Hello Steemit~ Tsukuyomi here, also back from a long hiatus from not playing anything at all but very much in the mood to go back to writing!
Before heading into the review, remember to follow us for more Gaming related content~
Now, onto the review...
Celeste is a game that you probably have heard about by now, prominent Youtubers have recommended it and gaming sites have showered it with praise ever since it came out, IGN even gave it a 10/10 score, labeling it a "masterpiece", and so did Destructoid, so what is it about this game that was so incredibly succesful while being under the guise of a simple platformer?
The first characteristic of Celeste, and one that you will encounter right away, is the amount of focusing and learning you will have to put into mastering very, very simple controls. You can only run, jump and dash, and only with that you'd think there's not much to do, you'd be wrong however, since it's the combination, timing and synergy with other enviromental elements that will allow you to overcome increasingly hard levels, and when I say hard, I mean over 1000 deaths before beating the toughest ones.
If you like a challenge, Celeste is for you, the little nuances and details you have to keep constantly in mind regarding controls and timing require an inmense concentration and accomplishing it proves to be very rewarding.
As challenging as the original content is, that is not all there is, in fact, you can unlock "B-Sides", remixed and revamped versions of the existing chapters, much more difficult, with different soundtracks and visuals. Unlocking this and then trying your luck again, realizing the initial amount of skill you had in that chapter is not enough and that you need to further polish your skills gives you a sense of learning and growing.
Also, collectibles are optional but always pose a great challenge for you to beat, as well as hidden areas and secrets that you will want to go back to and revisit if you didn't accomplish them in your first playthrough. The replay potential is huge and even more satisfying.
Celeste on its own is a very complete game, but these extras just elevate its quality and fun. You just need to be patient enough and be up for mastering your own skills and mental speed.
The contrasting artstyles between the character dialogs and the actual game itself, as well as the menu and level screen, give depth and make the whole visuals interesting, apart from that, having very clear and harmonizing color palettes make the enviroment convey feelings on its own, feelings that morph from chapter to chapter as you progress.
Since Celeste has a deep and meaningful storyline between lines, it is this color treatment and selection that enchance the story being told in a subtle manner, instead of clashing or simply being there without meaning, every detail, every element and every color is carefully placed according to what the game and story wants to convey.
The Soundtrack has been praised and even called the best they've heard in a game in a while, which is a great feat to accomplish. This game has in store a value that you might overlook in the beginning, and the soundtrack is not something you can see just by first glance, however it is one of the highlights, specially when the music you already heard takes a new meaning and color on the B-Sides, giving you a fresher experience.
Celeste can be seen as a game about climbing up and reaching a destination, but the dialogues and the subtle hints between the feeling, the enviroment and the music show much more than just a story about accomplishments.
Between all of the elements coming together there's a story about anxiety and discomfort, homesickness and wanderlust, feeling like you need to leave everything behind and go somewhere you belong in, the hardships of dealing with other's opinions and how you relate to them, all of that seeps through the details and everything that constructs this wonderful game, it is not straightforward, it is not harsh or too sad, but it conveys its feelings succesfully with all of the work put into how the game communicates with the player.
Celeste is a game that I can see perfection in to those who have patience and want that feel of accomplishment, maybe for those who need more action or want a quicker reward without having to go through the process of learning and polishing your skills this will be somewhat of a slow game or perhaps somewhat frustrating, but altogether, as a challenging game, a gorgeous and compelling game, with a story that many can relate to and a journey that pays off greatly in satisfaction.
You can buy Celeste on Steam right now and try it for yourself~
Delver, the Rogue-like, Dungeon-crawling experience in First-person!
