This article is about one of the musical themes related to theHalberd. For the game where this theme originated, seeRevenge of Meta Knight. For the similar theme that plays alongside this one, seeHavoc aboard the Halberd.

"Boarding the Halberd" is a musical track that debuted inKirby Super Star, playing inRevenge of Meta Knight. It is a fast-paced frenetic theme that has come to be associated with theHalberd in general, and has reappeared in a few notableKirby titles since its inception, often paired with its sister track, "Havoc aboard the Halberd".

Composition[edit]

"Boarding the Halberd" is a brisk, jazzy track set at a tempo of roughly 164 beats per minute. It is set in the key of A minor, though it features many accidental notes. The song has a rapid, dissonant melody line punctuated with wide sweeps and triplets. The main instrumentation includes brass, orchestra hits, and soft synths, with prominent drums and a repetitive bassline.

Game appearances[edit]

Kirby Super Star /Kirby Super Star Ultra[edit]

As mentioned above, inKirby Super Star, this track can be heard in several places inRevenge of Meta Knight, specifically for the stages where Kirby is either attempting to, or has just boarded the Halberd.

This track can also be heard inMilky Way Wishes, on planetMekkai.

Kirby Air Ride[edit]

InKirby Air Ride, the original version fromKirby Super Star (titled "Revenge of Meta Knight 2") can be unlocked and then used as an alternate track inMachine Passage.

Super Smash Bros. series[edit]

InSuper Smash Bros. Brawl, a jazzy version of this track, titled "Meta Knight's Revenge", is used as a default theme forthe Halberd stage, and can also be heard in sections ofThe Subspace Emissary. Here, it is directly combined with its sister theme "Havoc aboard the Halberd", being the first time the two were fused into a single musical track. The arrangement was done byNoriyuki Iwadare.

This arrangement, along with the Halberd stage, reappears inSuper Smash Bros. for Wii U andSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate. In the former, it can only be played onthe Halberd stage.

Kirby's Epic Yarn[edit]

InKirby's Epic Yarn, "Boarding the Halberd" is arranged with gentler piano-based instrumentation and a slower tempo. It plays on theBattleship Halberd stage inDream Land, and is appropriately titled"Halberd" in the Tunes menu. It was arranged byHirokazu Ando.^[3]

Dedede's Drum Dash Deluxe[edit]

This track serves as the theme forthe sixth stage ofDedede's Drum Dash Deluxe. The version used is the one fromKirby Super Star with its tempo slightly slowed down, but its fast pace is still suitable for a harder stage.

Kirby: Planet Robobot[edit]

InKirby: Planet Robobot, the piano arrangement of this track fromKirby's Epic Yarn is reused inRhythm Route - Stage 7 EX. The themes for the opening and ending cutscenes, "First Contact" and "Planet Heart", both composed by Hirokazu Ando, feature "Boarding the Halberd" as a motif representing Meta Knight.

Kirby's Blowout Blast[edit]

InKirby's Blowout Blast, a slower-paced,Rhodes piano-based remix of the track appears as a bonus song when scanning theMeta Knightamiibo.

Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn[edit]

InKirby's Extra Epic Yarn, "Halberd" plays the same role inBattleship Halberd stage ofDream Land.

Additionally, a new remix of "Boarding the Halberd" is used in the Sub-GameSlash & Bead, and is once again paired with "Havoc aboard the Halberd". It was remixed by either Akihiro Juichiya or Soshiro Hokkai.^[4]

Kirby Fighters 2[edit]

InKirby Fighters 2, "Boarding the Halberd" is included as part of both "The Battle of Sworn Partners" and "Stage of the Partners Who Shook the Heavens": the former plays during the fights againstKing Dedede & Meta Knight, while the latter plays during the fight againstWaning Masked Dedede & Waxing Masked Meta Knight and is also the regular music forStage of the Partners. The former was arranged byYuki Shimooka^[2], and the latter is arranged byHirokazu Ando^[5].

Kirby's Dream Buffet[edit]

An arrangement of this track is once again paired with "Havoc aboard the Halberd" in a medley titled "Revenge of Steel Wings", which can be unlocked atGourmet Rank 26 as a music theme forRaces. It is arranged byHirokazu Ando.

Additionally, the original version fromKirby Super Star can be unlocked as a race song, named"Kirby Super Star: Memorial Song 2", by reaching Gourmet Rank 114.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe[edit]

InKirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, "Stage of the Partners Who Shook the Heavens" fromKirby Fighters 2 plays duringGalacta Knight's first phase if player 1 isKing Dedede or Meta Knight.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World[edit]

InKirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World, "Revenge of Steel Wings" fromKirby's Dream Buffet plays during the battle againstPhantom Meta Knight inThe Ultimate Cup Z EX. The track appears at theWaddle Live! Corner Stage as track 133 after clearing The Ultimate Cup Z EX.

Kirby Air Riders[edit]

InKirby Air Riders, "Revenge of Meta Knight 2" (the original version of this theme fromKirby Super Star) returns fromKirby Air Ride, now also titled "Machine Passage (Alt)". It can be unlocked by completing a lap inMachine Passage without crashing into walls more than three times. It also has a chance of playing during a City Trial match, the likelihood of which can be adjusted through the My Music menu.

Other appearances[edit]

"Boarding the Halberd" has been performed live in theKirby 25th Anniversary Orchestra Concert, along with its sibling theme, in "King Dedede & Meta Knight Medley". This version is much slower, being performed at 132 beats per minute, to make it feasible for live players. A vocal version called"Take off!" is also on theKirby Memorial Arrangements CD.

The theme is also featured in the second half of the the bonus track ステージメドレー／アコースティックver. (Stage Medley / Acoustic Ver.) of theKirby Ultra Super Deluxe Original Sound Track.

"Boarding the Halberd" is featured as the first track in the "Revenge of Meta Knight Medley" inTaiko no Tatsujin.

• https://wikirby.com/wiki/File:King_Dedede_and_Meta_Knight_Medley_Boarding_the_Halberd_Section.oga
  "Boarding the Halberd" in "King Dedede & Meta Knight Medley" from theKirby 25th Anniversary Orchestra Concert, arranged byMegumi Ohara and performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.
• https://wikirby.com/wiki/File:Kirby_25th_Anniversary_Concert_Take_Off!_Sample.oga
  "Take off!" fromKirby Memorial Arrangements, arranged byShogo Sakai and sung by Yasuhiro Mizushima.

Video gallery[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Boarding the Halberd[edit]

Revenge of Meta Knight 2[edit]

Halberd[edit]

References

• Music in Kirby Super Star
• Music in Kirby Air Ride
• Music in Kirby Super Star Ultra
• Music in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
• Music in Kirby's Epic Yarn
• Music in Dedede's Drum Dash Deluxe
• Music in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
• Music in Kirby: Planet Robobot
• Music in Kirby's Blowout Blast
• Music in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
• Music in Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn
• Music in Kirby Fighters 2
• Music in Kirby's Dream Buffet
• Music in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe
• Music in Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World
• Music in Kirby Air Riders
• Music from Kirby 25th Anniversary Orchestra Concert

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