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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 byJun Ishikawa.[1] It first appears as theboss battle theme ofMeta Knight inKirby 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 theKirby 25th Anniversary Orchestra Concert performances, Jun Ishikawa recounted a twisted path towards being able to compose this theme. InitiallyMasahiro Sakurai, director ofKirby 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 atJuliana's (or Juliana's Tokyo). While Sakurai merely wanted to get across the idea of arave 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 theSphere Doomers fromKirby'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 duringthe duel with Meta Knight inRevenge of Meta Knight andThe Arena.
InKirby Super Star Ultra, "VS. Meta Knight" is remixed with the Nintendo DS sound chip, like the other remixedKirby Super Star music.
Kirby's Epic Yarn /Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn[edit]
Meta Knight is fought inSpace Land under the control ofYin-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. It is simply referred to as"Meta Knight" in-game.
Kirby: Planet Robobot[edit]
InKirby: Planet Robobot, when Meta Knight is fought asMecha Knight+ in theAccess Ark, "VS. Meta Knight" plays, now remixed by the original composerJun Ishikawa and titled"Inner Struggle". 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'sJukebox.
Kirby Star Allies[edit]
InKirby Star Allies, normally an arrangement of "My Friend and the Sunset" (the ending theme ofRevenge of Meta Knight) plays in Meta Knight's boss battle and the first phase of theParallel Meta Knight battle. However, on the Soul Melter and Soul Melter EX difficulties ofThe 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 theJukebox as of Version 4.0.0.
Kirby Fighters 2[edit]
InKirby Fighters 2, "VS. Meta Knight" is included as part of the medley that plays during the fight againstWaning Crescent Masked Dedede & Waxing Crescent Masked Meta Knight and the regular music for theStage 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 byHirokazu Ando.[2]
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 inGalacta Knight's first phase if player 1 isKing 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 theKirby Ultra Super Deluxe Original Sound Track.
"VS. Meta Knight" is the fifth track featured in the "Revenge of Meta Knight Medley" inTaiko 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 theKirby 30th Anniversary Music Festival as part ofThe Knights' Revenge Medley, along with "Revenge of Meta Knight: Title", "Dark Meta Knight", "The Greatest Warrior in the Galaxy", and "Morpho Knight".
- "VS. Meta Knight" in "Boss Battle Medley / Electronic Ver." from theKirby Ultra Super Deluxe Original Sound Track by Jun Ishikawa.
- "VS. Meta Knight" in "The Knights' Revenge Medley" from theKirby 30th Anniversary Music Festival, arranged byMegumi Ohara and performed by the Kirby 30th Anniversary Special Band Deluxe.
Trivia[edit]
- "VS. Meta Knight" is similar to the Vs.Ridley/Escape theme fromSuper Metroid, as they have the same 5/8 time signature and identical riffs.
Video gallery[edit]
Load video YouTube YouTube might collect personal data.Privacy Policy Video of the "Revenge of Meta Knight Medley" inTaiko no Tatsujin Yellow Ver. |
Names in other languages[edit]
VS. Meta Knight[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | VS.メタナイト[3] VS. Meta Naito | VS. Meta Knight |
Meta Knight[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | メタナイト Meta Naito | Meta Knight |
| French | Meta Knight | - |
| German | Meta-Knight | - |
| Italian | Meta Knight | - |
| Korean | 메타 나이트 meta naiteu | Meta Knight |
| Spanish | Meta Knight | - |
Inner Struggle[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 己が精神との闘い Onore ga Seishin to no Tatakai | Battle with the Inner Spirit |
References
- ↑1.01.11.2Interview with Jun Ishikawa in theKirby 25th Anniversary Orchestra Concert in Osaka on June 18th, 2017. Seethis blog with a summary of this specific concert, as well asanother 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 inKirby Star Allies andKirby and the Forgotten Land.
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