If you like jumping around, holding on to things and dashing to avoid being spiked by deadly traps, I have the perfect game for you. Celeste is a platformer game developed by Maddy Makes Games and released in 2018. The game follows the story of a young woman named Madeline, who attempts to climb the titular Celeste Mountain while confronting her inner demons and mental health issues.
As stated before, the gameplay in Celeste is centered around Madeline’s ability to jump, dash in mid-air, and climb walls, all of which are used to navigate through a series of increasingly difficult levels filled with hazards, puzzles, and enemies. The game features a variety of different environments, each with its own unique challenges and obstacles to overcome.
The difficulty can be challenging at first, I struggled more with hitting the buttons at the exact moment, but when you manage to get the hang of it, the game becomes a lot more fluid… For a while at least, since each level becomes increasingly tricky, not only with coordination, but knowing exactly what to do.
But not everything has to be a challenge, since in addition to the main story mode, Celeste also includes an “Assist Mode” that allows players to customize the game’s difficulty by adjusting things like Madeline’s speed and the number of dashes she can perform.
In addition to the main story mode, Celeste also includes a number of additional challenges and unlockable features, such as B-Side levels that offer even more difficult versions of the main levels, and a special “Farewell” level that was added as free DLC after the game’s initial release.
One of the standout features of Celeste is its emphasis on storytelling and character development, with the game’s narrative exploring themes of mental health, perseverance, and self-discovery. The game’s soundtrack, composed by Lena Raine, has also been widely praised for its emotive and atmospheric qualities, and has won multiple awards and nominations.
The game was developed by Maddy Makes Games, a studio consisting of just two people: lead developer Maddy Thorson and composer Lena Raine. They were later joined by a team of additional developers and artists to help with the game’s creation.
Celeste was inspired by classic platformer games like Super Mario Bros. and Mega Man, as well as more modern games like Super Meat Boy and N++.
The game features a large number of collectibles called “strawberries” that are scattered throughout the levels. While they are not necessary to complete the game, they provide an additional challenge for players who want to test their platforming skills, or, as stated by the game, to brag with your friends.
The game has won numerous awards and nominations, including “Best Independent Game” at The Game Awards 2018, and has been praised by many critics and players for its engaging gameplay, beautiful visuals, and heartfelt storytelling.
Celeste has also become known for its strong representation of mental health issues. The game’s protagonist, Madeline, struggles with anxiety and depression, and her journey up Celeste Mountain serves as a metaphor for overcoming those challenges. The game’s developers have been open about their own experiences with mental health, and have used Celeste as a way to promote awareness and understanding of those issues.
In addition to its critical and commercial success, Celeste has also had a positive impact on the indie game development community. The game’s popularity and acclaim have helped to showcase the potential of small, independent studios to create innovative and impactful games.
As I mentioned earlier, Celeste is a platformer game that follows the story of Madeline as she attempts to climb Celeste Mountain. The game is split up into chapters, each of which features a different environment and a series of levels to complete.
The levels in Celeste are filled with hazards, obstacles, and enemies that Madeline must navigate around using her jumping, dashing, and climbing abilities. Each chapter introduces new mechanics and challenges, building on what the player has learned in previous levels.
To aid players in their journey up the mountain, Celeste includes a variety of power-ups and collectibles. These include things like crystal hearts that unlock hidden areas, and power-ups that grant temporary abilities like invincibility or increased speed.
One of the unique features of Celeste’s gameplay is its use of celestial berries. These are collectibles that are hidden throughout the levels and require the player to execute difficult maneuvers or solve challenging puzzles to obtain. Collecting them all unlocks a special area called the “Core.”
All in all, the gameplay in Celeste is known for its tight controls, challenging levels, and rewarding collectibles. It requires a lot of skill and practice to master, but for players who enjoy a good platforming challenge, it can be an incredibly satisfying and rewarding experience.