I don't play platformers.
I don't like really hard games.

Yet something about celeste just captured me in a way I never expected. I bought the game on a whim when I saw it was on sale and decided "Heck, why not?". I've heard of the game endlessly on different platforms with everyone talking about how amazing it was and how everyone should play it but I never really cared about that since I don't really play platformers or indies.

I will be trying more indie games from now on. That's for sure.

Where do we start?

Its extremely simple, you have three buttons. That's it. Good luck.
From those buttons comes a challenge that tests both your ability and your puzzle solving skills. There were several levels where it didn't really matter how flashy you were if you couldn't understand the basic room layout, and vice versa. Its managed to become one of those easy to play hard to master games(actually no its probably more like slightly difficult to play hard to master). Death means nothing more than another attempt at the same room, and you can genuinely see yourself getting better with each attempt. There was never a point in the main story where I thought it was "too hard" to do. Simultaneously there was never a point in the story where I found it too easy. They ramp up the difficulty over the course of the game, but they've done it perfectly to match your skillset.

Its a very simple premise that's presented beautifully. I did not expect the story to be anywhere near this deep or this well made. The characters are loveable and each have their own unique personalities. Even in its short run time (you could probably finish the whole game within 10 hours) the game managed to make me care about these people and their individual journeys. I wont spoil anything else for you, but there's actually a lot more complexity to the story than you'd think. I feel it will be one of those tales that will stick with me for the foreseeable future.

Every single level is beautiful. Sometimes I'd stop to just admire the detail on the blocks and the background. They have managed to make a pixel art game into one of the best looking games I have ever played. The animations are extremely smooth and fluid, the different elements have their own responsive movements and shape shifts to indicate what exactly is going on, which means you're never really stuck going "damn that didn't look like the thing I was expecting to happen".


All in all, this game has catapulted itself to one of my favorites of all time. Am I crazy enough to play the MUCH harder B and C versions of the levels that you get after beating the game? Maybe, but I guess only time will tell.

If you're wondering whether the game is worth your time, it absolutely is, and you absolutely should try it. Regardless of whether or not you're a platformer person or enjoy hard challenges.

I think Celeste is one of those games that everyone should play at least once in their lives.