First time playing Celeste.
Having never played celeste before, but being recommended it when I explained my idea to my peers, I felt that now was a more appropriate time than ever to play it.
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Celeste centres around Madeline’s internal struggle as she climbs Celeste Mountain. This personal conflict is mixed into the game’s narrative and gameplay. Madeline’s interactions with ‘Badeline’ her darker self (and personification of her insecurities) reveal her fears doubts that make her journey more difficult.
The difficulty of the game mirrors Madeline’s journey. The harshness of the levels requires careful movements and quick reflexes, in a way reflecting the struggles and setbacks that come with facing inner fears. Players also respawn immediately after failing, which clearly represents persistence, encouraging players to push forward, just as Madeline needs to to reach her goal.
Through the journey, dialogue between Madeline and other characters like Theo or Granny gives players a look into her mental state. This mechanic provides rich narrative depth and creates a reflective player experience where success isn’t about just about reaching the top of the mountain, but also about embracing vulnerability among other things.
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Through Madeline’s struggle with her Badeline, the game **explores themes of mental health, including anxiety, depression and doubt. Rather than glorifying success or perfection, the game presents an honest and raw view of the challenges associated with these experiences and validating the player’s own potential struggles.
As Madeline progresses, her journey shifts from trying to top Celeste Mountain to understanding and accepting herself. This message of empowerment and self acceptance is present in each interaction and obstacle.
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The core gameplay of Celeste revolves around how precise the platforming mechanics are, where they demand quick thinking and tight control. Every level introduces new obstacles (spikes, moving platforms, etc) that require players to master mechanics like dashes, wall jumps and timing.
The game uses a ‘fail-forward’ approach, where each failure serves as a learning opportunity. Players are encouraged through each failure to approach each obstacle with more patience, emphasising the personal growth aspect of the game.
How to Fail Forward: Why You Should Fail Frequently
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During my playthrough of Celeste, I wanted to step into developer’s shoes and ask myself key questions to better understand how to approach my own game idea. To make this small exercise as effective as possible, I used Jesse Schell’s ‘Lens of Essential Experience’ question and answered them with a 1 minute time limit to approach it like an elevator pitch.