Pidgeon-holing a character like that make things too damed linear, and doesn't afford any basis for creative argument. If you pick one specific version of a character, then all someone has to do is say "Mario can do this this and this, Link can do this, this and this. By comparing their abilities, Link wins. The end." By allowing a character to have access to all of his abilities, it makes people think more creatively without restraining their thought-processes.