What begins as a tenacious battle against Madeline's darker impulses becomes a journey of reconciliation that allows Madeline - and the player - to accept parts of themselves they might not yet fully understand. This is best seen in the discovery Madeline makes about her trans identity, a revelation shown simply through the trans flag on her bedroom wall in Celeste's Farewell DLC. This universality allows players to share Madeline's story, learning more about themselves as well. What makes Celeste stand out is that the storytelling is foundational, illustrating Madeline's journey through scenes that have to be earned and gameplay evocative of inner turmoil. The platformer remains difficult, but this was intentional - designed to echo the tenacity and determination required to surmount one's toughest personal battles. With this came levels that echoed the protagonist Madeline's own journey, from evading the chaos created by Badeline to painstakingly repairing relics of the past. Celeste was and remains extremely creative, incorporating platformer mechanics that hadn't yet been seen. RELATED: Celeste Sound Designer Discusses Game's Unique Dialogue System How Celeste Has Re-Defined Video Game StoriesĬeleste's storytelling is deceptively simple, a subtle tale of self-discovery found in every facet of the game. It is a unique game that examines mental health and healing, two elements rarely celebrated in games. Celeste puts players in the shoes of Madeline, a young woman who decides to summit Celeste Mountain in order to regain her confidence and sense of self. Not only was its pixel art style, soundtrack, and gameplay mechanics praised, but the story was game-changing, producing a dedicated fandom who continue to enjoy the game and its DLC. This has become inextricably true for the trans community, who have found representation in Madeline's journey to self-acceptance - including game director Maddy Thorson.įirst released in 2018 by the now-named Extremely OK Games, Celeste received universal acclaim from critics, with some going on to describe the platformer as one of the best video games of all time. While it has officially been five years since the game's release, it continues to have an enduring impact on the industry, proving that even mechanically challenging games like Celeste can - and should - include stories that players can see themselves in. Celesteis a video game that players seem to remember long after beating it, as the platformer's narrative is uniquely powerful.
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