Kirby Fighters 2: The Destined Rivals

Kirby Fighters 2: The Destined Rivals
Kirby Fighters 2Kirby and the Forgotten LandKirby 30th Anniversary Music Festival Boss arrangement: "Secret Area: HAL Room": "Secret Area: HAL Room 2": Various arrangements of "Kirby Fighters 2: The Destined Rivals".
Details
Debut appearance	Kirby Fighters 2 (2020)
Last appearance	Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe (2023)
Other appearance(s)	Kirby and the Forgotten Land Kirby's Dream Buffet
Composer(s)	Hirokazu Ando^[1]

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This article is about the game's theme song. For the Story Mode or the Japanese light novel with similar names, see Story Mode: The Destined Rivals or Kirby Fighters: The Destined Rivals!! respectively.

"Kirby Fighters 2: The Destined Rivals"^{[derived from Japanese]} is the main theme from Kirby Fighters 2. It was composed by Hirokazu Ando.^[1]

Composition[edit]

Kirby and his Buddy prepare to face off against the Destined Rivals.

"Kirby Fighters 2: The Destined Rivals" is an energetic and resolute theme in C minor and 4/4. The character is immediately set by its intro, consisting of rapidly rising intervals, at first two perfect fourths, one of the theme's characteristic traits. After the intro ends on the dominant, an electric guitar melody comes in, developing on the aforementioned element of the intro. Between its phrases, the intro element appears as a quiet counterpoint. Circling between perfect fourths and fifths and dissonant seconds and a diminished seventh, the melody is relatively self-contained. However, the counterpoint leads it to a second developing section.

Initially, this second part continues the ideas of the first, albeit in a more major tone (specifically the parallel E-flat major). As it transitions back to minor, it begins to diverge from the established intro motif with smoother motion and more compact dissonance — a diminished fifth. This new element gains momentum as it approaches the dominant in the form of a diminished seventh chord. With the counterpoint playing once more, the third synth section arrives as the climax. It is intonationally close to the first section's resolution, staying near the tonic in movement back and forth, with short phrases and an first ending based on the intro motif. When it repeats, it concludes with a final new element, close to the first resolution yet distinct in its sequence of notes: a slow rise from tonic to dominant and return towards and around the tonic. The intro-based counterpoint concludes the theme, which then loops from the first section.

Game appearances[edit]

Kirby Fighters 2[edit]

In its game of origin, "Kirby Fighters 2: The Destined Rivals" is the main motif, appearing prominently as menu, cutscene and boss music. The following is a list of its arrangements:

"Kirby Fighters 2: The Destined Rivals" – the main title theme.
The Battle Mode menu theme – a faithful acoustic arrangement.
The Online/Local Mode menu theme – an electronic arrangement with a new counterpoint.
The Battle Results theme for the aforementioned modes – an acoustic arrangement at a moderate pace.
The Story Prologue theme – a slow acoustic arrangement with a small variation in the melody that carries over to some individual later instances, plays during most cutscenes.
The Item Room theme for Chapters 1-4 — an arrangement in D minor.
Stage of Destined Rivals — default music for Stage of Destined Rivals in Battle Mode and battle theme for King Dedede & Meta Knight (and their impostors) in Chapters 2-3 of Story Mode: The Destined Rivals. Has snippets of "King Dedede's Theme", "Boarding the Halberd" and "Green Greens". Specifically named FizzMainThemeBossArrangeShort in the files, indicating that it is the "boss arrangement" of the main theme.
"The Battle of Deeply Bonded Allies"^{[Japanese title]} — the alternate music for Stage of Destined Rivals and default for the stage in Chapter 4 of Story Mode: The Destined Rivals, as well as the music for the first phase of the Final Chapter battle at Stage of the Partners. An extended version of the above theme with snippets of "Havoc Aboard the Halberd" and added chromatic and harmonic minor passages building up to the climax. Specifically named FizzMainThemeBossArrangeLong in the files, indicating that it is the "boss arrangement" of the main theme. Arranged by Yuki Shimooka.^[1]
The theme for the cutscene featuring the Masks of Dark Bonds — based on the first section and intro.

