Why can't Mario crawl in Brawl?

[Mario_ 101]

I mean he should be able to (not that crawling looks paticualary useful), considering that he could do so in Mario 64.

[ThatOtherGuy]

I've thought about similar things in relation to "Why can't [Mario character] do [move or technique]?" for a while, and the conclusion I came to is that the main Mario characters have so much history that giving them every high-powered technique they ever had would either A) Make them broken, or B) require weakening the techniques to make them less useful (and thus less desirable).

Would it be nice if Mario could glide, throw two fireballs at once, and use his various hammers/hats/powerups? Yes. Would it be nice if Bowser got to use the Koopa Clown Car, throw Mechakoopas, and use dark magic? Why not? For (an attempt at) balance.

They could have still given him a rising tornado though...

Quick Edit: My conclusion is supported by the Brawl edition of Iwata Asks, where Sakurai mentions having to distill each character's history into one set of moves, techniques, and properties.

[zelazon]

well, to me, crawling doesnt seem that effective unless ur trying to go under spammed projectiles, but even then, you have the cape to run through that problem (except for maybe falco, but his SHL is worse then melee, so it should be easier to get around).

[mattc1231]

its cause he wants to stay clean you stupidz XD

[Smashbros_7]

Luigi can crawl, Mario can Wall jump. Even Steven.

[Green & Watch]

Luigi can crawl, Mario can Wall jump. Even Steven.


And neither of them can Ground Pound. D:

[smashbro29]

would you really want another character who can ground pound?