Numerous gaming titles present considerable challenges, yet dedicated players constantly find ways to enhance the complexity through atypical methods. In the world of video games, we've observed impressive feats like the challenging RPG being completed using a instrument-based input device, content creators attaining top tier in World of Warcraft by employing a rhythm game controller, and numerous other challenging title/atypical input matches.
Most recently, established digital entertainer the musical gamer successfully completed Hollow Knight: Silksong using an electronic wind instrument.
Instrumental Qualifications
Dr. Doot employs an "digital musical device with the identical key layout as a traditional saxophone" for his gaming sessions, as he detailed in written communication. The "Dr." in his digital persona isn't merely entertainment purposes - he has legitimately obtained the designation; The gamer has obtained three formal music educations, one being a doctorate in songwriting.
He began experimenting with the digital saxophone during pandemic lockdowns, when making music in-person with other artists became difficult. He also started getting into streaming around this period, and quickly incorporated his electronic sax into his streams.
Controller Arrangement
He utilizes a joystick-style "adjustment dial" on the back of the electric saxophone for in-game locomotion, and specialized music-to-input conversion software that "converts the MIDI signals transmitted from the device to the computer into traditional gaming commands" for everything else.
When starting out, he discovered it "enabled you interact with games by performing music on the device."
He tested it out with the classic Nintendo title and the notoriously challenging the run-and-gun platformer, "discovered it proved somewhat effective, and then accomplished an All Bosses Playthrough of the challenging action RPG as my initial serious sax-controlled challenge."
Streaming Successes
Dr. Doot has tackled other Soulslikes on the electric sax, like the massive open-world game, and his most recent accomplishment is completing Silksong with 100% completion.
However, his initial attempt followed countless gamers' struggles: "Frantically playing through the difficult section on release day. I spent extended periods trying to beat the challenging enemy virtually without upgrades — it was extremely challenging."
Input Challenges
Part of the reason it was "absolute hell" — aside from the game naturally being a difficult undertaking — is because the application he uses "precisely detects how imperfect my performance is" and a incorrect tone may spell doom.
However, he says "it's remarkable how small lag there is between the wind instrument and the game, which is what enables me to do various actions that different skilled players can do with a normal controller."
It's imperfect, nevertheless, as "erroneous actions" are something he must manage, and the air-pressure sensor in the controller is so sensitive "somewhat noisy environments (like laughing/yelling/talking) can potentially activate the system and generate inputs without my lips touching the saxophone."
He says those false inputs have made him "accidentally fall off a ledge or strike a character unintentionally."
Further System Challenges
Executing other software at the same time as the conversion software can cause it to get "unreliable," creating problems for controls while streaming.
In addition to that, Dr. Doot's main obstacles are the equivalent as "every skilled player would experience when studying a speedrun/hitless run, which is just learning the game on a profound level."
Upcoming Projects
The content creator mentions playing through the challenging game on the electronic sax was his hardest endeavor yet, while "Music-driven the particular title attempts were super exhausting."
He's completed perfect attempts for the second installment and the final chapter and was in the process of a no-hit run for the original game before Silksong was released, which he'll be going back to after he's finished the main character's adventure.
While he's invested numerous sessions into Silksong, the "incredible work" Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is nonetheless his preferred title of the year so far.
Nevertheless, wouldn't count on him to try it on the instrument, as its command structure isn't suitable for musical input; it would be "kind of a drag to doot."