Many jingles are derived from sections of "Kirby Fighters 2: The Destined Rivals":

The Fighters Rank Up jingle – plays when levelling up to Fighters Rank 2-99. Sped up version of the intro/first section melody.
The Unlock jingle – based on the melody of the third section.
The main Battle jingle — plays prior to most Chapter 1-4 battles, as well as in Single-Handed Mode. Based on the melody of the third section.
The Results jingle — plays at the end of each Chapter and on the 100% completion screen. Based on the intro element.
The Final Chapter Battle jingle – plays prior to most Final Chapter battles. Based on the ending element of the third section.
Three variants of the Buddy Star Blaster theme, playing under specific cirucmstances (2 users, 3 users, or used during the end portion of Stage of the Partners) — based on the intro section.
An unused jingle based on the first section, continuously accelerating.

The theme appears as part of a medley with other tracks in:

"History of Kirby Fighters" – the alternate menu theme, which also plays with an extended intro as the secret song for Stage of the Partners (the full theme alongside "Kirby Fighters!" and "Kirby Fighters Deluxe").
The ending theme (alongside "My Friend and the Sunset" and "Kirby's Triumphant Return").
The Chapter 4 results theme (alongside "Title" and "Green Greens").
The Final Chapter prologue theme (alongside "Kirby's Triumphant Return", "Revenge of Meta Knight (Map)" and "King Dedede's Theme").
The epilogue theme (alongside "The King and the Sun" and "My Friend and the Sunset").
The secret ending theme (alongside "The King and the Sun").
Both Training Mode themes (Intense and Chiptune; alongside "Training", "Green Greens" and "Ripple Star: Stage Select").

"Kirby Fighters 2: The Destined Rivals" in Kirby Fighters 2
Full arrangements
Theme	Sample
"Kirby Fighters 2: The Destined Rivals"
Battle Mode menu
Online/Local Mode menu
Battle Results
Story Prologue
Chapters 1-4 Item Room
Stage of Destined Rivals
"The Battle of Deeply Bonded Allies"
The Masks of Dark Bonds
Jingles
Theme	Sample
Chapters 1-4 Battle Jingle
Final Chapter Battle Jingle
Buddy Star Blaster (2 characters)
Buddy Star Blaster (3 characters)
Buddy Star Blaster (Stage of the Partners)
Fighters Rank Up
Unlock Jingle
Results Jingle
Unused jingle
Medley arrangements
Theme	Sample
"History of Kirby Fighters"
Ending
Chapter 4 Results
Final Chapter Prologue
Epilogue
Secret Ending
Training Mode (Intense)
Training Mode (Chiptune)

Kirby and the Forgotten Land[edit]

In Kirby and the Forgotten Land, "Kirby Fighters 2: The Destined Rivals" is a part of both "Secret Area: HAL Room" medleys alongside "Twinkle☆Stars" and "Town". Here the theme plays in D minor, similarly to the Item Room iteration. Both medleys were arranged by Yuki Shimooka.

Kirby's Dream Buffet[edit]

In Kirby's Dream Buffet, two variants of the theme appear as unlockable Race music:

The Battle Mode menu version of "Kirby Fighters 2: The Destined Rivals", here titled "Kirby Fighters 2: Memorial Song 2", is unlocked at Gourmet Rank 90.
"The Battle of Deeply Bonded Allies", here titled "Kirby Fighters 2: Bonus Song 3", is only unlocked if the Nintendo Switch system has Kirby Fighters 2 save data on it.

Other appearances[edit]

Starting from Kirby and the Forgotten Land, "Kirby Fighters 2: The Destined Rivals" represents its game of origin in the Past Adventures menu.

In the Kirby 30th Anniversary Music Festival, "The Battle of Deeply Bonded Allies" is a part of the "Beyond the 25th Anniversary" medley, arranged principally by Megumi Ohara with contributions by Yuki Shimooka.^[2]

In Tetris 99, "Kirby Fighters 2: The Destined Rivals" appears in a medley with "Green Greens" that can be heard when using the Kirby Fighters 2 theme. It plays during the first part of a match, when there are 99-50 players.

Names in other languages[edit]