88 Metroid Surprising Ending

[Suzuki Electronics]

[Conference Room]

In a conference room, the executives and President Nikko Tabata gazed at the television, which was displaying 'Metroid.' 

The game's theme revolved around space and alien creatures, and while the gameplay was impressive, those in the room seemed unfazed by the video game.

In contrast to KiShin's 'Metroid,' Suzuki Video Games offered 'Ninja Master' and 'Samurai Lord.' Both of these titles were steeped in Japanese culture and history, explaining why they had been popular choices among consumers. This underscored Suzuki's unique approach to game development.

Nikko Tabata observed 'Metroid' and commented, "It appears that KiShin has invested a considerable effort into this one."

Other executives nodded in agreement, and one of them remarked with relief, "It's reassuring, unlike the past when KiShin was consistently churning out hit games like 'Super Mario Bros,' 'Donkey Kong,' and 'The Legend of Zelda.' They've only released one game, 'Metroid,' in several weeks. It seems this will be their final release this year."

The executives and the president concurred, and one of them added, "Indeed, that seems to be the case. KiShin appears to be exercising more caution and avoiding frequent, hasty game releases."

Meanwhile, Tora shared the same sentiment.

[Tora Headquarters]

[Conference Room]

Following their viewing and gameplay experience with 'Metroid,' Tora's executives and President Taro Ikeda arrived at a similar conclusion as Suzuki.

One of the executives commented, "KiShin is already the leading player in the Japanese video game industry, so I believe they've made a wise decision."

Another executive chimed in with a laugh, "Haha, if I were the owner of KiShin, after such a rapid ascent from an estimated hundreds of thousands to billions, I'd certainly exercise caution too!"

President Taro Ikeda smiled and commented, "I actually think it would have been better for KiShin to continue their previous strategy of releasing many video games consistently." Seeing the executives' puzzled expressions, he added with a chuckle, "After all, now that they're the undisputed leaders in the video game industry, if they were to release numerous games, most of which turned out to be failures except for 'Metroid,' it might shake the perception of invincibility that KiShin holds in the hearts of their loyal fans."

Upon hearing President Taro Ikeda's remarks, all the executives burst into laughter. Little did they know that their joy would soon turn to concern, as 'Metroid' harbored a hidden secret attack.

---

[Tokyo, Minato Ward]

[In the Sawa Residence]

A few days had passed since the release of 'Metroid.' In the Sawa Residence, a young man named Sawa Arata was a devoted video game enthusiast. Despite still being in high school, he was more of a bookworm, often the target of ridicule by his fellow students, particularly by a group of bullies.

Since he wore glasses, everyone at school would often tease him with nicknames like "four eyes" and similar taunts.

Arata had always been a bookworm, engrossed in his studies, until the unexpected surge in popularity of video games, particularly in the affluent wards of Tokyo.

Remarkably, Arata, once known as a bookworm, underwent a transformation into a passionate gamer. He played 'Super Mario Bros.' so extensively that he unearthed various hidden tricks within the game.

Thanks to his in-depth knowledge of video games, word spread among the students at his school, and Arata became the go-to authority on video games. Even the bullies who had once targeted him sought his advice.

Video games provided him with an overwhelming sense of achievement.

And now, after a long wait, KiShin had released their latest video game, 'Metroid.'

Arata had played 'Metroid' to completion and had finished it quite some time ago. Yet, he still had a burning desire to replay it.

Why?

It was simple; it was KiShin, after all. Arata had great confidence in KiShin, especially given the effort they put into incorporating various secret tricks into games like 'Super Mario Bros.' and 'The Legend of Zelda,' which featured hidden caves and underground secrets.

Yesterday, he had completed 'Metroid' after hours of gameplay, but Arata's gamer instincts told him he was missing something.

He hastily turned on the television, inserted the 'Metroid' cartridge into the FamiCom, and watched as the 'KiShin' logo appeared on the screen. After the 'Metroid' title flashed, he eagerly started the game once more.

This time, he adeptly manipulated the controller, and as he continued to play, one thing became abundantly clear—the challenge was real.

On occasion, many of his classmates who also played 'Metroid' would vent their frustration toward KiShin for not providing any in-game guidance. However, individuals like Arata saw this as a positive aspect, as it presented them with a genuine challenge.

Things progressed to the point where he and his fellow video game enthusiast classmates formed a group. One of them had even painstakingly created a detailed map of the game. This time, Arata borrowed it from his newfound friend, a fellow classmate, to serve as his guide while playing.

Thanks to this map, he managed to uncover hidden paths and shortcuts within the game. Arata was no stranger to speedrunning; he had previously attempted to complete 'Super Mario Bros.' and 'The Legend of Zelda' in under an hour.

Initially, when he started playing 'Metroid,' it seemed easier than 'Super Mario Bros.' or 'The Legend of Zelda,' but he quickly realized he was sorely mistaken. The enemies were formidable, his shooting range was limited to just a few feet, and his character, Samus Aran, respawned with minimal health.

It was undeniably more challenging than Arata and his avid video game-loving classmates had anticipated.

That's why, in such cases, they had banded together to tackle the formidable challenge presented by the video game 'Metroid.'

After several hours of determined gameplay, Arata successfully completed the game, and a message appeared on the screen with Samus Aran standing tall.

"GREAT!!

YOU'VE FULFILLED YOUR MISSION. IT WILL RESTORE PEACE IN SPACE.

BUT, IT MAY BE THREATENED BY OTHER METROIDS.

PRAY FOR TRUE PEACE IN SPACE!"

As Arata initially felt disappointed that his replay had not revealed much, he suddenly noticed something that seized his attention.

Samus Aran, the figure in the space suit, removed 'his' helmet, causing Arata's eyes to widen in astonishment.

The space suit-clad figure was none other than a woman! Her hair flowed as she gracefully removed her helmet.

"Wait!" Arata exclaimed, clutching his chest, "Isn't this a different ending from what I saw before!?" His shout echoed throughout the house.

His mother's voice could be heard from downstairs, "Arata! Why are you so loud!?"

But Arata paid no heed and approached the television screen, confirming that he wasn't imagining things.

After a long while, he shouted, "It's real! I have to share this with my friends!" Arata was elated at the thought that he might be the first and only one to have discovered this revelation.

However, unbeknownst to him, other players in various parts of Tokyo and across Japan had also stumbled upon this surprising ending, and some had discovered it even before Sawa Arata.

This discovery ignited a buzz within the video game community in Tokyo, whether they were Tora or Suzuki supporters, as they eagerly discussed the challenging video game known as 'Metroid.'