https://www.polygon.com/23365828/trombone-champ-memes-goty-genius-toot-toot-tooooooooooooot Skip to main content Polygon homepage Follow Polygon online: * * * * * Subscribe Log in or sign up * Log In * Sign Up Site search Search Polygon main menu * Gaming * Entertainment * Reviews * Features * Guides * Merch * Buyer's Guides * Videos * TikTok * Podcasts * More [ ] [Search] * Gaming + PlayStation + Xbox + Nintendo + PC + Tabletop + Pokemon + All Gaming * Entertainment + What to Watch + Movies + TV + Comics + Star Wars + Marvel + All Entertainment * Reviews + Recommends + Essentials + All Reviews * Features * Guides + Animal Crossing + Horizon Forbidden West + Pokemon Legends: Arceus + Elden Ring + Breath of the Wild + Pokemon Go + All Guides * Merch * Buyer's Guides * Videos * TikTok * Podcasts + Galaxy Brains + All Podcasts Filed under: * Culture * PC * Gaming There is no song that cannot be improved by Trombone Champ Toot toot tooooooooooooot By Nicole Clark Sep 21, 2022, 5:50pm EDT / new Share this story * Share this on Facebook * Share this on Twitter * Share All sharing options Share All sharing options for: There is no song that cannot be improved by Trombone Champ * Reddit * Pocket * Flipboard * Email A low poly illustrated style character holding a trombone to the left. The screen has bars indicating which notes to play, in this rhythm game. Image: Holy Wow Trombone Champ asks a very simple, yet radical question: What if you played the trombone? If you've played Guitar Hero or Rock Band games before, then you know how challenging musical instrument rhythm games can be. Trombone Champ takes a similar tack but for the gorgeous wind instrument, and instead of rock music you'll be playing bona fide bangers such as Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer," literal Beethoven, and "The National Anthem." (Try getting those tunes out of your head.) This rhythm game was released a week ago, but it really started taking Twitter by storm on Wednesday after PC Gamer discovered it. The game is pretty difficult. You use a mouse to slide the pitch up or down; you have to hit the pitch box precisely, then either hold down the button on your mouse or a key from your keyboard for the right amount of time. Here's the kicker: The slider moves in the opposite direction, top to bottom, from how you move your own mouse. It's a small difference that's just disorienting enough to make playing songs harder, especially at the speed that the rhythm game demands. Luckily, the game is way more fun when you don't really play it well, as the trombone plays its dulcet toot-toots in accordance with whichever notes you're playing. This all happens on top of the actual backing track, with your trombone playing the lead melody, as if you're creating your own version of Matt Mulholland's recorder rendition of Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic. Difficulty varies by song, with some that force you to take staccato leaps across the screen, and others that have you slide down while holding down the note. Play well and you'll get a "perfecto" or a "nice" in response; mess up and game will proclaim it "nasty." No matter the case, these songs only get more difficult to play through blinding tears -- or in my case, while snotting all over myself in laughter. Trombone Champ is the best game ever made pic.twitter.com/ GH58eHGXHV -- Jacob DeRose (@JacobDJAtkinson) September 21, 2022 Vraiment je recommande si vous aimez perdre aux defis "ne pas rire".#TromboneChamp pic.twitter.com/dR2V2PHm3k -- Gauthier Andres (@gautoz) September 21, 2022 As PC Gamer pointed out, these renditions are only enhanced by the game's choice of visual backdrop to each stunning selection. The U.S. national anthem is accompanied by an image of the U.S. flag, which then morphs into a pile of money, before eventually yielding to a giant burger and fries combo meal overlaid on top of it. PC Gamer also rightly notes Trombone Champ as an instant GOTY contender. everybody, please stand at this time for the playing of the national anthem#trombonechamp pic.twitter.com/dSgndHq2lV -- Evanosaurus Rex Lost Lands (@evankinney) September 21, 2022 A similar strategy is visited upon "God Save the Queen." Trombone Champ is literally the only game I wish I had made. It's absolutely out of this world god tier. Fuck. If you have an respect for life, you will play it, laugh and curse the geniuses behind it. #TromboneChamp pic.twitter.com/ F9zlPwOgj9 -- Liam Edwards [?][?] CURSED TO GOLF OUT NOW[?][?] (@LiamBME) September 21, 2022 In this writer's humble opinion, there is no song that cannot be improved with terrible trombone playing. (Who am I kidding -- there is no such thing as bad trombone playing in the world of Trombone Champ. We are all champions here.) GAMES ARE ART pic.twitter.com/n1JNyCBu8a -- danny o'dwyer (@dannyodwyer) September 21, 2022 alright everyone needs to play Trombone Champ this game is really good pic.twitter.com/kKPilnFoj0 -- Sei (@banana_qote) September 21, 2022 You can also play the game using the Steam Deck's gyro controls, if you are -- for some reason -- looking for an extra challenge. Gyro controls may not be the most accurate for Trombone Champ, but they're definitely the most fun!#TromboneChamp #SteamDeck pic.twitter.com/M68I55lFPy -- Lawrence Yang (@lawrenceyang) September 21, 2022 Guitar Hero may have "hero" in its name, but the real heroes are all of you, posting these Trombone Champ clips. Please never stop. Sign up for the newsletter Patch Notes A weekly roundup of the best things from Polygon Just one more thing! Please check your email to find a confirmation email, and follow the steps to confirm your humanity. Email (required) [ ] Oops. Something went wrong. Please enter a valid email and try again. 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