PlayStation’s 2021 showcase was not only an exciting time for gamers but was a big win for Sony. Many thrilling titles were announced, both new and unexpected, and the highly anticipated ones preceded by months of rumors. But while most titles showed off heavy combat and tense action, one stood out among the rest. Tchia looks to be a relaxing game inspired by New Caledonia.
Other than its animal soul-jumping and environmental activism, Tchia features a fully playable ukulele that looks reminiscent of the guitar in The Last of Us Part 2. A pleasantly welcome minigame, players could strum with the touchpad, pick strings, and tab with L1 and R1 to change the key, offering a surprising amount of freedom. This led to players covering songs outside of the game’s repertoire like Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” and Red Hot Chili Pepper’s “Californication.”
Though many may think Tchia is borrowing the mechanic from The Last of Us 2—especially as they’re both published by Sony—developer Awaceb has reportedly been working on the ukulele’s controls for years prior to Naughty Dog’s most recent release. So, as this trend continues, it’s exciting to imagine how similar mechanics with a spectrum of instruments can influence the gaming industry.
The Possibilities of Fully Playable Instruments
When presented with any level of creative freedom, gamers do not disappoint. Some of the earliest instances of creating music or covers of songs with limits are from Animal Crossing’s town themes. Players have recreated simpler versions of their favorite tunes like the Star Wars “Imperial March” and the main Harry Potter theme. Similarly, players have had a lot of fun with Legend of Zelda’s collection of instruments throughout the series, like the ocarina and the horns from Majora’s Mask, where players covered a variety of classic hits.
In this same way, it would be exciting to see musical instruments and sandbox gaming cross paths in a way not unlike the software GarageBand, lending accessibility to those who want to produce music but simply don’t have access to the instruments and recording equipment necessary to do so.
Presenting musical instruments in gaming could also be used as a fun way to teach a younger audience about music and instruments, especially for those who, again, can’t afford to purchase costly instruments like guitars and pianos. Even though players don’t get the same feeling of strumming a guitar when they pick out the notes as Ellie in The Last of Us 2, kids tend to catch on quickly, and they would learn about notes and even music theory.
Whether geared towards adults or children, adding a fully playable instrument to a game would only be entertaining if it kept the “game” aspect of that. There are plenty of apps that turn keyboards into any instrument imaginable, but what made The Last of Us 2’s guitar and will likely make Tchia’s ukulele fun is that they are a respite from the main gameplay. By tying together fun scenarios (or stressful scenarios, in TLOU’s case) with these musical mechanics, it gives players a sense of motivation, helping them catch interest in fiddling with music in the first place.
Whatever the case, it’s likely that Tchia won’t be the last time players get to tinker with a fully playable instrument, and it’ll be interesting to see what the industry does with it next.
Tchia will release in 2022 for PC, PS4, and PS5.
