"Plaza" redirects here, and should not be confused with other uses of the term "plaza", such asPatch Plaza.

"Boss Game Select"^[1][2] is a recurring musical theme in theKirby franchise, which first appeared as the music for theMt. Dedede lobby inKirby's Dream Land. It was composed byJun Ishikawa, as with all music inKirby's Dream Land, and it primarily reappears in stage lobbies and menu screens. It is a fairly short and simple theme designed for areas in whichKirby is not expected to spend a lot of time. Since its debut, it has been rearranged several times, with some arrangements adding more complex background instrumentation, and others changing the key of the theme.

Composition[edit]

"Boss Game Select", in its most basic form, is a very simple musical idea consisting of only two bars of music in a 4/4 time signature. Its simple composition is likely due to it originally being designed for an area the player would likely not spend much time in, the Mt. Dedede lobby. Most of its later appearances use more complex instrumentation and elaborate on the song by adding further harmony or countermelodies; some, such as those inKirby's Dream Land 3 andKirby 64: The Crystal Shards, take a jazzy approach with a swung rhythm, while others use the more basic rhythm of the original song. "Boss Game Select" is a fairly obscure theme in comparison to other recurringKirby's Dream Land themes, such as "Green Greens" or "King Dedede's Theme", but it is still easily recognizable when it reappears.

Game appearances[edit]

Kirby's Dream Land[edit]

Kirby's Dream Land was the song's debut appearance, where it plays in the Mt. Dedede lobby between the revisits of each stage. It is a short and simple incidental tune. It can also be found in the Config Mode'sSound Test as Music 19.

Kirby Super Star /Kirby Super Star Ultra[edit]

"Boss Game Select" reappears inKirby Super Star andKirby Super Star Ultra as the theme for theTrial Rooms in theDyna Blade game. This is the first version of the theme to incorporate brass as the lead instrument, as well as the countermelody heard in the background. InKirby Super Star exclusively, it is also used for the rest areas and initial copy ability selection room inThe Arena. InKirby Super Star Ultra, it is also used as the theme for the Options menu. This version is officially titled能力おためし部屋 (Ability Trial Room)^[3] and can be found in the SNES version'sSound Test as Music 18 and in theKirby Super Star Ultra Sound Test as Music 025.

Kirby's Dream Land 3[edit]

InKirby's Dream Land 3, an arrangement of the theme is used as the menu theme for theSound Test, theTheater, and the Sub-Games' respective title and results screens. It has a jazzy swung rhythm and a saxophone as the main instrument, with a windy synth instrument providing countermelody. It can be found in the Sound Test as BGM 35.

Kirby's Star Stacker (Super Famicom)[edit]

In theSuper Famicom version ofKirby's Star Stacker, "Boss Game Select" is used in thecutscene that plays before the showdown againstKing Dedede. It is similar to theKirby Super Star arrangement, but with a faster tempo, a raised key, and a different lead instrument.

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards[edit]

Another jazzy arrangement of the theme plays inKirby 64: The Crystal Shards as the theme for theBoss Battles andEnemy Info menus. It is faster-paced than theKirby's Dream Land 3 version and uses brass as the lead, as well as glockenspiel and woodwind countermelodies. This is one of the longer variations of the theme, lasting about 30 seconds. It starts out with full instrumentation, then drops all instruments except for the drums and the woodwind; after this, it reintroduces the bass and glockenspiel, and finally loops back to the main melody. The track can be found in the game'sSound Check as Music 037.

Kirby: Canvas Curse[edit]

Two arrangements of the theme are included inKirby: Canvas Curse. The first, which is titled"Boss Game Select" and is similar to the originalKirby's Dream Land version with electronic instrumentation, plays when selecting whichboss to fight at the end of each level and is in the game'sSound Test as Music 34. The other variation, which is titled"Medal Swap", is more similar to theKirby 64: The Crystal Shards arrangement, and plays in theMedal Swap menu, as well as Music 39 in the Sound Test.

