"Masked Dedede's Theme",[1][3] also known as"The Masked King",[4] is a music track commonly associated withKing Dedede in fierce battles where he wears a mask (such asMasked Dedede andForgo Dedede). It is also associated with alternate counterparts of Dedede that may or may not wear a mask, such asShadow Dedede andKing D-Mind. The theme is an intense arrangement of "King Dedede's Theme"; it was originally arranged byJun Ishikawa, who also composed the original version of "King Dedede's Theme".
"Masked Dedede's Theme" is a fast paced theme in C minor and is essentially a shortened and faster arrangement of "King Dedede's Theme". It opens up with a slow intro based on the last bars of "King Dedede's Theme" (the part similar to "Kirby's Triumphant Return"), then shortly diverges from it and a quick array of notes and a drum roll signal the song's beginning; however, following is a bar and a half devoid of melody, and another quick array of notes finally properly signals the song's beginning. The first segment of the main melody is based on the first notes of "King Dedede's Theme"'s main phrase, but with different resolutions, giving the song a sense of urgency. The second segment follows a similar idea, but is based on the "Peanut Plains" section from "King Dedede's Theme" instead. It then closes with a section based on that song's "Kirby's Triumphant Return"-like section, and the song loops, omitting the intro.
InKirby: Triple Deluxe, "Masked Dedede's Theme" is remixed with orchestral and techno instrumentation, which is used for the fights against Masked Dedede's Revenge andShadow Dedede. It is titled"Dedede's Royal Payback" on theKirby: Triple Deluxe Soundtrack, where it can be found as Track 34. It can also be found as Track 97 inKirby: Triple Deluxe's Jukebox. It has a slightly slower drumline, and a new second loop with different instrumentation. Like the original version, this remix was arranged by Jun Ishikawa.
InKirby Fighters Deluxe, a special retro-style medley version of "King Dedede's Theme" plays when battlingTeam DDD on the Very Hard difficulty setting. This theme includes an 8-bit version of the intro riff to "Masked Dedede's Theme" at the start, and continues into a full arrangement of the theme as the final part of the medley. This medley is titled "History of Dedede" according to aMiiverse post andNintendo Music, and it was arranged byHirokazu Ando.
InKirby Battle Royale, "Masked Dedede's Theme" is incorporated into two themes related toDededestroyer Z: the first is in the intro cutscene just before its battle, where the song's intro appears at the end of the cutscene theme. The second is its proper battle theme, which a medley of "Masked Dedede's Theme", alongside "King Dedede's Theme", "Let Battle Commence!" and "Kirby's Triumphant Return". These tracks appears in the Music Collection as "Cake Royale 12" and "Cake Royale 13" respectively.
"King Dedede's on the Scene!" —Dream Friend jingle for King Dedede, track 130 in the Jukebox (as of version 4.0.0) and track 25 on disc 5 of the original soundtrack. Short arrangement of "Masked Dedede's Theme" by Hirokazu Ando.
"History of Dedede" — theme for the King Dedede fight in Soul Melter andParallel Dedede's first phase in Soul Melter EX, track 203 in the Jukebox and track 6 on disc 5 of the original soundtrack.
InSuper Kirby Clash, King D-Mind's standard battle uses Giant Masked Dedede's theme fromKirby's Blowout Blast, while the battle against King D-Mind's Revenge uses both of his themes fromTeam Kirby Clash Deluxe. In both cases, the themes are lightly remixed with electronic instrumentation and additional effects.
A section of "Masked Dedede's Theme" also plays in the cutscene titled "The King's Turn to Shine", right asKing Dedede sacrifices himself to savea Waddle Dee from theBeast Pack. This theme can be heard at the Waddle Live! Corner Stage as track 62, and was also arranged by Yuki Shimooka.
InKirby's Dream Buffet, the original version fromKirby Super Star Ultra can be unlocked for potential use in races upon reachingGourmet Rank 82, named"Kirby Super Star Ultra: Memorial Song 2" in-game. "Masked and Wild: D.D.D." fromKirby and the Forgotten Land, named"Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Bonus Song 2" in-game, can also be unlocked for potential use in races after the player's firstGourmet Grand Prix if the game detects save data forKirby and the Forgotten Land on the user'sNintendo Switch.
InKirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, "Stage of the Partners Who Shook the Heavens" fromKirby Fighters 2 plays in Galacta Knight's first phase if player 1 is King Dedede or Meta Knight.
Arrangements of the theme have appeared in variousTetris 99 Maximus Cups, all of which play when 10 players remain. The Tougher and Toughest King D-Mind battle music fromSuper Kirby Clash is used for that game's Maximus Cup, "Masked and Wild: D.D.D." is used for theKirby and the Forgotten Land Maximus Cup and the "Masked Dedede's Theme" arrangement from the Kirby 30th Anniversary Music Fest King Dedede Medley is used for theKirby's Dream Buffet Maximus Cup.
The version of "King Dedede's Theme" that plays in theSuper Famicom version ofKirby's Star Stacker can be seen as a precursor to "Masked Dedede's Theme", since it has a similarly elevated pace and tempo, along with a similar opening riff.
Return to the Throne: D.D.D. 王位の復権 is also used as the subtitle for King Dedede'sGuest Star ???? Star Allies Go! route, which is translated as "Fight for the Crown" in English.
