Celeste

I don't like being a reactionist, or overpraising something too soon, but Celeste is one of the best, if not the actual best, 2D platformer I've ever played. I'll break down my review into individual segments:

Controls: 10/10 Very tight, extremely simple controls. Move with Left control stick. Jump with B. Dash with Y. Climb walls with RT. End of tutorial. But the sheer amount of mileage these developers get out of such a simple base is staggering

Gameplay: 10/10 While the controls are deceptively simple, every single chapter introduces a few new mechanics that you will have to master in order to progress. Whether they be platforms that disintegrate underneath you, platforms that move in sync with your dashing, walls you can dash through that have a unique effect. gemstones that replenish your dash midair, bubbles that shoot you far off into certain directions, and the list goes on and on, each new mechanic requires you to use them with near perfect precision and timing. The challenge can be occasionally frustrating, and you may find yourself dying several hundred times in any given chapter (I'm not exaggerating, you will die a lot), but it's the good kind of frustration that invites you to persist, not the kind that will cause you to rage quit. And none of your deaths feel out of your control. It doesn't require you to memorize every obstacle coming next, because there's never anything popping up that you didn't expect. Every obstacle is laid out in front of you, clear for you to see, which makes the challenge more inviting than frustrating. But I don't want to scare off potential players who are not so keen on the sound of timing and precision based gameplay, since that doesn't sound particularly fun by description alone, but this is a joy to play and an innumerable amount of sequences had me smiling and feeling accomplished by their end.

Difficulty Level: 8/10 I know 8 seems fairly low considering how much time I've already spent re-emphasizing the demand for precision, and how often you're going to die, and I'm sure you've already seen many other reviews that describe it to be tough as nails, and it is, but (thankfully) the game doesn't punish you for dying over and over and over and over. I had more than 800 deaths in a single chapter once (and that was just in the mainline chapters, don't even get me started on the B and C tracks). But this game doesn't kick you in the balls the way Cuphead does every time you die, you always re-spawn in the same frame that you died in, and it takes roughly half a second to re-spawn. The sheer amount of precision the game demands in and of itself would be enough to make it a 10, but the forgiving nature of the game makes the challenge much more manageable, so you can throw yourself at the same obstacle over and over and over and over again until you get it right, which is a godsend, because I would have honestly never bothered finishing the game if I had to deal with a lives system, or if it sent me back to the beginning of each level, or something like that.

Story: 7/10 I'm actually not as enamored with the story as many other people seem to be. I think it's great to see more and more video games experiment in dealing with heavy thematic matter such as anxiety, panic, apathy, depression, emotional distance, etc, and I think Celeste does a good job of it, and I can imagine many people out there being touched by it, because it handles delicate topics with sensitivity, earnestness, and a touch of humor. I like the characters a lot (and I love that they actually created an Instagram account for the character who is always taking selfies and writing posts throughout the game), but I don't think it's quite perfect yet. I really hope the developers keep experimenting with this kind of subject matter, because Celeste has made me eager for whatever the dish up next.

Artwork/Design: 8/10 I used to refer to this segment as "graphics," because graphical power used to be important when reviewing games, but we've reached an era of gaming when gamers and reviewers are less concerned about graphical horsepower and more interested in artwork, with absolutely beautiful looking games such as Cuphead and Journey, which are both stunning games due to their artwork, even though they're not going to max out the system you run them on by any means. Celeste is in that category, and it is a brilliantly designed game.

Music: 9/10 It is impressive in and of itself that these indie developers composed more than two hours of music for a relatively short game (around 10hrs max to complete all of the main bits, 20 if you're a completionist that is going to collect all the strawberries and complete all the "B side" challenges), and it pays off, because the soundtrack is just beautiful.

Overall: 10/10 While I think the story is good, even though I wasn't as deeply impressed with it as many other reviewers were, the controls, gameplay, and design are every bit as good as you've heard and Celeste is a game that deserves to be experienced by anybody who can spare twenty bucks to try it out

I played this game haven't finished it yet, im still playing it. But this game is filled with details an emotional never seen before in platform game this last couple of years. I am attached to each character i met on my journey. The plot is somewhat mysterious you reveal some event while on your quest and meet people that you dialog with. Let me tell you that dialog is a hook, it's simple amazing. The game is very atmospheric IMHO. I'm super enjoying it. Although it's been long time i haven't played a platform game. I like till i decided to record my gameplay and posted on youtube.

Celeste is a beautifully challenging platformer that combines tight gameplay with a heartfelt narrative. Players guide a girl named Madeline as she attempts to climb the titular mountain, facing increasingly difficult levels filled with precise jumps and clever obstacles.

First of all, the pixel art is charming, and the soundtrack by Lena Raine is both soothing and invigorating, perfectly matching the game's emotional beats. Beyond its tough but fair platforming. It also offers a poignant story of perseverance and self-discovery, but I dont want to spoil too much.

While its difficulty may be daunting, the game's generous checkpoint system and accessibility options ensure it remains rewarding. Celeste is a masterful blend of challenge and narrative, making it a standout title in the indie game scene.

This game took over my life from the second I downloaded it. It really makes you test yourself and improve at the game and makes even a game with such a small amount of character interaction and dialogue gets you invested.

Once you beat the game and get to play through again for more collectibles you really see your development as a player and it is very rewarding.

Also if you yourself can't get that good at the game, its worth watching speed runners as they make the game look like a completely different adventure they push the controls to the limits.

A must play

Amazing game. The graphics, while being pixelated, are still super beautiful (like undertale). And though it's hard, there is an assist mode that you can customize to make the game suit you best. Also the story is incredible. Must buy!!!