In the list of unlikely video game controllers, a cello is up there, probably next to celery stalks and maracas.
Yet Joost van Dongen's Cello Fortress takes up that challenge, blending the lines between game performance art, classical music and video games. The game challenges the cello player to attack four other controller-welding players using only musical notes.
The above video explains the Cello Fortress control scheme: each type of note produces a different kind of attack. A sequence of fast high notes fires machine guns at your enemies, while playing slow chords brings the heat of homing missiles. Since something like "slow chords" can cover a wide variety of notes, the cellist can be creative with his or her music selection while still playing along.
There are also more complicated strings of notes that bring out the heavier weapons, but since they are preprogrammed, the other team can hear them before they've ended and dodge an attack. This adds a deeper level of strategy to the gameplay, both for the cellist and the other players.
"I can play the melody faster or slower to make the attack happen earlier or later. From a gameplay perspective, one would assume I always attack as quickly as possible, but my goal is actually not purely to win: I want to entertain the players and the audience. So I sometimes deliberately let them live to give them a more fun experience," van Dongen said in his blog. Just like in a film, the best moments are not when the hero dies, but when he narrowly escapes.
van Dongen has been performed battles publicly across Europe, and is taking Cello Fortress on tour while he refines it. The above video shows one of those live performances, and also explains the rules more in depth. He said he also tries to arrange the notes of the game to create the most tension when its played live.
Check out the Cello Fortress gameplay trailer above, and let us know what you think in the comments.