Palace in the Sky

If Pit has possession of the Three Sacred Treasures, he is ready to fight Medusa, who awaits him in the Palace in the Sky.

Stage 4-1

Pit enters the stage with the Three Sacred Treasures already equipped. The Wings of Pegasus grant the gift of flight, the Light Arrows allow him to pierce multiple enemies with a single bowshot, and the Mirror Shield deflects incoming projectiles.

The stage scrolls at a set speed, but you use the Directional Pad to adjust Pit’s position on the screen. Attack the enemies as they appear. To use the Mirror Shield, simply stop attacking—Pit automatically raises it in front of his body. Just remember that the Mirror Shield doesn’t protect Pit from collisions with enemies.

Soon after you reach Zuree territory, one of two things happens. If you’ve defeated at least 50 enemies, Pit arrives in Medusa’s chamber; otherwise, the scenery loops back to the beginning of the stage. If this happens, the enemies you defeated during your first pass still count toward the minimum requirement. Continue defeating enemies—and avoid taking damage—until you reach Medusa.

During the battle with Medusa, you have two basic options. If you like, you can fly around the chamber, dodging and deflecting Medusa’s gaze. Remember, the Mirror Shield doesn’t protect Pit from collisions with enemies—keep an eye on Tanatos throughout the battle. Dodge the serpent, or shoot it as it approaches to prevent it from reaching Pit.

The safer option is to position Pit just below the center of the screen’s left edge. This makes it impossible for Medusa’s attacks to reach Pit—though you still need to keep an eye on Tanatos. More often than not, Tanatos gets struck by one of the arrows meant for Medusa. However, every so often, the snake manages to slip past your rapid-fire attacks. Hit Medusa with a steady stream of Light Arrows until Tanatos gets too close for comfort, then time your next shot to hit the serpent just before it strikes. Repeat the process until you defeat Medusa and complete the game.