Celeste - A Tiny Little Hardcore Game
- Maxime Mvokany
- Jan 28, 2019
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 28, 2019
Believe it or not, I chose to play this game instead of Red Dead Redemption 2.
This is a beautiful indie game that if the below doesn't make you run away, you are in the niche they are looking for.
It is a severely pixelized on purpose game that is there to punish us for getting a large 4K TV. So we are not here for the graphics :D.
A when you think that this is it later in the game you discover a mini game inside of an already pixelized game. I will let you imagine and enjoy.
Still with me ?
The second reason to run is that this is not a easy game. It starts difficult and it is getting insane the more you progress. You will not rest and will have to earn with your hard skills each screen, each level and each bonus. I got my hands tired of playing it (there is only another game where I got to this point. it was "Furi".
.
It looks made on purpose to find THE combination of things that will put you in shock : spikes, wind, slime, holes, moving platforms, disappearing platforms, tiny platforms, ghosts, etc and all the above together in one screen.
If you are still with me, This is what really makes the game for me :
Mechanics of the game are very simple : move, jump, climb and dash.
Constraint : you can dash only one time and you can hold on a platform for long.
The environment and elements of the game make you constantly readjust the way you use these elements as each level is very different from the previous. You basically have to learn how to play constantly
It feels extremely rewarding at every level you complete and makes you look for more. At the same time the fact of falling creates the kind of frustration (sometimes anger and even rage :D ) that makes you look for solution rather than discouragement or breaking the controller or anything around it....at least for now ....: :D
The game even tells you - to be proud of your number of deaths - Not sure I can say that I am proud to have 667 in the last level I have played :D.
Below are some small videos showing to you the learning process of falling several times before reaching. I spare you the emotionally charged comments of myself and my son at every fall :)
Sometimes you see a screen and you wonder if it is even possible to cross it and after several tries you find a way to move half of it and the impossible suddenly become easier until finally you pass the level.
The soundtrack is really nice and makes an integral part of what makes the game engaging.
I didn't initially play the game for it's message but I discovered and it is very nice to see that this game talks about people that are fighting depression and how care need to be given to get out of it.
Overall this is a very nice surprise for me and a lot of fun (with moments of rage :D) ahead !
If you are brave enough, see you at the top and not the bottom.
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