Kirby: Squeak Squad[edit]

A simple trumpet-based arrangement of the theme plays in theSub-Game menus ofKirby: Squeak Squad, where the controls of each game are explained. It was arranged by Jun Ishikawa,^[4] and is accessible as Music 00 in theSound Player after finding theParty Notes.

Kirby Mass Attack[edit]

Prior to each stage of theStory Mode inKirby Mass Attack, the Kirbys must pass through a gate that requires a certain amount of them to open. During this segment, an arrangement of the "Boss Game Select" theme plays. For regular stages, a standard arrangement titled"Jump Out" plays, which uses brass and backing electric guitars. For boss stages, a slowed-down and lower-pitched arrangement titled"Rally Forth" plays. Both of these versions were arranged byShogo Sakai.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land[edit]

InKirby's Return to Dream Land, a loose arrangement of the theme titled"Let's Rewatch Our Own Adventures" with piano and plucked guitar plays within theTheater menu. It was arranged byHirokazu Ando^[5] and can be found as Music 84 in theSound Test. The original motif of the theme is played rather quietly and subtly on the plucked guitar; the piano brings the harmonies to the forefront and the bassline preserves the rhythm.

Kirby: Triple Deluxe[edit]

InKirby: Triple Deluxe, "Let's Rewatch Our Own Adventures" fromKirby's Return to Dream Land is used for the Theater menu as well, and also when viewing collectedkeychains at the end of each stage. It can be found as track 38 in theJukebox.

Kirby: Planet Robobot[edit]

InKirby: Planet Robobot, an arrangement of the "Boss Game Select" theme using Rhodes piano and acoustic guitars, titled"Memorial Theatre" on theKirby: Planet Robobot Original Soundtrack, plays in the Theater menu, and also on the pop-ups associated with amiibo usage after unlocking it inPatched Plains - Stage 3. It was arranged by Hirokazu Ando and can be found as track 078 in theJukebox.

Kirby's Blowout Blast[edit]

The main stage lobby forKirby's Blowout Blast plays a new arrangement of "Boss Game Select", named"Plaza",^[6] which incorporates the originalGame Boy theme with real instruments, such as Rhodes piano and clavinet, overlaid on top. Like theKirby 64: The Crystal Shards arrangement, it is fairly long in comparison to other versions of the theme, with multiple variations. This rendition was arranged byHirokazu Ando^[7].

Kirby Star Allies[edit]

InKirby Star Allies, "Plaza" fromKirby's Blowout Blast plays inExtra Eclair's puzzle room. It can be found as track 078 in theJukebox.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe[edit]

InKirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, a remastered version of "Let's Rewatch Our Own Adventures" reprises its role, and can be found as Track 133 in theJukebox.

Additionally, an arrangement based on theKirby: Squeak Squad version plays on the title screen of theSmash Ride Sub-Game, titled"Smash Ride - Title". The originalKirby: Squeak Squad arrangement can be unlocked as a Secret Song by completing all of Smash Ride's Missions. These themes can be found as track 78 and 146 in the Jukebox, respectively, the latter after clearing 100 Magoland Missions.

Names in other languages[edit]

Boss Game Select[edit]

Click "Expand" on the right to see other names.

References

• Good pages
• Music in Kirby's Dream Land
• Music in Kirby Super Star
• Music in Kirby's Dream Land 3
• Music in Kirby's Star Stacker (Super Famicom)
• Music in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
• Music in Kirby: Canvas Curse
• Music in Kirby: Squeak Squad
• Music in Kirby Super Star Ultra
• Music in Kirby Mass Attack
• Music in Kirby's Return to Dream Land
• Music in Kirby: Triple Deluxe
• Music in Kirby: Planet Robobot
• Music in Kirby's Blowout Blast
• Music in Kirby Star Allies
• Music in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe

• Articles which list Japanese names
• Articles which list French names
• Articles which list German names
• Articles which list Italian names
• Articles which list Spanish names
• Articles which list Korean names
• Articles which list Chinese names
• Articles which list Dutch names
• Articles which list Portuguese names