Blinking Block
Beep Blocks (originally named Beat Blocks in Super Mario Galaxy 2) are a rare type of block found in Super Mario Galaxy 2, Super Mario 3D Land, Super Mario 3D World, and Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. As their name implies, Beep Blocks are recognized for alternating between solid blocks and intangible outlines of various colors to the beat of in-game music. Because of this, Beep Blocks function as both platforms that Mario or Luigi safely can stand on when solid, or as deadly pitfalls in their "vanished" state. Depending on the game, both the physical appearance and functions of Beep Blocks differ.
History
Super Mario series
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Beat Blocks are first seen in Super Mario Galaxy 2, appearing exclusively in the Beat Block Galaxy. In this appearance, all Beep Blocks are cube-shaped, and alternate between yellow and green. The player's Wii Remote will also beep three times before the Beep Blocks alternate. Due to the effects of the Double Time Comet, the "Silver Stars in Double Time" mission causes the Beep Blocks to alternate at four times their regular speed (despite the mission's name).
Super Mario 3D Land
Beep Blocks return in Super Mario 3D Land, appearing in World 6-4, Special 3-5 and Special 7-2. In this appearance, Beep Blocks come in an assortment of shapes, and are now red, yellow and blue. In World 6-4 and Special 7-2, all three colors will appear one-by-one, then vanish in the same manner, leaving periods where all or none of the Beep Blocks will appear solid. However, in Special 3-5, the blocks alternate between one color each time.
Super Mario 3D World
Beep Blocks return once again in Super Mario 3D World as they appeared in Super Mario Galaxy 2. They alternate between blue and pink-colored blocks. Later levels also include Beep Blocks in quadruple time, named Blast Blocks. When they are in quadruple time, the frequency of alternating between different blocks is the same as the frequency of beat blocks' alternation under the orbit of the prankster comet in Super Mario Galaxy 2. Interestingly, Beep Blocks also appear in levels where the song has different beats per minute, but they still alternate in the beat of the original song's BPM (from Beep Block Skyway and Blast Block Skyway).
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Beep Blocks reappear in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker in the stage Beep Block Sky Plaza. They are identical in appearance and behavior to those in Super Mario 3D World , but many of them include ladders which do not disappear to allow Captain Toad, who cannot jump, to climb them.
Super Mario Maker 2
Blinking Blocks return in the Super Mario 3D World style.