Celeste (video Game)

''Celeste'' is a 2018 platform game developed and published by indie developer Matt Makes Games. It stars Madeline, a young girl with anxiety and depression who aims to climb Celeste Mountain. During her climb, she encounters several characters, including a personification of her self-doubt known as Badeline, who attempts to stop her from climbing the mountain.

Development of ''Celeste'' began in August 2015, when Maddy Thorson and Noel Berry participated in a four-day-long game jam, in which they created ''Celeste'' for the PICO-8. Thorson, who served as the game's producer, and Berry, who served as the lead programmer, wanted to expand the PICO-8 game into a full release. Inspired in part by Thorson's own ''TowerFall'' (2013) and '' Super Mario Bros. 3'' (1988), the gameplay was designed to be minimal, while mirroring Thorson's experiences with bouldering. ''Celeste'' was also designed to be accessible, featuring game mechanics intended to make the game more forgiving in addition to an "Assist Mode" offering several options to make the game less challenging. The themes of self-forgiveness present in the narrative began with the idea of creating a "more introspective" game, and later grew to become intertwined with the gameplay. ''Celeste''s soundtrack was composed by Lena Raine.

''Celeste'' released on January 25, 2018, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, MacOS, and Linux—it would release on Xbox One the following day, and on Google Stadia in July 2020. Upon release, it received wide acclaim—critics felt that it was one of the best games of its genre. Reviewers appreciated how the game's narrative complimented its gameplay, and the game's movement and controls were lauded as among the best in any video game. Critics also appreciated its approach to difficulty and accessibility. Reviewers lauded the story as a whole as easy to relate to or "touching", and the game's depiction of depression and anxiety were praised. The pixel art style was also praised, and its music was considered among the best video game soundtracks, with reviewers appreciating how it complemented the gameplay.

On September 9, 2019, a free downloadable content (DLC) expansion to ''Celeste'' known as ''Farewell'' was released. Since release, ''Celeste'' has garnered a dedicated fandom and an active speedrunning community. ''Celeste''s developers have stated that they do not intend to create a sequel, though a sequel to ''Celeste'' for PICO-8 titled ''Celeste 2: Lani's Trek'' released in January 2021.

Gameplay

''Celeste'' is a masocore two-dimensional platform game. Madeline, ''Celeste'''s player character, is able to run, jump, wall jump, wall climb, and dash in any cardinal or intercardinal direction. Her ability to climb walls is limited to a stamina gague; she can only climb until the gague is depleted. However, her moveset is limited to these options, and additional abilities are instead granted by outside game mechanics. One of which is a crystal, which allows her ability to dash to be refilled in midair—otherwise, she can only dash again after touching safe ground. Additional mechanics react to Madeline's dash, including "dream blocks" that transport her from one side to another when dashed into. moving blocks, which can transfer their momentum to Madeline when jumped off of, and bubbles that move when dashed into and platforms that only activate after Madeline dashes. Further mechanics, such as a grabbable jellyfish that functions as a parachute and exploding pufferfish, were added in the ''Farewell'' expansion.

Many compared ''Celeste'' to ''Super Meat Boy'' (2010), as both games have a high level of difficulty, though ''Celeste'''s difficulty can be lowered through the use of an optional "Assist Mode", which provides accessbility options such as a lowered game speed or unlimited use of the dash mechanic, as well as the option to grant Madeline full invincibility

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