Mario's killed the sun and destroyed the entire universe. He can fly, shoot fireballs, turn into a ghost, put you to sleep with a music box, throw dinosaurs 10x his size by the tail, teach you how to type, and win every event in the Olympics. He's a doctor, a demolition expert, a boxing referee, a dancer, a party animal, and a master of soccer/baseball/golf/basketball/drifting/BRAWLING. He even kills giant frogs IN HIS DREAMS. Whoa.
Dante's all guitar solos, shiny new leather, and greasy pizza. All style, no skillz.
Mario can breathe in outerspace and underwater. He takes Bullet Bills and Torpedo Teds to the face for fun. I've personally tried to kill Mario by fire, ice, lazers, crushing by Thwomps, and falling from large heights, for 20 years straight now. HE ALWAYS COMES BACK. HE CAN'T BE STOPPED.

Dante couldn't even get through the Lost Levels.