Vagrant Counting Song of Retrospection

Vagrant Counting Song of Retrospection Kirby: Planet RobobotKirby Star AlliesSuper Kirby Clash File:Needed M.png File missing File:Needed M.png File missing Various renditions of the "Vagrant Counting Song of Retrospection" theme. Details Debut appearance Kirby: Planet Robobot (2016) Last appearance Super Kirby Clash (2019) Other appearance(s) Kirby Star Allies Composer(s) Hirokazu Ando

It has been requested that music or other audio be uploaded and added to this page or section and clipped in accordance with audio standards if applicable. Remember to remove this once the clip(s) have been uploaded and applied. Namely: While including all excerpts of the song, maybe also include the beta versions, maybe?

"Vagrant Counting Song of Retrospection" is the name of a musical piece which first plays during the third phase of the battle with Star Dream in Kirby: Planet Robobot.

Composition

"Vagrant Counting Song of Retrospection" builds upon the original song of "Bright Spinning Planet", the title screen theme, and remixes it to use more intense, machine-like, computerized instruments and expanded, fast melodies. It also arranges excerpts of "Milky Way Wishes: Shooting", to signify Star Dream's similarities with the Galactic Nova. Finally, at the end, it takes a part of "Haltmann Works Co. HQ", played with an electric guitar, and near the end, an erratic arpeggio finishes off the intense melodies. Then it transitions to a calmer version of the song with calm and chiptune instruments, with almost to near silence, before looping again to the main part of the song.

Notably, the song shares commonalities with "Soul 0 System" (a remix of "Milky Way Wishes: Shooting") and "Vagrant Keepsake of Oblivion" (a variation on the song itself that starts at the "Haltmann Works Co. HQ" motif and quickly transitions to the main song), both of which are used in Phase 4 of Star Dream Soul OS.

Game appearances

Kirby: Planet Robobot

In Kirby: Planet Robobot, at the beginning of Star Dream's third phase, the Access Ark's front covering falls off, revealing a cat-like face resembling Galactic Nova. Once its eyes start to flash at the Halberd, "Vagrant Counting Song of Retrospection" starts to play for the remainder of the final battle.

This music can be found as Track 95 in the Kirby: Planet Robobot Jukebox.

Kirby Star Allies

A partial remix of both "Vagrant Counting Song of Retrospection" and "Vs. Star Dream" plays when P1 fights Morpho Knight as Susie in Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go! and Soul Melter (EX) of The Ultimate Choice. This medley is named 幼き日に視たデウス・エクス・マキナ (The Deus Ex Machina the Child Saw) in Kirby Star Allies: The Original Soundtrack.

The remix is also arranged by Hirokazu Ando and can be found as Track 183 in the Star Allies Jukebox as of Version 4.0.0.

Super Kirby Clash

A remix of "The Deus Ex Machina the Child Saw" plays during the Super+ Party Quest against Pres. Parallel Susie.

Etymology

"Vagrant Counting Song of Retrospection" may appear to be a confusing title at first glance, but each term within the title relates heavily to the boss fight with Star Dream. To begin, "counting song" refers to the actual fight, where Star Dream counts down from 5 to 1 for the "Fatal Error" attack; Galactic Nova also counts down from 3 to 1 when granting wishes, suggesting it to be a common trait between them. "Vagrant" is used to describe a person who does not have a proper home and instead wanders and begs for their livelihood. It is also used to describe something with an inconsistent nature, or that has fallen "off course". As Star Dream is described in its pause screen as having "lost its master and purpose", this is an also an apt description of the machine. Finally, "retrospection" refers to looking back upon past events and situations, especially with one's own life. This likely refers to President Haltmann himself, who by this point has merged his mind and soul with Star Dream, and—as shown by Star Dream Soul OS's second phase pause screen—is reflecting upon his life in his final moments of consciousness.

In other words, the title refers to a being which has lost its purpose in life, and is reflecting upon the past decisions it has made.

Trivia

• Not so long after Kirby: Planet Robobot was released, three clips featuring beta versions of "Vagrant Counting Song of Retrospection" were released on the official Japanese website for the game, which can be found here. These beta versions feature different instrumentation, mixing, and melodies, including ones that are not in the final version of the song.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	回歴する追憶の数え唄 Kai-reki suru tsuioku no kazoe-uta	Vagrant Counting Song of Retrospection 回歴する Kai-reki suru means "vagrant"; somebody who wanders from place to place without a proper home. 追憶の Tsuioku no means "of retrospection"; reflecting upon the past. 数え唄 Kazoe-uta means "counting song", referring to Star Dream's countdown.