Dr. Doot Just Beat Silksong with an Electric Sax, Proving Some Gamers Are Actual Wizards
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Gaming maestro Dr. Doot has successfully conquered the notoriously difficult *Hollow Knight: Silksong* with 100% completion, all while wielding an electric saxophone as his controller, adding another legendary feat to his list of bizarre gaming triumphs. It's a mad, musical dive into gaming masochism that's as impressive as it is utterly chaotic.
Alright, listen up, mates. I've been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than it first appeared. You know that feeling when you cast a spell and it works a bit too well, or perhaps when you decide to climb Mount Everest wearing roller skates? That's pretty much what YouTube and Twitch streamer Dr. Doot just did, according to a recent report by Austin Manchester over at Polygon. He didn't just play *Hollow Knight: Silksong* – he *beat* it, 100% completion, with an electric saxophone.
Yes, you read that right. An electric *bloody* saxophone. As if *Silksong* wasn't already designed by some mischievous fae folk to test the limits of human patience and dexterity, Dr. Doot decided to up the ante and go full musical maestro on it. My first thought? "Is this guy a genius, or did he accidentally open a portal to a dimension where instruments control reality?" Probably a bit of both, honestly.
Now, for those of you who reckon *Silksong* is a bit of a walk in the park (you're probably lying, mate, but I admire the bravado), imagine doing it not with a controller ergonomically designed for frantic dodging and parrying, but with an Electronic Wind Instrument (EWI). Dr. Doot, who actually holds a doctorate in music composition (the 'Dr.' isn't just for show, apparently – he's truly earned it), explained to Polygon that his EWI has the same key layout as a saxophone. During the COVID lockdowns, when jamming with fellow musicians became a bit of a digital ghost hunt, he started streaming and, being the curious type, wondered what would happen if he hooked his new instrument up to his PC.
What happened, you ask? Pure, unadulterated chaos, beautifully orchestrated. He uses a thumbstick-like 'mod wheel' on the back for character movement – fair enough, that's almost conventional – but everything else is handled by a piece of software called Bome MIDI Translator. This clever bit of code converts the MIDI signals from the sax into good old Mouse + Keyboard Inputs. So, essentially, he's playing *Silksong* like it's a particularly intense, boss-rush symphony.
He didn't just jump into the deep end with *Silksong*, mind you. This digital wizard has a history of making games unnecessarily difficult for himself. He cut his teeth (or perhaps his windpipe?) on *The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time* and the notoriously rage-inducing *Cuphead*. When he realised, "Hey, this actually kind of works!" he properly kicked things off with an All Bosses Playthrough of *Dark Souls 3*. Think about that for a second. *Dark Souls 3*. On a saxophone. I struggle to beat it with a perfectly functional gamepad, and this bloke is hitting parries by blowing into an instrument. Talk about dedication, eh?
Dr. Doot has conquered other Soulslikes this way, including *Elden Ring*, before tackling Hornet's journey in *Silksong*. He recounted to Polygon that his early playthroughs of *Silksong* were "absolute hell," particularly "white-knuckling through Hunter’s March on release day." He spent *hours* trying to beat Savage Beastfly with barely any upgrades. And here’s the kicker: the software he uses is so precise it "knows *exactly* how sloppy my playing is." A missed note isn't just a musical faux pas; it's a death sentence in a game where precision is king. One moment you're hitting a perfect crescendo, the next you're plummeting into a spiked pit because you fumbled a note.
It’s not all perfectly tuned melodies, though. While he notes "it’s shocking how little latency there is," the setup isn't without its… eccentricities. "False or missed inputs" are a constant threat. And get this – the air-pressure sensor in the instrument is so sensitive that "moderately loud sounds (like laughing/yelling/talking/etc) can actually trigger the mechanism and play notes without my mouth actually on the instrument." Can you imagine the frustration of accidentally falling off a cliff or smacking an NPC because your mate laughed too loud in the background? The sheer, glorious, chaotic potential for mishaps is just *chef's kiss*.
Running other programs can also make the Bome MIDI Translator software a bit "temperamental," adding another layer of delightful challenge. But beyond these instrument-specific quirks, Dr. Doot faces the same uphill battle as any other challenge runner: deeply learning the game. He noted that *Lies of P* on the sax was his toughest challenge yet, and "Sax Solo Nightreign runs were super exhausting." He’s even done no-hit runs for *Dark Souls 2* and *Dark Souls 3*, and plans to go back to *Dark Souls 1* now that *Silksong* is behind him.
So, what does this tell us? Well, aside from the fact that Dr. Doot is clearly operating on a different plane of existence than the rest of us mere mortals, it's a brilliant reminder of the lengths gamers will go to for a challenge. It's not about making things easier; it's about pushing the boundaries of what's possible, bending technology to one's will, and creating a truly unique experience. It’s a bit like a digital wizard enchanting their staff to control a dragon, isn't it? An irreverent, incredibly skilled, and frankly, hilarious act of gaming defiance. Kudos to you, Dr. Doot, for showing us all that gaming can truly be an art form – even when you're dying repeatedly to a Beastfly because you accidentally let out a chuckle. The gaming world needs more mad scientists like you, mate.
*Original reporting by Austin Manchester for Polygon. Read the full story at Polygon.com.*
Tags: Hollow Knight: Silksong, Challenge Run, Esports, Gaming Innovation, Streamer
Original article: Polygon