Mario (SMBZ)

Mario Mario is a resident of the Mushroom Kingdom, and one of the main protagonists in Super Mario Bros. Z. When enlisted by Sonic and Shadow, he begins his journey to stop Metallix from gaining all the Chaos Emeralds.

Appearance
Mario is a short, stocky young man with short brown hair and a black mustache, and blue eyes. His clothing consists of his signature red long-sleeved shirt, white gloves, blue overalls, brown boots, and his trademark red cap.

History
Mario and his younger brother Luigi were both born around the same time and were to be delivered via storks to their parents - however, Kamek interfered and managed to kidnap Luigi and knock Mario from his stork's grasp. Mario was found by the Yoshi clan of Yoshi's Island, and protected by the clan on his journey to save Luigi - ever since this journey, he has had a knack for adventure and a brave heart. Upon rescuing his brother, the two were raised by the Yoshis for a time before being returned to their true parents.

As an adult, he has had many professions, such as a physician or a construction worker, but is most often recognized as a plumber. He and Luigi have also become the official heroes of the Mushroom Kingdom due to their countless battles against Bowser and other antagonists. He has become a close friend of Princess Peach as well, and always rescues her when she is kidnapped. He is very popular in the Mushroom Kingdom and has an assortment of allies from all over the world and beyond.

Personality
Mario is known to be kind, cheerful, courageous, and in some instances overconfident. He generally displays great sportsmanship, often complimenting his opponents. Among his character traits, Mario is best known for his heroism. He is always willing to save the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond from any form of evil. He shows great concern for the safety and well-being of his friends and family, as shown when he defended Luigi from a fireball attack by Bowser after he interrupted the Mushroom Kingdom Smash Tournament. This was also displayed when he halted his assault on Bowser after Kamek took Princess Peach hostage.

Powers & Abilities
Mario's most notable ability is his powerful jump, which is the basic move he relies on to defeat weaker enemies and move vast distances. He is capable of many acrobatic maneuvers and jumps, being an agile and quick fighter despite his relatively short stature.

Mario is adept in hand-to-hand combat, able to strike his opponent with powerful punches and kicks that can send them flying. He has also been shown to possess some form of superhuman strength, able to knock around the hefty monster Bowser, and swing by the tail before throwing him miles away. In general, Mario is normally a very versatile character - whenever he appears in most of his games, his emphasis is always, in both spinoffs and mainstream games, a balanced playstyle, allowing him to participate and perform well in many situations. His capabilities in running and other physical activities also stem from his well-rounded physique, some of which he gained from sporting events such as tennis or soccer.

Mario's weapon of choice is the Ultra Hammer, created by the Hammerhead Bros. from the Beanbean Kingdom. It is a powerful melee weapon whose weight and durability helps Mario brutalize opponents. Though it is tough and can break through durable surfaces, it could not withstand Bowser's metal exoskeleton in his Metal Bowser form.

However, while still fairly strong on his own, Mario's true power lies in the vast array of transformations and power-ups at his disposal. By using power-up items native to the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario can access transformations that increase his power exponentially and make him a significant threat to any opponent. If he takes too much damage while powered up, however, he will revert to his normal state.