Sparkling Stars (theme)

Sparkling Stars (theme) Kirby's Dream LandKirby's AdventureKirby's Dream Land 2Kirby's Pinball LandKirby Super StarKirby's Dream Land 3Kirby: Canvas CurseKirby: Squeak SquadKirby's Return to Dream LandKirby: Triple Deluxe [[File:]] Sparkling Star: [[File:]] Sparkling Star: Milky Way Wishes: Goal Game: [[File:]] Dimensional Silence: Last-Minute Hero: Various arrangements of "Sparkling Star". Details Debut appearance Kirby's Dream Land (1992) Last appearance Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe (2023) Other appearance(s) Kirby's Adventure Kirby's Pinball Land Kirby's Dream Land 2 Kirby Super Star Kirby Dream Land 3 Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land Kirby & The Amazing Mirror Kirby: Canvas Curse Kirby: Squeak Squad Kirby Super Star Ultra Kirby's Return to Dream Land Kirby: Triple Deluxe Kirby: Planet Robobot Kirby's Blowout Blast Kirby Star Allies Composer(s) Jun Ishikawa

"Sparkling", also called "Sparkling Star" or "Goal Game", is a recurring theme that first appeared in Kirby's Dream Land. It serves as an ambience jingle before collecting the epynomous Sparkling Stars (or other primary collectible), as well as during most Goal Games. It is often followed by the Kirby Dance due to this.

Much like the rest of Kirby's Dream Land's soundtrack, this theme was composed by Jun Ishikawa.

Composition

Kirby prepares to jump.

"Sparkling" is a short theme in C major. It is typically heard in high registers and almost never has a percussive bassline. It bases around four notes: a G, and then C (or A), D and E, forming a pentatonic, rapidly shifting from one note to another while gradually rising and falling in a wave-like fashion. Despite functioning as a jingle, the track usually loops indefinitely.

Game appearances

Kirby's Dream Land

In its debut appearance, this theme plays after defeating a boss and before collecting the corresponding Sparkling Stars.

Kirby's Adventure / Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land

Besides reprising its role as an intermediate theme between the defeat of a boss and the collection of the Star Rod piece, this jingle plays during the Goal Game in both the original Kirby's Adventure and its remake.

Kirby's Pinball Land

In Kirby's Pinball Land, "Sparkling" serves as the hub area's theme. It modulates from F major to C major and back, thus taking significantly longer to loop than other versions.

Kirby's Dream Land 2

In Kirby's Dream Land 2, this theme's role is analogous to Kirby's Adventure, serving as the Goal Game theme and playing after a boss is defeated.

A separate version of the theme can be heard in rooms with a Rainbow Drop.

Kirby Super Star / Kirby Super Star Ultra

In Kirby Super Star and its remake, besides reprising its main two roles after Spring Breeze's bosses and during Dyna Blade's Goal Game, it gains a new arrangement for Milky Way Wishes. This arrangement features the original "Sparkling" in the background as a new melody takes priority. Nonetheless, its role is identical to that of Spring Breeze.

Kirby's Dream Land 3

Unlike its predecessors, Kirby's Dream Land 3 doesn't feature the theme after bosses, instead playing exclusively during the Goal Game. This version of "Sparkling" differs slightly, accenting a C rather than a G, bringing the melodic line to a third.

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

A somewhat different track plays during the Bonus Game of Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards. However, its structure and role are identical to "Sparkling"'s main two roles.

Kirby & The Amazing Mirror

In Kirby & The Amazing Mirror, "Sparkling" plays after a boss is defeated and while a Mirror Shard is being returned to the Dimension Mirror, thus reprising its original role from Kirby's Dream Land. It also plays when entering Goal Games, prior to grabbing the Warp Star.

Kirby: Canvas Curse

In Kirby: Canvas Curse, a new and distinct version of this theme plays during the Jump Game.

Additionally, when the "Old School" sound mode is selected, the Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land arrangement plays instead.

Kirby: Squeak Squad

A fresh G major arrangement of "Sparkling" can be heard in Kirby: Squeak Squad's Goal Game.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land / Kirby's Return to Dream Land

In Kirby's Return to Dream Land and its remake, the theme, now officially referred to as "Goal Game", reprises its role from Kirby's Adventure and its remake, as it plays during the identical Goal Game and between defeating a boss and collecting a Part Sphere (and Fruit Fragment in Magolor Epilogue: The Interdimensional Traveler). Additionally, the theme plays prior to fighting Grand Doomer, leading to a minor twist when Kirby attempts to collect the Mast of the Lor Starcutter.

A new and eerie arrangement of the theme titled "Dimensional Silence" can be heard in Another Dimension's platforming stages after beating the Sphere Doomer mid-boss. In the original Kirby's Return to Dream Land, this signifies the return of color.

Kirby: Triple Deluxe

In Kirby: Triple Deluxe, the version of "Goal Game" heard in Kirby's Return to Dream Land returns for the Goal Game. A similar version plays before collecting the Grand Sun Stone after a boss fight. "Dimensional Silence" plays in Royal Road - Stage 5 when the Miracle Fruit appears, after fighting Royal Road's Revenge bosses, as well as after entering the Dimension Mirror in Dededetour!

Additionally, the theme returns in "Last-Minute Hero", which plays during the cutscene preceding the Hypernova section of the boss battle against Queen Sectonia, creating a sense of false victory not unlike that for Grand Doomer.

Kirby: Planet Robobot

In Kirby: Planet Robobot, the "Goal Game" version from Kirby's Return to Dream Land returns for the Goal Game once more. "Dimensional Silence" can also be heard in Access Ark - Stage 5 prior to gearing up with the Robobot Armor.

Kirby's Blowout Blast

The jingle returns when the Sparkling Stars appear after King Dedede's first boss phase. However, it quickly deforms when the Stars enlarge Dedede.

Kirby Star Allies

Both versions of the theme from Kirby's Return to Dream Land return in Kirby Star Allies: "Goal Game" for the Goal Game and "Dimensional Silence" (now titled "With the Heroes' Spears of the Heart") before picking up a spear of the heart after defeating a parallel boss.

Names in other languages

Goal Game

Italian, German, Dutch

Jump Game

German

Goal in Sight

Italian, German

Dimensional Silence

Italian, German, Dutch