Thrasing the Ivories
Yesterday, Blizzard opened up the latest Assualt map, Paris, within the PTR server of their popular online shooter, Overwatch. As is to be expected, the City of Love looks pretty exquisite, filled with lavish architecture and cosy side-streets. Not only that, but players have found you can even rouse your teammates’ spirits with a soulful tune on the piano.
There are two pianos located in the Parisian map, both of which feature 88 correctly-tuned keys, ripe for the playing. By “playing” of course, I mean “shooting at with bullets”, but if you are of a talented, musical disposition, then you can perform all of your favourite ditties with a keen eye and a sackful of ammo.
For example, players have already recorded Zarya tackling Beethoven and some nursery rhyme classics, Bastion with a fun rendition of the Super Mario Bros. theme, and Mercy popping out the instantly recognisable Tetris tune, albeit with one leg on the piano like she’s channeling Jerry Lee Lewis (the performance part, not the marrying your teenage cousin part).
No doubt, given time, Players will come up with all sorts of creative tunes, I’m looking forward to a duet, ala the big piano scene in Tom Hanks’ Big. And for those of you without the delicacy and nuance required to play this difficult instrument, you can always just rock the house down like Bastion in this clip.
Overwatch is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.