VS. Meta Knight
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- "Inner Struggle" redirects here. For information about a very similarly named theme called "INTERNAL STRUGGLE", see "C-R-O-W-N-E-D".
"VS. Meta Knight"[Japanese title] is a musical piece composed by Jun Ishikawa.[1] It first appears as the boss battle theme of Meta Knight in Kirby Super Star.
Composition[edit]
This theme is composed in 5/8 time signature with a haunting tune played primarily on strings. Orchestra hits punctuate each "verse" while a driving synthetic bassline grounds the rhythm. Near the end of the loop, a jazzy synth solo leads to the music's peak in intensity before returning to the start.
According to unofficial accounts of one of the Kirby 25th Anniversary Orchestra Concert performances, Jun Ishikawa recounted a twisted path towards being able to compose this theme. Initially Masahiro Sakurai, director of Kirby Super Star, asked that Ishikawa compose battle music for Meta Knight that wouldn't sound like a normal boss theme, but rather a track that might play at Juliana's (or Juliana's Tokyo). While Sakurai merely wanted to get across the idea of a rave track, Juliana's in particular was an infamous nightclub that defined the Japanese disco dance scene in the first half of the 1990s. At some point in the game's development cycle — during which Juliana's actually closed down — Ishikawa decided to abandon the idea, yet could not get past the initial idea of "Juliana's Tokyo". Ishikawa specifically chose to write the track in 5/8 to drag himself away from the images invoked by the "Juliana's Tokyo" prompt.[1]
This song's composition and time signature are notably similar to "VS Sphere Doomer", the battle theme of the Sphere Doomers from Kirby's Return to Dream Land. Both were composed by Jun Ishikawa.
Game appearances[edit]
Kirby Super Star / Kirby Super Star Ultra[edit]
The original version of "VS. Meta Knight" plays during the duel with Meta Knight in Revenge of Meta Knight and The Arena.
In Kirby Super Star Ultra, "VS. Meta Knight" is remixed with the Nintendo DS sound chip, like the other remixed Kirby Super Star music.
Kirby's Epic Yarn / Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn[edit]
Meta Knight is fought in Space Land under the control of Yin-Yarn. The "VS. Meta Knight" theme is rearranged in a more tense style using piano, electric bass, and light percussion, in a similar style to other tracks in the game. Xylophone and marimba are used for additional texture.
Kirby: Planet Robobot[edit]
In Kirby: Planet Robobot, when Meta Knight is fought as Mecha Knight+ in the Access Ark, "VS. Meta Knight" plays, now remixed by the original composer Jun Ishikawa and titled "Inner Struggle" (己が精神との闘い Battle with the Inner Spirit in Japanese). It has a similar style to the original with an electronic tinge. In addition to the original haunting tune, this version features an electric guitar solo for the theme's final section. This version can be found as Track 084 in the game's Jukebox.
Kirby Star Allies[edit]
In Kirby Star Allies, normally a remix of "My Friend and the Sunset" (ending theme of Revenge of Meta Knight) plays in Meta Knight's boss battle and the first phase of the Parallel Meta Knight battle.
However, on the Soul Melter and Soul Melter EX difficulties of The Ultimate Choice, "Inner Struggle" replaces Meta Knight's boss battle theme and Parallel Meta Knight's first phase music. It can be found as Track 204 in the Jukebox as of Version 4.0.0.
Kirby Fighters 2[edit]
In Kirby Fighters 2, "VS. Meta Knight" is included as part of the medley that plays during the fight against Waning Crescent Masked Dedede & Waxing Crescent Masked Meta Knight and the regular music for the Stage of the Partners Who Shook the Heavens, along with Boarding the Halberd, Havoc Aboard the Halberd, and Masked Dedede's Theme. The medley is simply called "Stage of the Partners Who Shook the Heavens" and was arranged by Hirokazu Ando.[2]
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe[edit]
In Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, "Stage of the Partners Who Shook the Heavens" from Kirby Fighters 2 plays in Galacta Knight's first phase if player 1 is King Dedede or Meta Knight.
Other appearances[edit]
The theme is featured in the first half of the bonus track ボスバトルメドレー／エレクトロニックver. (Boss Battle Medley / Electronic Ver.) from the Kirby Ultra Super Deluxe Original Sound Track.
"VS. Meta Knight" is the fifth track featured in the "Revenge of Meta Knight Medley" in Taiko no Tatsujin. It is the final playable song in the medley, and is suitably difficult due to its fast pace and 5/8 time signature.
The theme was performed live at the Kirby 30th Anniversary Music Festival as part of The Knights' Revenge Medley, along with "Revenge of Meta Knight: Title", "Dark Meta Knight", "The Greatest Warrior in the Galaxy", and "Morpho Knight".
Trivia[edit]
- "VS. Meta Knight" is similar to the Vs. Ridley/Escape theme from Super Metroid, as they have the same 5/8 time signature and identical riffs.
Video gallery[edit]
Video of the "Revenge of Meta Knight Medley" in Taiko no Tatsujin Yellow Ver.
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Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
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| Japanese | VS.メタナイト[3] VS. Meta Naito |
VS. Meta Knight |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Interview with Jun Ishikawa in the Kirby 25th Anniversary Orchestra Concert in Osaka on June 18th, 2017. See this blog with a summary of this specific concert, as well as another second-hand account corroborating broader points.
- ↑ Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe Jukebox
- ↑ Kirby Ultra Super Deluxe Original Sound Track
See also[edit]
- "My Friend and the Sunset": Rearranged as Meta Knight's boss battle theme in Kirby Star Allies and Kirby and the Forgotten Land.
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