The ending that you receive in the American and European versions of the game is dependent upon four statistics. Those statistics affect your ending as follows. Start with 0 points, and consult the table below.
| Stat | Description |
|---|---|
| Heart count | If you have 999 hearts when you defeat Medusa, add 1 point. |
| Health meter | If you have five segments in your health meter (a score greater 200,000 by 3-4), add 1 point. |
| Arrow Power | If you have five arrows listed for your strength, add 1 point. |
| Enchanted Weapons | If you have all three enchanted weapons (Crystal Rod, Sacred Bow, and Flame Arrows) in your possession, add 1 point. |
The ending you receive is based on your total points as follows:
This is the worst ending, with Pit becoming nothing more than a lowly farmer, holding a sickle in his hand.
Pit is promoted to a basic guard, with a helmet and a rod.
Pit is promoted to a guard captain, with a captain's helmet and a spear.
Pit is transformed into a full grown angel; he grows to the same height as Palutena and flexes his arm.
The Japanese endings and the criteria to determine which you receive are slightly different. Add your Health meter and your Arrow Power together, and multiply them by 10. Then subtract 1 for each time you had to continue. This will give you a number up to 100.
The Japanese version does not contain the best ending from the American version, in which the chamber lights up. Instead, it includes an even worse ending in which Pit is transformed into a Specknose. You receive this ending if the number calculated is less than 60. Having 60 to 79 will reward the farmer ending; 80 to 84 will reward the basic guard ending; 85 to 99 will reward the guard captain ending; and a perfect 100 (no continues) will lead to the best ending, where Pit becomes a full grown angel.