Ripple Field: Ocean Waves – Kirby’s Dream Land 3

About game/music

This is “Ripple Field: Ocean Waves” from 2D platformer game “Kirby’s Dream Land 3“(1997 SNES) developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo.
This is composed by Jun Ishikawa.

The characteristics of the game is;

• Picture-book-style graphics
• Copy Abilities × Animal Friends = Combination Moves
• “Heart Stars” as stage-based mission items

This song is used in the area of the same name as title. (Ripple Field – Stage 1)

Analyzing

bar 13

• bVI is borrowed from parallel minor.

bar 16

• b9 is used as tension note, which imply the minor key.

bar 31-32, 49-51

• bVI-bVII-I (other TABs include this)
  • Root ascends by a whole tone and resolves to the tonic
  • bVI, bVII are borrowed chords from parallel minor
  • Sometimes called “Mario Cadence”
  • examples;
    • The Amazon – DuckTales
    • Roadside Trees Outside the Window – Etrian Odyssey
    • Ripple Field 2 – Kirby’s Dream Land 3
    • Seabed Diving – Kirby’s Return to Dream Land
    • Rainbow Road – Mario Kart 7
    • Route 203 – Pokémon Diamond/Pearl
    • Canalave City – Pokémon Diamond/Pearl
    • Battle! (Frontier Brain) – Pokémon Platinum
    • Nacrene City – Pokémon Black/White
    • Believe In Myself – SONIC ADVENTURE 2
    • Seaside Hill – SONIC HEROES
    • Go Quickly! – Sonic Runners
    • World Star – Super Mario 3D World

bar 33-36

• This seems to incorporate modal interchange (iv, bVII) into a chord progression like ii-V-iii-vi, has a more peaceful sound.

bar 37-40

• IV-V-iii-vi in major key, or bVI-bVII-v-i in minor key (other TABs include this)
  • Very popular chord progression in Japan, called “王道進行”. It means “popular” or “typical”.
  • examples (IV-V-iii-vi) ;
    • Re-Tail – Animal Crossing: New Leaf
    • Wind Scene – Chrono Trigger
    • Continent (Sakura) – Crystarise
    • Melodies Of Life～Final Fantasy – FINAL FANTASY IX
    • Phoenix Highway – Freedom Planet 2
    • Rainbow Resort – Kirby’s Adventure
    • Ripple Field 1 – Kirby’s Dream Land 3
    • Apt.102 – Kirby’s Epic Yarn
    • Abandoned Beach – Kirby and the Forgotten Land
    • A Home For Flowers (Empty) – OMORI
    • Raise the Hoof – Pocket Card Jockey
    • Jazz Racing Jam – Pocket Card Jockey
    • Road to Triumph – Pocket Card Jockey
    • Slateport City – Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire
    • Route 104 – Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire
    • Rustboro City – Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire
    • Hearthome City – Pokémon Diamond/Pearl
    • Route 203 – Pokémon Diamond/Pearl
    • National Park – Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver
    • Cianwood City – Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver
    • Route 26 – Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver
    • Accumula Town – Pokémon Black/White
    • Route 2 – Pokémon Black/White
    • Lacunosa Town – Pokémon Black/White
    • Floccesy Town – Pokémon Black2/White2
    • Castelia City – Pokémon Black2/White2
    • Battle! (Island Kahuna) – Pokémon Sun/Moon
    • Route 10 on Ula’ula Island – Pokémon Sun/Moon
    • Battle! (Hop) – Pokémon Sword/Shield
    • Wyndon – Pokémon Sword/Shield
    • Cobalt Coastlands – Pokémon Legends: Arceus
    • The Veil of Night – Professor Layton And The Curious Village
    • Purity of your smile – Ragnarok Online
    • Seaside Hill – Sonic Heroes
    • Dear My Friend – Sonic Unleashed
    • End Of The Summer – Sonic Runners
    • Shop – UNDERTALE
  • examples (bVI-bVII-v-i) ;
    • Searching for Friends – FINAL FANTASY VI
    • Blooming Villain – Persona 5
    • Full Moon Full Life – Persona 3 Reload
    • The Battle at the Summit! – Pokémon Sun/Moon
    • Battle! (Ultra Necrozma) – Pokémon Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon
    • Battle! (Bede) – Pokémon Sword/Shield
    • Battle! (Battle Tower) – Pokémon Sword/Shield
    • Battle! (Arven) – Pokémon Scarlet/Violet
    • Battle! (Zero Lab) – Pokémon Scarlet/Violet
    • Illusionary White Traveler – 東方天空璋 ~ Hidden Star in Four Seasons.
    • The Great Fantastic Underground Railway Network – 東方虹龍洞 ~ Unconnected Marketeers.