Editing Arena Showdown

{{Infobox-Music
|track=<tabs>
<tab name="Kirby Super Star">
[[File:KSS The Arena Sample.oga]]
</tab>
<tab name="Kirby Super Star Ultra">
"Arena Showdown":
[[File:KSSU Arena Showdown clip.mp3]]
Helper to Hero:
[[File:KSSU Helper to Hero Arena Showdown clip.mp3]]
</tab>
<tab name="Kirby: Triple Deluxe">
[[File:Arena Showdown TDX Sample.mp3]]
</tab>
</tabs>
|caption=Various arrangements of '''"Arena Showdown"'''.
|game1=''[[Kirby Super Star]]'' (1996)
|lastgame=''[[Kirby Star Allies]]'' (2018)
|game=<small>''[[Kirby Air Ride]]''<br>''[[Kirby Super Star Ultra]]''<br>''[[Kirby: Triple Deluxe]]''</small>
|composer=[[Jun Ishikawa]] or Dan Miyakawa
}}
'''"Arena Showdown"'''<ref>''[[Kirby: Triple Deluxe Soundtrack]]''</ref> (also simply referred to as '''"The Arena"'''<ref name="Air Ride">''[[Kirby Air Ride]]''</ref>) is a musical piece which first appeared in ''[[Kirby Super Star]]'', playing in multiple battles of [[The Arena]].

==Composition==
[[File:KSS The Arena VS Waddle Dee.png|thumb|left|200px|The showdown in The Arena.]]
"Arena Showdown" is a resolute theme in A Phrygian dominant and 4/4. It is characterized by a sharp rhythm with staccato and classical instrumentation similar to the "Mars" movement of [[wikipedia:Gustav Holst|Gustav Holst]]'s ''[[wikipedia:The Planets|The Planets]]'' suite, which is often associated with war, due to the Roman god of war bearing the same name. This rhythm appears prominently starting from the intro, which revolves around the tonic. The first section's melody is presented with a trumpet opening, starting with a rising fourth, followed by a slow ascent followed by a fall back to the original pitch; this phrase highlights the traits of its key. As the accompaniment remains unchanged for the second phrase, the melody comes in shorter sections and played by strings, as a new motif appears during the breaks. Consisting of rising major triads with a specific dotted rhythm, this motif bears resemblance with the analogous rising triad of "[[Green Greens (theme)|Green Greens]]". The two motifs continue to respond to each other before leading to a bright and climactic dominant conclusion in the form of a second section, with a change of instrumentation in the bassline and added harp arpeggios.

As the melody changes its direction and moves up, the accompaniment's pace is briefly slowed down to make room for the following pattern. The third section features a primarily descending harmonic A major variation of the initial motif played by a more quiet synth, while the rhythm of the accompaniment becomes largely syncopated. This rhythm, as well as the descending motion and use of intricate ornaments, brings the music close to [[wikipedia:flamenco|flamenco]], which can be associated with [[wikipedia:bullfighter|toreros]], Spanish bullfighters who also perform on specialized arenas. The melody of the third section resolves in the peaceful melodic D major. The warlike character returns with the first section as the track loops.

==Game appearances==
===''Kirby Super Star'' / ''Kirby Super Star Ultra''===
"Arena Showdown" is the main battle theme in [[The Arena]], and plays in every [[Mid-Boss]] and [[Boss]] battle that does not have a unique battle theme. In the [[Jukebox/Kirby Super Star|Sound Test]], the theme appears as track 64 in the original and track 83 in the remake.

In [[Helper to Hero]] (exclusive to ''[[Kirby Super Star Ultra]]''), a different version of this theme plays, making use of a heavy electric guitar-like sample similar to the one used in "[[True Arena Showdown]]". It can be heard in the Sound Test as track 92.

===''Kirby Air Ride''===
The original version of the theme can be unlocked in ''[[Kirby Air Ride]]'' as an alternate theme in [[Sky Sands]]. In the [[Jukebox#Kirby Air Ride]], it appears as track 14.

===''Kirby: Triple Deluxe''===
A remix of the theme is present in ''[[Kirby: Triple Deluxe]]'', and, like its original appearance, is the main battle theme in [[The Arena#Kirby: Triple Deluxe|The Arena]], playing in every battle that does not have a unique battle theme, and also appearing in the [[Jukebox/Kirby: Triple Deluxe|Jukebox]] as track 115.

===''Kirby Star Allies''===
The ''Kirby: Triple Deluxe'' arrangement of this track plays when viewing the "Super Ultra Battle!" [[Celebration Picture]], and can be heard in the [[Jukebox/Kirby Star Allies|Jukebox]] as track 144.

==Names in other languages==
{{names
|ja=格闘王への道<ref name="Air Ride"/><br>''Kakutō-ō e no Michi''<br><br>コロシアムの戦い<br>''Koroshiamu no tatakai''
|jaM=The Road to Become a Fighting King<br>The Japanese name of The Arena. Later, this name would be given to the title screen theme of The Arena.<br><br>Literally "Colosseum Battle".<br>Name first given on ''[[Kirby Ultra Super Deluxe Original Sound Track]]''.
|frE=Arène<ref name="Air Ride"/>
|frEM=Arena
|esE=The Arena<ref name="Air Ride"/>
|esEM=-
|de=The Arena<ref name="Air Ride"/>
|deM=-
|it=The Arena<ref name="Air Ride"/>
|itM=-
}}

{{ref}}

{{clear}}

{{Navbox-KSS/KSSU Music}}
{{Navbox-KAR Music}}
{{Navbox-KTD Music}}
{{Navbox-KSA Music}}
[[Category:Music in Kirby Super Star]]
[[Category:Music in Kirby Air Ride]]
[[Category:Music in Kirby Super Star Ultra]]
[[Category:Music in Kirby: Triple Deluxe]]
[[Category:Music in Kirby Star Allies]]