Another Dimension (theme)

This article is about the musical theme for Another Dimension's platforming stages, and should not be confused with the similarly-named "Another Domination" used for the Crowned Doomer battle.

"Ordeal Doors" redirects here. For information about the stage type, see Ordeal Door.

"Another Dimension" is a musical theme originating in Kirby's Return to Dream Land, composed by Jun Ishikawa.

Composition[edit]

Kirby flees from the purple wall in Another Dimension.

"Another Dimension" is characterized by a repetitive bassline giving a sense of urgency, set at 165 beats per minute. Besides the bassline, a syncopated subdominant chord ostinato adds tension to the piece. In terms of instrumentation, this track utilizes many of the classic sound samples used by older Kirby games like Kirby Super Star and Kirby: Squeak Squad. The melody is primarily in C minor with a strong subdominant basis. It consists of a simple musical phrase that is repeated and elaborated upon as the piece continues. The first section remains in C minor, and can be split into two segments based on prevalent function and instrument. The second section features a major variation of the theme, first in C major and then again in B major. The major is quick to shift to B minor in the following descending passage, which ends in rapid descending modulation. The track then loops.

The data of the original Kirby's Return to Dream Land contains an arrangement of "Another Dimension" which goes unused, featuring more retro-style instrumentation at a slower 158 BPM. The track is named KbyW_CONGA1, lacking the ST_ at the beginning that the final track's filename has.

Game appearances[edit]

Kirby's Return to Dream Land / Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe[edit]

Jun Ishikawa's original arrangement of the theme makes its first appearance in this game, playing in all of the Another Dimension stages accessed after using a Super Ability to open up a dimensional rift. The stages feature looming walls of darkness that threaten to crush Kirby and company if they are not fast enough, so the song gives a fittingly tense atmosphere. The theme appears as track 69 in the original game's Sound Test, and track 119 in the remake's Jukebox.

Additionally, in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe's Magolor Epilogue: The Interdimensional Traveler, "Scattered Souls across Isolated Isles" from Kirby and the Forgotten Land is heard in the stages with the looming walls of darkness, and can be found as track 180 in the Jukebox after clearing Magolor Epilogue. A new arrangement is also used for the various Ordeal Door stages scattered throughout, which is likewise called "Ordeal Doors", and arranged by Yuki Shimooka. It also plays in the rest area before Electricky Dooter, Fiery Puffer, Hydriath, Rampaging Doomers and Crowned Doomer in The True Arena. This arrangement appears in the Jukebox as track 176 after clearing Magolor Epilogue. Finally, a short segment of "Another Dimension" appears in "Hot! Elemental Boss Battle".

Kirby: Triple Deluxe[edit]

The original theme reappears in Kirby: Triple Deluxe, unaltered, as one of the songs used in Royal Road - Stage 7 EX, featuring primarily in the segments representing Old Odyssey and Wild World. In the Jukebox, it appears as the 81st theme.

Kirby Star Allies[edit]

"Another Dimension" is again reused in Kirby Star Allies, appearing in the Planet Misteen-inspired areas in Extra Planet α where walls threaten to crush Kirby and his friends. The theme also features in Magolor's Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go! run during the grayscale areas representing the Another Dimension stages from the original game. It can be found in the Jukebox as track 094.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land[edit]

A remix of "Another Dimension" in a faster pace and in a more orchestrated fashion, with elements of "Running Through the New World", is used in the Forgo Zone stage of Isolated Isles: Forgo Dreams. It is remixed by Hirokazu Ando and titled "Scattered Souls across Isolated Isles" at the Waddle Live! Corner Stage, where it is found as track 83.

Other appearances[edit]

The "Ordeal Doors" version of the theme, paired with "The Adventure Begins" and "Sky Tower", is the default music used for the Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe Maximus Cup in Tetris 99.

Names in other languages[edit]

Another Dimension[edit]

Scattered Souls across Isolated Isles[edit]

Ordeal Doors[edit]

References