A challenging and rewarding platformer with heart and an important message
By: Ryan Ramakrishnan
Reviewed on Nintendo Switch
“Celeste” is truly one of a kind thanks to tight and responsive, challenging gameplay and a surprisingly heartfelt story.
After everybody in the gaming industry’s praise for “Celeste” caught on to me, I eventually spread the good word to others. “Celeste” is a fantastic platformer with impressively challenging but rewarding gameplay. More importantly however is the plot that brings together deep themes like anxiety and inner demons, brilliantly crafting an unforgettable narrative to complement the wondrous level design.
Story
2D platformers rarely prioritize their stories in the same vein as their gameplay mechanics. “Celeste” is a game that takes the stereotype of the genre and flips it on its head, particularly for indie games of the modern day. The plot is realistic, approachable and incredibly heartfelt.
You take the role of Madeline with one objective: climb Celeste Mountain. The journey’s goal is to get Madeline away from life’s everyday struggles and moreover to come to peace with the physical manifestation of her inner self. The themes of “Celeste” range from poetic to surreal, delightful to downright depressing. Ideas like depression, anxiety and self-consciousness are approached and appropriately implemented in a beautiful manner. “Celeste” tells one of the most delightful and emotional stories I have ever come across in a game of this genre and nature. It kept me hooked for the entirety of the journey and left with an emotional bang, one that will not soon be forgotten.
The abilities to jump, dash or cling to walls and surfaces are your movements, each simple on paper but used to full effect in the cleverly designed levels. I had a great time weighing out my options of traversal in each level, trying to map out how I could possibly make it from point A to B and so fourth. The incredibly challenging platforming makes “Celeste” a puzzle game in many ways, each level acting as its own test of both thought and might.
Like “Super Meat Boy,” you will die a whole lot in “Celeste.” The challenge cannot be questioned with progressively difficult obstacles everywhere, moving platforms, gimmicks and more, making each level its own triumph. There is an undeniable sense of accomplishment I felt with each successful dash, jump and level transition. Games that are difficult but fair and make you feel pride in completion are a special beast and “Celeste” is a prime example of how do this right.
Graphics
“Celeste” doesn’t try to look overly stylish; the game’s art direction is a simple 2D pixelated one. “Celeste” does however look quite good with what the developers went for. The graphics and style fit the game perfectly. Characters have charming animations when shown during dialogue, despite being limited to facial expressions and minor motion. These simple visuals add to the overall charm.
One thing that is very appealing to the eye is the lack of a HUD. You simple watch Madeline’s hair color change to indicate whether or not you still have a jump or dash in you. I think that this complements the overall sleek appearance of “Celeste.”
Sound
“Celeste’s” soundtrack fits every moment in the game. Whether things are moving rapidly or the story is unfolding in an emotional manner, the music always complements the action on screen.
Content
Over 100 strawberries can be found in “Celeste,” each creating their own challenge. These optional collectibles are the benefit of exploring the road less taken in the many levels of “Celeste.” This can easily provide players with incentive to consume the wonderful precision platforming once they beat the game.
B-side levels are another reason to keep “Celeste” installed. Existing as even harder levels to the already challenging game you just beat, the B-side levels opens the door to even more fun for those who are up to the test. They can be unlocked through finding hidden cassette tapes, yet another collectible spread out in “Celeste.”
Perfect for speed-runners, “Celeste” is a game practically built for the community to challenge themselves with beating this tough-as-nails platformer the fastest.
Thanks to the wide array of collectibles and plentiful bonus missions, “Celeste” is a surprisingly content-heavy experience for an indie game of this nature. It is fortunately very worth your time.
Conclusion
Exciting execution of challenging but rewarding platforming levels couples with a beautiful story to make “Celeste” an instant classic. It would already be every bit worth your time with the clever level design and addictive precision platforming but Matt Thorson took it a step further to immerse you with emotion. Anxiety, inner demons and self-growth come together to tell you a heartfelt and genuine story like no other. “Celeste” is ultimately a special game with something to say and is every bit worth your time.
How did you feel about “Celeste’s” approach to real, emotional themes? How many deaths did you have by the end of the game? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Gameplay
Similar to the likes of “Super Meat Boy,” “Celeste” is a purposefully difficult 2D platformer, one that will put your skills to the test from the beginning.The abilities to jump, dash or cling to walls and surfaces are your movements, each simple on paper but used to full effect in the cleverly designed levels. I had a great time weighing out my options of traversal in each level, trying to map out how I could possibly make it from point A to B and so fourth. The incredibly challenging platforming makes “Celeste” a puzzle game in many ways, each level acting as its own test of both thought and might.
Like “Super Meat Boy,” you will die a whole lot in “Celeste.” The challenge cannot be questioned with progressively difficult obstacles everywhere, moving platforms, gimmicks and more, making each level its own triumph. There is an undeniable sense of accomplishment I felt with each successful dash, jump and level transition. Games that are difficult but fair and make you feel pride in completion are a special beast and “Celeste” is a prime example of how do this right.
Welcoming to players either afraid of the instant difficulty spike or simply looking to enjoy the gameplay without losing their minds is an assist mode.
Graphics
“Celeste” doesn’t try to look overly stylish; the game’s art direction is a simple 2D pixelated one. “Celeste” does however look quite good with what the developers went for. The graphics and style fit the game perfectly. Characters have charming animations when shown during dialogue, despite being limited to facial expressions and minor motion. These simple visuals add to the overall charm.
One thing that is very appealing to the eye is the lack of a HUD. You simple watch Madeline’s hair color change to indicate whether or not you still have a jump or dash in you. I think that this complements the overall sleek appearance of “Celeste.”
Sound
“Celeste’s” soundtrack fits every moment in the game. Whether things are moving rapidly or the story is unfolding in an emotional manner, the music always complements the action on screen.
Jumping, dashing and falling to your death all sound brilliantly nostalgic.
“Celeste” features a cute, gibberish-like sound for the characters when they speak. Each character has their own and the decision to do something fresh like this rather than true voice acting fits the game’s overall style and tone perfectly and is quite charming.
“Celeste” features a cute, gibberish-like sound for the characters when they speak. Each character has their own and the decision to do something fresh like this rather than true voice acting fits the game’s overall style and tone perfectly and is quite charming.
Over 100 strawberries can be found in “Celeste,” each creating their own challenge. These optional collectibles are the benefit of exploring the road less taken in the many levels of “Celeste.” This can easily provide players with incentive to consume the wonderful precision platforming once they beat the game.
B-side levels are another reason to keep “Celeste” installed. Existing as even harder levels to the already challenging game you just beat, the B-side levels opens the door to even more fun for those who are up to the test. They can be unlocked through finding hidden cassette tapes, yet another collectible spread out in “Celeste.”
Perfect for speed-runners, “Celeste” is a game practically built for the community to challenge themselves with beating this tough-as-nails platformer the fastest.
Thanks to the wide array of collectibles and plentiful bonus missions, “Celeste” is a surprisingly content-heavy experience for an indie game of this nature. It is fortunately very worth your time.
Conclusion
Exciting execution of challenging but rewarding platforming levels couples with a beautiful story to make “Celeste” an instant classic. It would already be every bit worth your time with the clever level design and addictive precision platforming but Matt Thorson took it a step further to immerse you with emotion. Anxiety, inner demons and self-growth come together to tell you a heartfelt and genuine story like no other. “Celeste” is ultimately a special game with something to say and is every bit worth your time.
How did you feel about “Celeste’s” approach to real, emotional themes? How many deaths did you have by the end of the game? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
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