Celeste

Due to the abundance of positive reviews, I couldn’t help but be drawn to Celeste. Avoiding all spoilers, I strapped myself in for what many describe as a sublime experience. Admittedly, I was a little let down in the beginning, as I had not yet understood the journey that awaited me. As I progressed and the story developed, I grew fonder of the game and ultimately felt pride in reaching the summit of Mount Celeste. The expression, “the journey is more important than the destination” fits this game to a T.
Just a fair warning for those interested in the game: Celeste is a precision platformer and is often unforgiving, so be prepared to fail a lot (818 deaths during my first run).
Played with PlayStation 4 controller
✔️Positive:
Challenging is a very accurate description of the game.
Comparable to the likes of Super Meat Boy, Celeste is a 2D platformer that offers little room for mistakes - one hit kills you instantly and sends you back to the beginning of the screen. Thankfully, the respawn/reload times are very short, cushioning the player from the frustrations of frequent deaths.
Deaths are (nearly) inevitable but given that the controls are simple and responsive, I never had the impression that the game was unfair; just difficult. Furthermore, each level introduces new platforming mechanics that gradually become more demanding as the level progresses. These nuances to your controls/movement add novelty and imbues progression with a sense of mastery. Definitely another great example of a game that is “easy to learn but difficult to master”.
Diverse levels paired with sublime soundtracks.
This one is fairly straightforward, so I won’t go into too much detail. Every level has a unique theme, setting, and fantastic paired soundtrack. Check out the trailer for a quick taste.
The story is what sets Celeste apart from other games in this genre.
Yes, the gameplay is good but the story elevates this game to new heights (cause they climb a mountain, get it?). While the story touches on many themes, mental health and personal growth are the centrepiece. It is clear that Madeline (the main character) suffers from a range of negative emotions (fear, anger, anxiety and depression), so much so that her emotions physically manifest in the form of Badeline (great name, I agree).
The progression of their relationship is nothing short of inspiring. What starts out as an antagonistic relationship, ends up being one of partnership and encouragement. In scaling the mountain, Madeline shows incredible determination for self improvement. It is therefore immensely appropriate that the gameplay is challenging since the mountain is essentially a big metaphor for how frightening, discouraging, and challenging it can be to face your internal struggles. In fact, the journey was so touching that I felt encouraged to focus on my mental health.
I especially loved the last level (Summit) as it combines the best of the story and gameplay.
In terms of gameplay, it serves as a challenging summary of your journey up the mountain by featuring the different platforming mechanics in a new setting. In terms of story, it marks the first big step to self improvement (physically represented by the summit) and the beginning of a great partnership between M(B)adeline. Overall just an excellent level.
Completing the main story is only the tip of the iceberg.
The main game is not very long (~5 hours depending on your skill level) but is sufficiently challenging and long enough for plot development. The additional levels, however, are where things get really spicy. Hidden collectables in the form of crystal hearts and B-side cassettes unlock additional levels that are significantly harder than the main levels and were probably designed for precision platforming fanatics. I gave them an honest attempt but threw in the towel since I wasn’t enjoying myself. Regardless, it’s nice to have the option for harder levels, especially if you’re a masochist.
➖Neutral:
Celeste is a precision platformer, plain and simple.
It is clear that experiencing the difficulty of the game firsthand is central to the story/message but I would imagine that even the core game might be too challenging for most casual gamers. Despite having a great story that is alluring to many, it seems that the gameplay is intended for a niche audience. If you are unprepared, this could result in a frustrating experience rather than an elevating one.
❌Negative:
I experienced some technical difficulties concerning controller recognition:
When starting the game, if my first input is with the keyboard, I wouldn’t be able to get my controller to work. The only solution I found was to reset the game.
Using the keyboard at all while playing (alt+tab or shift+tab, for example) often disconnects the controller. It would often take 30 seconds upon returning to the game for the controller to be functional again.
Neither is a major cause for concern but a fix would be nice.

🏅Verdict:
★★★★✬ Excellent (if you enjoy precision platformers)
Celeste is a fantastic experience but (likely) only if you fall within the niche of gamers that enjoy precision platformers. Even I, who typically loves platformers, sometimes found my patience wavering at times (nothing a little break couldn’t fix). However, it is vital to clarify that Celeste isn’t just about the platforming - it is the fusion of challenging gameplay and brilliant storytelling that sets this game apart. Failing is required to fully immerse yourself in this heartwarming journey.
Although I adore this game, I would only recommend this game if you are willing and ready to suffer (definitely worth it though).
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🇹🇭🇦🇳🇰 🇾🇴🇺 🇫🇴🇷 🇾🇴🇺🇷 🇸🇺🇵🇵🇴🇷🇹!

I have depression and this game appeals to me.
After playing it I'm still depressed, but my left thumb hurts.

This helped me with depression and anxiety, not kidding, oh also the game is badass 10/10

After 1,000 hours, completing all developer intended content, and a bunch of arbitrarily defined challenges, I can confidently say that Celeste is the best game I've ever played, and my favorite game of all time.
Every time I try and type up a review for this game, it always ends up trailing on for 10 paragraphs about how "Playing Celeste is like painting" and "Madeline is the paint brush and the chapters are my canvas" and stuff like that. So instead, I'm just going to keep it short and say PLEASE PLAY THIS GAME. The content in this game is hands down the best and most fun platforming I've ever experienced, and the controls that you'll be using to complete said platforming are as close to perfection as you can get for a video game.
Spoiler-y advice With all that being said, there is one bit of advice I'd like to offer to anyone that has completed 100% and wishes to purse the 26 golden berries, please don't get upset with yourself if that kind of content frustrates you. Golden berries aren't for everyone, and that's okay. Walking away from this game at 176 berries and all hearts is perfectly fine, and is virtually the entirety of the experience of the game. Deep down, part of me wishes I'd had someone to tell me that after I completed 100%, but I suppose that's a story for another time. Enjoy your time in Celeste, and have fun. Thanks for reading.

