroo, where they extend out of the wall and retract into the wall in the same way, except now, they are activated by switches on the walls instead of by spinning. In these games, they are used to allow the player(s) to cross large gaps or abysses, or to defeat certain enemies if the enemies are positioned in front of the wall sections.