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Balloon Mario is a power-up of Mario featured in some Mario platformers. It involves Mario, or anyone else, becoming temporarily inflated like a balloon, hence the name, therefore allowing him to travel upward. The Balloon form first appears in Super Mario World, in which it is granted through the use of a P-Balloon.
When Mario or Luigi utilize this form, they are able to temporarily hover in the air. While in this form, they are unable to ride on Yoshis. After a while, they will deflate and fall back to the ground. If they pass through the Giant Gate while maintaining this form, they will earn a bonus Super Mushroom.
Within the Special Zone, comes the level, Tubular, which requires Mario or Luigi to continuously utilize this form to make it to the end.
In Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2, the music tempo is slightly slower, and when Balloon Mario or Balloon Luigi are about to detransform, a deflating sound effect is heard until they return back to normal.
Balloon Mario returns in the form of Mario's ability when he grabs a Power Flower. When used, Balloon Mario floats upwards when the player presses the jump button, or he'll slowly sink down. Due to the 3D gameplay mechanics, Balloon Mario does not float horizontally by default, the player would need to press left or right on the D-pad.
The Balloon form returns in the version 3.0.0 update of the game, exclusive to the Super Mario World game style. In addition to Mario and Luigi, Toad and Toadette can also use this form. The mechanics for this form are slightly altered, so now the player has full control of where they can hover, and the power is now unlimited unless their character gets hit.
There is also a visual difference to the sprites. The character's pants turn orange-yellow, embroidered with a white "P". The only exception to this is Toadette, whom has the "P" on her skirt.
The Balloon Mario easter egg involving Weird Mario also makes a returning cameo from the original Super Mario Maker.
In the game, Mario and Luigi learn how to become Balloon Mario from Dr. Toadley at Toadley Clinic, after getting the second Star Cure Mario can inhale air from a nearby air vent to become this form, and Luigi can grab onto Balloon Mario, gaining access to the High Jump, in which this move allows the brothers to jump higher and slowly descend to the ground.
Slip Slidin' Away • Lil' Penguin Lost • Big Penguin Race • Frosty Slide for 8 Red Coins • Snowman's Lost His Head • Wall Kicks Will Work (N64)/Mario's Super Wall Kick (DS) • Switch Star of Cool, Cool Mountain (DS)
Big Boo's Haunt
Go on a Ghost Hunt • Ride Big Boo's Merry Go Round • Secret of the Haunted Books • Seek the 8 Red Coins • Big Boo's Balcony • Eye to Eye in the Secret Room • Switch Star of the Basement
Hazy Maze Cave
Swimming Beast in the Cavern • Elevate for 8 Red Coins • Metal-Head Mario Can Move! (N64)/Metal-Head Wario Can Move (DS) • Navigating the Toxic Maze • A-Maze-Ing Emergency Exit • Watch for Rolling Rocks • Underground Switch Star
In the Talons of the Big Bird • Shining Atop the Pyramid • Inside the Ancient Pyramid • Stand Tall On the Four Pillars • Free Flying For 8 Red Coins (5th Star, N64) (7th Star, DS) • Tox Box Switch Star (DS) • Pyramid Puzzle
Snowman's Big Head • Chill with the Bully • In the Deep Freeze (N64) • Yoshi's Ice Sculpture (DS) • Whirl from the Freezing Pond • Shell Shreddin' for Red Coins (N64) • Snowman's Silver Star (DS) • Into the Igloo • Red Coins in the House (DS)
Wet-Dry World
Shocking Arrow Lifts! • Top o' the Town • Secrets in the Shallows and Sky (N64)/5 Secrets in the Shallows and Sky (DS) • Express Elevator--Hurry Up! • Go to Town for Red Coins (N64)/Go to Town for the Red Coins (DS) • Quick Race Through Downtown! • Soaked Silver Stars (DS)
Tall, Tall Mountain
Scale the Mountain • Mystery of the Monkey Cage • Scary 'Shrooms, Red Coins • Mysterious Mountainside • Breathtaking View from Bridge (Star 5, N64)/Breathtaking View from the Bridge (Star 7, DS) • Blast to the Lonely Mushroom (Star 6, N64) (Star 5, DS) • 5 Secrets of the Mountain
Roll into the Cage (N64) • Luigi in the Cage (DS) • The Pit and the Pendulums (N64) • The Pendulum Switch Star (DS) • Get a Hand • Stomp on the Thwomp •Timed Jumps on Moving Bars • Stop Time for Red Coins • Tick Tock Silver Stars
Rainbow Ride
Cruiser Crossing the Rainbow • The Big House in the Sky • Coins Amassed in a Maze • Swingin' in the Breeze • Tricky Triangles! • Somewhere over the Rainbow • Switch Star of the Manor
