While you could chalk it up to Rule of Cool, the MC did push a missile away in the books just like in this. Although in the books MC got banged up a bit.
Also, the twist makes more sense when you rewatch Zero Suit Samus appear and Master Chief's crotch goes Zap.
Samus ditching the armor for her Zero Suit and laser-pistol-whip-sword actually makes a lot of sense from a strategical point. By stripping down to just her rocket boots and a sword, she's a lot faster and more capable when it comes to run and gun fighting AND hand to hand. Add on top of that the brilliant decision to use an electrical weapon on metallic power armor. Not to mention the fact that she's not half bad looking either.Which is used to VERY effectively screw around with MC. Although the fact that she can is a bit of a fluke...
The line at the end "I thought I was the only girl in armor... with the weight of the world on my shoulders." can come from either Samus or Nicole.