---{Graphics}---
☐ You forget what reality is
☑ Beautiful
☐ Good
☐ Decent
☐ Bad
☐ Don‘t look too long at it
☐ MS-DOS
---{Gameplay}---
☑ Very good
☐ Good
☐ It‘s just gameplay
☐ Mehh
☐ Watch paint dry instead
☐ Just don't
---{Audio}---
☑ Eargasm
☐ Very good
☐ Good
☐ Not too bad
☐ Bad
☐ I'm now deaf
---{Audience}---
☐ Kids
☐ Teens
☐ Adults
☑ All
---{PC Requirements}---
☐ Check if you can run paint
☑ Potato
☐ Decent
☐ Fast
☐ Rich boi
☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer
---{Difficulity}---
☐ Just press 'W'
☐ Easy
☐ Significant brain usage
☐ Easy to learn / Hard to master
☑ Difficult
☐ Dark Souls
---{Grind}---
☑ Nothing to grind
☐ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks
☐ Isn't necessary to progress
☐ Average grind level
☐ Too much grind
☐ You‘ll need a second live for grinding
---{Story}---
☐ No Story
☐ Some lore
☐ Average
☐ Good
☑ Lovely
☐ It‘ll replace your life
---{Game Time}---
☐ Long enough for a cup of coffee
☐ Short
☑ Average
☐ Long
☐ To infinity and beyond
---{Price}---
☐ It’s free!
☑ Worth the price
☐ If u have some spare money left
☐ Not recommended
☐ You could also just burn your money
---{Bugs}---
☑ Never heard of
☐ Minor bugs
☐ Can get annoying
☐ ARK: Survival Evolved
☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs
I just recently completed the game, about to find all secrets and hunt for achievements and stuff, Celeste is easily one of the best platformers i've ever played, including some Nintendo Switch exclusives, It starts with your protagonist determined to climb the mountai- OH! wait, I wont spoil the story ^ ^ But I can assure that its worth every single penny, I completed the whole game in around 8.9 hours ignoring most of the collectables like Strawberries and stuff, Platforming becomes merciless some of the times and you might get lost sometimes, but dont go off looking for walkthroughs on the internet, do some thinking and find the way by your own because the game will end so fast, you might regret after completing it "Oh! man I should've spent more time exploring" as Im writing this review, the game is currently on a discount, i would recommend getting it now, because its basically free for the the price you are paying and the content you are getting, the story isnt Edit Finch but still nice and sweet, so avoid any spoilers, I hope you enjoy this incredible experience. OH YEAH! one last thing, get the bundle with the OST included because the OST kept me immersed in the game the whole time, Its just beautiful. Have Fun ( ^ v ^ )

Perfection. Best 2D platformer of the decade and for me best of all time. Celeste is a game about challenge, the challenge the protagonist Madeline faces in the form of her anxiety, pessimism, and sheer lack of confidence as she attempts to climb Celeste mountain. The challenge for the player is to tackle and triumph these mastercrafted levels that will test your platforming to its limits. However this isn't to say Celeste is inaccessible to people new to platforming, the game teaches you beautifully how to control Madeline by constructing levels that scale incredibly well difficulty wise. Celeste like all great games aids the player in polishing their skill set through the level design. By the end of every level you'll feel as though you have mastered the latest mechanic introduced to you while also feeling like a more precise and quick witted version of yourself.
This game is the whole package. The story and characters make you want to climb the mountain, the internal conflict Madeline experiences is a struggle not uncommon with young adults. But persevering through, and finding your way to the top of that mountain is what makes Celeste such an uplifting masterpiece of a game.
Prepare to play a real game, and keep your head up. This game is challenging but it is also very rewarding, this experience was designed meticulously with so much love and care that you could sink several dozens of hours into finding every corner new content is hiding in. A must buy and an absolute masterpiece, do yourself a favour and pickup Celeste.

Hours in the save file: 62
Deaths in the save file: 14667
Achievements unlocked: 32/32
Cheat-mode: nah
Worth it: yes
Unlocked the Wow-achievement today after many hours of trying. Figured I'd pitch in with a review.
I always base my purchase decisions on the nature of the negative reviews. I was wary, buying this game, as many of the negative ones described the game as way too hard, all while declaring themselves seasoned gamers. Posers, I tell you.
So this is for you, the one worried whether you have what it takes for the game.
Celeste IS difficult. But it's the right kind of difficult. With every mistake and every success you improve. And you can actually FEEL yourself improve along the way. The further you get, the more amusing it is to look back at the earlier levels that you struggled with at the start. The challenge of the game makes its story feel more engaging and rewarding too. The uplifting cutscenes will feel like a treat after clearing the last screen of the chapter.
To play the game, you don't need previous experience with platformers. You don't need skill or superb reaction times. What you do need, is perseverance and determination. Not mountains of it, unless you plan to climb beyond the summit.. but your average, healthy bit of it.
So as long as you're not one to get frustrated and throw in the towel at first inconvenience to cross your way, and are able to enjoy a challenge, game's well worth the money.