Nintendo just does whatever the hell they want with their characters anyway.
Takashi Tezuka: Hmm, we need Mario to have a cape.
Shigeru Miyamoto: **** it. Give him a cape.
12 Years Later
Takashi Tezuka: Hmm, we need Mario to shoot water at things.
Shigeru Miyamoto: **** it. Let Mario shoot water at things.
Still, I'm glad Hideki Kamiya decided on an brand new cast. It makes the game more his own. I wouldn't mind Nintendo and Platinum Games revisiting the idea of an action-adventure games featuring Nintendo characters.