Numerous video games present significant obstacles, but dedicated gamers constantly develop techniques to amplify the challenge through unusual approaches. Across the gaming landscape, we've observed extraordinary accomplishments like the challenging RPG being conquered with a musical game peripheral, streamers reaching maximum level in World of Warcraft while employing a rhythm game controller, and countless other hard experience/weird peripheral pairings.
Just lately, popular YouTube and Twitch streamer the musical gamer managed to beat Hollow Knight: Silksong using an digital sax.
Musical Qualifications
The streamer uses an "digital musical device with the same key layout as a traditional saxophone" for his gaming sessions, as he detailed via correspondence. The "Dr." in his digital persona is not merely for fun - he has truly earned the credential; The musician possesses three musical qualifications, including a PhD in songwriting.
He began using the digital saxophone during COVID quarantines, when collaborating face-to-face with other artists became problematic. He also commenced entering online broadcasting around this era, and quickly added his new instrument into his broadcasts.
Technical Arrangement
He utilizes a joystick-style "control wheel" on the rear of the digital wind controller for character movements, and specialized Bome MIDI Translator application that "converts the electronic notes sent from the instrument to the PC into traditional gaming commands" for all other actions.
Initially, the streamer understood it "would let you interact with games by performing music on the saxophone."
He experimented with the beloved adventure game and the famously difficult the run-and-gun platformer, "discovered it actually kind of worked, and then finished an full boss challenge of Dark Souls 3 as my initial serious sax-controlled endeavor."
Gaming Successes
The content creator has attempted other difficult RPGs on the electric sax, like Elden Ring, and his latest achievement is completing the platformer with maximum progress.
However, his first experience mirrored numerous players' experiences: "White-knuckling through Hunter's March on release day. I spent HOURS trying to beat the challenging enemy essentially without enhancements — it was extremely challenging."
Technical Difficulties
Part of the reason it was "incredibly challenging" — aside from Silksong already being a challenging game — is because the program Dr. Doot uses "accurately registers how inaccurate my execution is" and a wrong input may result in failure.
Nevertheless, the musician says "it's shocking how small lag there is between the wind instrument and the title, which is what enables me to do everything that different skilled players can do with a traditional gamepad."
It's flawed, nevertheless, as "erroneous actions" are something he must manage, and the air-pressure sensor in the instrument is so sensitive "moderately loud sounds (like laughing/yelling/talking) can actually trigger the system and generate inputs without my lips touching the saxophone."
The streamer says those erroneous actions have resulted in him "accidentally fall off a cliff or strike a character on accident."
Further Performance Issues
Operating other software at the concurrent period as the conversion software can cause it to get "unreliable," generating errors in commands while streaming.
Aside from that, Dr. Doot's primary difficulties are the same as "every skilled player would experience when studying a speedrun/hitless run, which is purely understanding the game on a comprehensive level."
Upcoming Endeavors
The musician mentions beating Lies of P on the sax was his toughest challenge so far, while "Sax Solo the specific game playthroughs were super exhausting."
He's accomplished damageless playthroughs for Dark Souls 2 and Dark Souls 3 and was attempting a flawless attempt for the original game before the sequel launched, which he'll be resuming since he's completed Hornet's journey.
Although he's sunk numerous sessions into Silksong, the "remarkable creation" the strategic game is nonetheless his preferred title of the year so far.
Nevertheless, wouldn't count on him to tackle it on the electronic sax, as its command structure isn't suitable for saxophone playing; it would be "somewhat tedious to play."
