The 13th Dilemma

• The 13th Dilemma
• Gameplay

Kingdom Hearts II The 13th Dilemma
Arranger	Yoko Shimomura
Composer	Yoko Shimomura
Length	1:59

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX The 13th Dilemma
Arranger	Yoko Shimomura
Composer	Yoko Shimomura
Length	3:37

Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind The 13th Dilemma -Xigbar-
Arranger	Yuko Komiyama
Composer	Yoko Shimomura
Orchestrator	Tomomichi Takeoka
Length	6:21

Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind The 13th Dilemma -Xigbar-
Arranger	Yuko Komiyama
Composer	Yoko Shimomura

Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind The 13th Dilemma -Saïx-
Arranger	Yuki Kishida
Composer	Yoko Shimomura
Orchestrator	Yuki Kishida
Length	6:17

"The 13th Dilemma" is a musical composition by Yoko Shimomura that appears in Kingdom Hearts II and Kingdom Hearts III. Two new arrangements were introduced in Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind, named "The 13th Dilemma -Xigbar-" and "The 13th Dilemma -Saïx-". It is the boss theme of several Organization XIII members.

Appearances

Kingdom Hearts II

Battles

• Hollow Bastion: Demyx
• Beast's Castle: Xaldin
• The World that Never Was: Xigbar, Saïx
• Cavern of Remembrance^{[KH II FM]}: Xigbar's Replica Data, Xaldin's Replica Data, Saïx's Replica Data, Demyx's Replica Data

Cutscenes

• Hollow Bastion: "Demyx"
• Beast's Castle: "Belle or the Rose?"
• The World that Never Was: "Xigbar", "Saïx"

Kingdom Hearts III

Battles

• Keyblade Graveyard: Xigbar and Dark Riku, Xigbar

Cutscenes

• Keyblade Graveyard: "Ansem Retreats"

Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind

Battles

• Keyblade Graveyard: Xigbar and Dark Riku, Xigbar
• Garden of Assemblage: Xigbar's Recreated Data, Saïx's Recreated Data

Cutscenes

• Keyblade Graveyard: "Past Redux: Ansem Retreats"

Composition

"The 13th Dilemma" lasts one minute and 59 seconds in Kingdom Hearts II and is extended to three minutes and 37 seconds in Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX.

The track plays in D minor and incorporates elements of "Another Side", both the Organization's leitmotif and the second half. Instrumentals focus on strings and piano with a heavy drumbeat and female vocals as backup. The track begins with an urgent drumbeat and an ostinato rhythm that plays on strings throughout the track. Seconds into the track, strings play a countermelody to the ostinato, with the track briefly shifting to A minor before reverting to D minor. The track transitions into the "Another Side" motif, with a piano playing the "Organization XIII" motif with strings as backup. Finally, the strings play the second half of "Another Side" before looping back to the introduction.

The two arrangements introduced in Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind, while similar to the original in structure, are drastically different from each other. "The 13th Dilemma -Xigbar-" lasts six minutes and 21 seconds. It changes the key to E minor and quickens the tempo considerably. Unlike the original, this arrangement loses the drums in favor of a more urgent instrumentation heavily dominated by horns and strings with the woodwinds providing a unique countermelody.

An alternate version of this track plays when Sora activates the Showdown Situation Command. This alternate version consists of a loop of the ostinato, performed on strings with a slight drumbeat. When Sora successfully uses Quick Shot, the loop ends with a coda that seamlessly transitions back to the main version's ninth measure. There are two separate codas: an ending flourish of the ostinato, or the horns' part of the main version's eighth measure.

"The 13th Dilemma -Saïx-" lasts six minutes and 17 seconds and is far closer in arrangement to the original. However, in reflection of Saïx's berserker state, this arrangement is accompanied with an electric guitar, giving the track more of a heavy metal feel.

Albums

• 

  Disc 2, Track 22 in the Kingdom Hearts II Original Soundtrack

• 

  Disc 5, Track 25 in the Kingdom Hearts Original Soundtrack Complete

• 

  Disc 3, Track 30 in the Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX Original Soundtrack

• 

  Disc 7, Track 5 in the Kingdom Hearts - III, II.8, Unchained χ & Union χ [Cross] - Original Soundtrack

• 

  Disc 7, Track 6 in the Kingdom Hearts - III, II.8, Unchained χ & Union χ [Cross] - Original Soundtrack