Float Islands (theme)
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"Float Islands" is the name of a musical track composed by Jun Ishikawa which first appeared in Kirby's Dream Land, accompanying the level it is named after. The track is iconic to the Kirby series, and has appeared in several subsequent games in various forms.
Game appearances
Kirby's Dream Land
Float Islands makes its first appearance here. It plays in the Float Islands level as well as the "Float Islands" portion of Mt. Dedede.
Kirby's Dream Course
An arrangement of Float Islands plays in Holes 5-7 on Course 1, and in Holes 1-4 on Whispy Woods Course.
Kirby's Dream Land 2
The Float Islands theme appears again in a largely unaltered state as the main theme of Ripple Field. It plays in its stages whenever Kirby is by himself.
Kirby Super Star / Kirby Super Star Ultra
A different arrangement of the Float Islands theme plays in these games; it has a faster tempo and plays at a different key from the original version. It plays in the Float Islands portion of Spring Breeze and also plays in Illusion Islands in Revenge of the King. There are very minor differences in instrumentation in the music between the two games.
The Rest Area from The Great Cave Offensive features an acoustic arrangement of slower pace. This version also plays in the secret ??? planet in Milky Way Wishes.
Super Smash Bros. series
A remix of the Rest Area arrangement from Kirby Super Star titled All-Star Intro plays in the All-Star Rest Area of Super Smash Bros. Melee, which is only accessible in the All-Star Mode in-between battles.
The track was released on CD in the game's official album Smashing...Live!, as part of the "Original Medley" under Track 5. It returns in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate under the name "All Star Intro".
In addition, the original track from Kirby's Dream Land appears in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, where it is available on the Dream Land stage. It returns in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate under the Kirby Retro Medley track.
Kirby Air Ride
A rearrangement of Float Islands appears as the alternative music for the Water course in Top Ride. This remix has a much faster pace and uses an electric guitar. It's arranged by Hirokazu Ando.[1]
Kirby: Canvas Curse
Collapse Castle features a unique rearrangement of Float Islands in a minor key, using electronic instrumentation.
Kirby: Squeak Squad
A rock-styled arrangement of the theme appears as the music for the Smash Ride sub-game.
Kirby's Return to Dream Land
A rearrangement of the Rest Area version from Kirby Super Star plays in the first Copy Ability selection room of The Arena.
Kirby: Triple Deluxe
Another rearrangement of the Rest Area version from Kirby Super Star plays in the file selection section, with a high-pitched mandolin and flute in the lead.
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse
A rearrangement of the Rest Area version from Kirby Super Star can be unlocked and played in the game's Music Room.
Kirby: Planet Robobot
The file selection theme from Triple Deluxe is reused for Planet Robobot, serving the same purpose. It is named Select a File! in the Kirby: Planet Robobot Original Soundtrack.
A remix of Float Islands plays in Overload Ocean - Stage 3, and it features an extended melody. It can be found as Track 023 in the Jukebox, and is arranged by Hirokazu Ando. This version is named Industrial Laboratory in the game's Original Soundtrack.
The Air Ride rearrangement is also reused, playing in certain sections of Overload Ocean - Stage 7 EX. It can be found as Track 117 in the Jukebox.
Arrangements of the theme play when viewing the player's best scores from The Arena and The True Arena. The former features lighter instrumentation, and is more faithful to the original, while the later has a more serious tone to it, and closer to the Rest Area version of the theme. They can be found as Track 140 and 144 in the Jukebox, respectively, and both are arranged by Jun Ishikawa. In the game's Original Soundtrack, they are named StreetPass wins (Normal) and StreetPass wins (True), respectively.
Kirby's Blowout Blast
An acoustic re-orchestration of the Float Islands theme plays in the main stages of Level 2 (EX).
Other appearances
The original tune has been featured as Track 07 in the CD soundtrack album The Very Best of Kirby: 52 Hit Tracks, along Green Greens and Welcome to Dream Land.
Track 43 from the Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition Compilation Soundtrack titled "Electro Kirby" at part 1:13–1:31 features a bagpipes-sounding remix of the tune in background.
On the Kirby Memorial Arrangements album, the first track, "Big Band Kirby", includes a slow-paced jazz arrangement of "Float Islands". This version was arranged by Megumi Ohara.
A short remix of this theme was featured in Kirby Pupupu Train, and it is included on the Kirby Pupupu Train Eki-melo Collection under the title フロートアイランズ駅 (Float Islands Station).
Trivia
- The original theme is partly based off Jun Ishikawa's previous arrangement for Adventures of Lolo 3, playing during Underworld Levels stage map.
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | FLOAT ISLANDS フロートアイランズ Furōto Airanzu |
Float Islands |
References
- ↑ Kirby: Planet Robobot Jukebox