Gaming Twitter belongs to Trombone Champ right now, with tons of videos floating around of people trying (and usually hilariously failing) to play the wacky rhythm game.
If you haven’t heard of it, Trombone Champ is a new PC game where you play classical tunes on the trombone, using your mouse or controller to adjust the pitch of the note your Mii-like avatar is playing. If you’re even the slightest bit off with your note placement, the note will sound either sharp or flat, just like a real trombone. Unlike other rhythm games that only expect you to hit five buttons to sound like a rockstar, Trombone Champ’s hilarity comes from its extreme requirements of precision.
Now, as these things usually tend to go, some folks are coming up with new controller methods to play the game. On Twitter, Rudeism has made Trombone Champ playable with an actual trombone. In the video below, you can watch as Rudeism plays Trombone Champ with a plastic trombone, where an ultrasonic sensor controls the slide, and a microphone controls the dooting.
BEHOLD, THE TROMBONE CONTROLLER
Ultrasonic sensor controls the slide, and a microphone controls the dooting. If only I knew how to play it IRL 😅
The ultimate way to play Trombone Champ @HolyWowStudios pic.twitter.com/Lvm5m2CT44
— Rudeism (@rudeism) September 27, 2022
Rudeism is already working on a 2.0 iteration of the trombone controller, as he ‘s not happy with the current version’s range of motion compared to an actual trombone. Other than that, this looks like a pretty hilarious way to play one of 2022’s funniest games.
You may have heard of Rudeism before, as he’s known for creating wacky controller setups for popular games. For example, he made Elden Ring playable with a Fisher Price game controller, and made Sifu work with motion controls.
For more on weird control methods, check out the player who beat Elden Ring with the Ring Fit Adventure controller, or read about all the weirdest devices that can play Doom.
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over six years of experience in the gaming industry with bylines at IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, and Lifewire. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.