Celeste Reviews
As most indie-keen gamers already know, Celeste is a phenomenal 2D platformer.
Celeste has a couple of hiccups in its aesthetics and tech, but the core of what Matt Thorson and his team have made contains a wonderful story of endurance and resilience for both the characters and the player, that begs not to be missed.
It may take a certain type of patience to really get hooked into Celeste's laboriously challenging masochism, but it's undeniably a well-crafted and thoughtfully designed experience that's equally satisfying as it is unyielding.
Celeste is a wonderful precision platformer that does far more than simply challenge your dexterity. While there's plenty of intense screen-hopping to enjoy, it's offset by a well-told, personal story that softens the hard edged gameplay with some great slower moments. What's more, you can enjoy the story even if you're struggling with the platforming using the Assist Mode to bend the game's difficulty to your liking. The action is super smooth (though we did have to battle with the dash on occasion), there are lots of secrets to uncover, and it looks and sounds great. Even with some rare bugs, fans of both a steep challenge and a heartfelt narrative will find a lot to like about Celeste.
Those who are looking for one of the year's first true single-player challenges should look no further than Celeste. The team at Matt Makes Games has crafted a tough, yet not entirely unfair platformer, one wrapped in a touching narrative with some memorable characters. It's clear that a lot of heart went into writing the story, while it's also clear that Matt Thorson put his best level design foot forward. Some of the areas in Celeste were very reminiscent of some of his Super Mario Maker work, in terms of gimmicks, precision jumping, tricks, and difficulty.
Celeste reaches beyond, showing that tricky, well-designed platforming challenges are really just the tip of the iceberg. There's far more underneath the surface. And maybe that's worth dying for.
An engaging, vibrant and challenging platformer that adds narrative to a genre often shy of it.
Matt Thorson succeeds once again in crafting a tight, beautiful retro experience.
The vibrant use of color and warm, stylistically varied score elevate the retro aesthetic beyond mere homage. Although the game's story feels slightly hampered by the practical necessities of its play, it's still a touching and occasionally insightful depiction of what it's like to live with anxiety and depression. And the mountain, as in every work of art that has ever featured a mountain throughout the history of human expression, remains a metaphor.
Celeste is one of the most entertaining 2D platformers in recent years. It'll defeat you from time to time, but its inviting controls, level design, and presentation will keep you coming back until you persevere and overcome every challenge thrown your way.
Celeste is not only a brilliant platformer, one that will surely entertain you with its unusual difficulty and its astonishing level design. Celeste is a touching story about depression, a metaphor of life and ultimately a video game that will teach you a valuable lesson: never give in, no matter if you're dealing with a Gargantuan montain, a series of seemingly impossible jumps or anxiety. It might not be the next indie apocalypse, but it's still a product that's well worth of your time and money.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Celeste is an excellent platform game with excellent level design, lovable cast and an intriguing atmosphere.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Obviously, Celeste is a wonderful game, with a strong storyline which you barely can see in platform games. Fantastic level design and puzzle settings keep players a feeling of freshness from the beginning to the end, and the large number of levels makes this game worth the price.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
"Climb over every obstacle, it's worth it."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
An incredible game; one you're unlikely to forget thanks to its heavy hitting tones and the absolute resolve of its protagonist who never gives in to the temptation of apathy and despair.
A poignant tale that tackles a sensitive subject matter. Celeste is not only a challenging platformer, it is also an emotionally powerful story about dealing with the struggles of mental illness.
Celeste not only joins a long list of phenomenal platforming royalty, but it stands as a mighty pillar among the very best of them. Its message is clear albeit clumsy, though that doesn't detract from its very real and relatable cast of flawed characters. It's challenging in ways many games aren't while managing to maintain an endless supply of magic.
Looking at my death count at the end of the game, it was a little shocking to see that I’d died that many times. But Celeste constantly reassures the player that it’s not something to be ashamed of. Every death is a lesson learned, and with every lesson comes improvement. As long as you don’t give up, there’s always a path to success. Even if you have to fail 2,649 times to see it.
Celeste is an beautiful, optimistic game about how triumph can outweigh any number of failures . It's about reconciling your pain, frustrations and defeats. It's about getting better, in every sense.
Celeste is not only an outstanding platformer, but also a soulful adventure full of intimate moments.
Review in German | Read full review