The ending that you receive (in the American and European) version 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. |
Now consult the following table to determing the ending you would receive:
Note that the Japanese endings are slightly different. The Japanese ending does not contain the fourth and best American ending, in which the chamber lights up. Instead, it uses the first four endings, and includes an even worse ending in which Pit is transformed into a Specknose. The conditions upon which the Japanese endings are based also takes into account how many times the player had to continue their game. To determine which ending you would receive, add your Health meter and your Arrow Power together, and multiply them by 10. Then subtract 1 for each time you had to continue. A perfect 100 (no continues) will lead to the best ending, where Pit becomes a full grown angel. Having 85 to 99 points leads to the guard captain ending, 80 to 84 to the basic guard ending, and 60 to 79 to the farmer ending. The Specknose ending occurs if the number of points is less than 60.