Mario & Luigi: Brothership offers a treasure trove of innovative concepts and smart designs that truly enhance the platforming-RPG experience. It introduces a challenging ice block puzzle that requires some finesse. Don’t worry; we’ve gone through the thick of it so you won’t have to.
If the mere thought of ice puzzles brings back memories of challenging levels in Pokemon Gold & Silver’s Ice Path, there’s no need to stress. We’re here to guide you through the Slippenglide Island ice block puzzle with ease.
How to Move the First Ice Block into Place
Your first task is to shift the ice block that’s blocking the entrance to the puzzle. You need to knock three ice blocks into the water to create a bridge and make your way out of the cave. First, stand on the right side of the large ice block and strike it with the hammer. This will send it sliding down and into the water—one down, two to go.
Remember, ice blocks will keep sliding in the direction they are hit until they hit a wall or fall into a pit of spikes.
While spikes will break them, if that happens, the block will respawn in its original spot so you can give it another try.
To get started, climb the stairs near the entrance and send Luigi to stand on the switch. Mario will work solo for now, while Luigi stays ready to activate the switch that moves platforms and walls within the puzzle.
Once Luigi activates the switch, it will raise the yellow platform to the top of the steps; Mario should step on it. When he’s on it, Luigi needs to activate the switch again to send the platform back to its original position. Now, Mario can hop across the ice platforms toward the next solid platform.
The ice platforms have a three-stage life cycle. An intact platform cracks when stepped on, a cracked one falls apart completely, causing Mario to drop through if he steps on it again.
From the first yellow platform, jump forward, right, and then forward again onto the next yellow platform. Then jump onto the solid platform ahead and hit the large ice block with your hammer to drop it onto the ground.
Here’s how to move the block to the exit:
- Hit it from above to slide it south.
- Hit it from the right to slide it west.
- Hit it from below to shift it north by one block.
- Hit it from the right to move it west again.
- Hit it from above to slide it all the way south, out of the room.
- Finally, hit it from the right so it slides left and falls into the water, creating part of the bridge.
With the second block in position, you should activate the switch above it to create new ice platforms. That’s two blocks down, one left. Return to the main room and go back up the stairs. Have Luigi stand on the switch again to bring the yellow platform back to where it started.
How to Move the Last Ice Block into Place
Once you are on the yellow platform, have Luigi hit the switch. When the platform stops moving, jump forward three times, then jump twice onto the moving yellow platform.
This platform moves automatically, so timing your jumps is critical to avoid falling through fragile ice platforms.
Once the platform reaches the other side, leap to the next platform and strike the ice block with your hammer to drop it down onto the ground.
There’s a tricky diagonal jump you can take to reach an item box in the upper left corner of the room. It may look impossible at first, but with some practice, you will get there!
Here are the moves needed to finally place the last ice block:
- Hit it from the left to slide it east.
- Hit it from above to slide it south.
- Hit it from the right to move it west.
- Have Luigi activate the switch to position the yellow gate, preventing the ice block from falling into spikes below.
- Hit it from above to slide it into the yellow gate.
- Hit it from the left to shift it one space to the west.
- Hit it from above to move it south.
- Stand above the spikes on the left and angle yourself diagonally to hit the ice block from the left, moving it west.
- Hit it from below to slide it north.
- Hit it from the right to move it west.
- Hit it from above to slide it south, out of the room.
When you strike the block from the right, it will slide west, tumble into the water, and complete the ice bridge. Congratulations! You have successfully solved another challenging ice block puzzle.