Vicarious Reviews: Celeste
Screen capture of Celeste by Maddy Thorson.
October 24, 2023
Annie Newman, Journalism Club Member
Skipping Neverending Nightmares, a horror game that I was too scared to play, the third and last game in ENG 383’s neurodiversity unit was Celeste. Celeste is a puzzle platformer that follows Madeline, a young woman struggling with anxiety and depression, trying to climb a mountain. Along the way, she meets a myriad of characters, including Theo (a fellow climber), Badeline (the physical manifestation of her inner demons), and more.
I thought that the plot was really sweet because it taught that anxiety isn’t something to try and repress or get rid of, but rather to reckon with and embrace as a part of one’s identity. I could go on and on about this game, but I found myself relating to Madeline as she struggled on her climb, and loved the retro pixel art as it contrasted with the dialogue art. Each chapter has a different environment with different puzzle mechanics to play around with, including using Badeline as a “shadow” that follows you and kills you if she catches up to you. But every time you die, you learn, so be proud of your death count! Trust me, it’ll be quite impressive.
You’ll also have the chance to collect strawberries, crystal hearts, and cassette tapes. While the strawberries give you points, they’re mostly there just to show off. I don’t know what the crystal hearts do, but the cassette tapes unlock a “B-side”, which is like a remix of the level.
One word of caution: this game is extremely difficult. That being said, there is an assist mode that can make you invincible and have extra dashes and stamina, even as far as skipping some of the chapters; however, I highly recommend playing through the chapters to get the juicy plotline. The game is supposed to be hard, just like it’s hard to get through each day with depression and anxiety. Plus, nothing beats the satisfaction of finally getting through a puzzle that you’ve died in for the umpteenth time.
Overall, I give this game 5/5 stars. Seriously guys, I’m begging you to play this game if you can. It’s so much fun that feels so rewarding when you succeed.
