Celeste

 Switch
Metascore
92

Universal acclaim - based on 36 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 36
  3. Negative: 0 out of 36
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  1. The A.V. Club
    Feb 1, 2018
    Even without embracing that duality, Celeste would be an exceptionally well-made platformer worthy of sitting alongside its titanic peers, but by caring to find the right amount of warmth to balance its barbs, it ends up standing up and taking a step ahead.

Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best Switch Game of 2018
6
#6 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2018
9
#9 Most Shared Switch Game of 2018

User Reviews

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User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1137 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 969 out of 1137
  2. Mixed: 81 out of 1137
  3. Negative: 87 out of 1137
  1. bulger_paul
    Jan 28, 2018
    10
    I don't like being a reactionist, or overpraising something too soon, but Celeste is one of the best 2D platformers I've ever played. I'llI don't like being a reactionist, or overpraising something too soon, but Celeste is one of the best 2D platformers I've ever played. I'll break down my review into individual segments:

    Controls: 10/10
    Very tight, extremely simple controls. Move with Left control stick. Jump with B. Dash with Y. Climb walls with RT. End of tutorial. But the sheer amount of mileage these developers get out of such a simple base is staggering

    Gameplay: 10/10
    While the controls are deceptively simple, every single chapter introduces a few new mechanics that you will have to master in order to progress. Whether they be platforms that disintegrate underneath you, platforms that move in sync with your dashing, walls you can dash through that have a unique effect. gemstones that replenish your dash midair, bubbles that shoot you far off into certain directions, and the list goes on and on, each new mechanic requires you to use them with near perfect precision and timing. The challenge can be occasionally frustrating, and you may find yourself dying several hundred times in any given chapter (I'm not exaggerating, you will die a lot), but it's the good kind of frustration that invites you to persist, not the kind that will cause you to rage quit. And none of your deaths feel out of your control. It doesn't require you to memorize every obstacle coming next, because there's never anything popping up that you didn't expect. Every obstacle is laid out in front of you, clear for you to see, which makes the challenge more inviting than frustrating.
    But I don't want to scare off potential players who are not so keen on the sound of timing and precision based gameplay, since that doesn't sound particularly fun by description alone, but this is a joy to play and an innumerable amount of sequences had me smiling and feeling accomplished by their end.

    Difficulty Level: 7/10
    I know 7 seems fairly low considering how much time I've already spent re-emphasizing the demand for precision, and how often you're going to die, and I'm sure you've already seen many other reviews that describe it to be tough as nails, and it is, but (thankfully) the game doesn't punish you for dying over and over and over and over. I had more than 300 deaths in a single chapter once. But this game doesn't kick you in the balls the way Cuphead does every time you die, you always re-spawn in the same frame that you died in, and it takes roughly half a second to re-spawn. The sheer amount of precision the game demands in and of itself would be enough to make it a 10, but the forgiving nature of the game makes the challenge much more manageable, so you can throw yourself at the same obstacle over and over and over and over again until you get it right, which is a godsend, because I would have honestly never bothered finishing the game if I had to deal with a lives system, or if it sent me back to the beginning of each level, or something like that.

    Story: 7/10
    I'm actually not as enamored with the story as many other people seem to be. I think it's great to see more and more video games experiment in dealing with heavy thematic matter such as anxiety, panic, apathy, depression, emotional distance, etc, and I think Celeste does a good job of it, and I can imagine many people out there being touched by it, because it handles delicate topics with sensitivity, earnestness, and a touch of humor. I like the characters a lot (and I love that they actually created an Instagram account for the character who is always taking selfies and writing posts throughout the game), but I don't think it's quite perfect yet. I really hope the developers keep experimenting with this kind of subject matter, because Celeste has made me eager for whatever the dish up next.

    Artwork/Design: 8/10
    I used to refer to this segment as "graphics," because graphical power used to be important when reviewing games, but we've reached an era of gaming when gamers and reviewers are less concerned about graphical horsepower and more interested in artwork, with absolutely beautiful looking games such as Cuphead and Journey, which are both stunning games due to their artwork, even though they're not going to max out the system you run them on by any means. Celeste is in that category, and it is a brilliantly designed game.

    Music: 9/10
    It is impressive in and of itself that these indie developers composed more than two hours of music for a relatively short game (around 10hrs max to complete all of the main bits, 20 if you're a completionist that is going to collect all the strawberries and complete all the "B side" challenges), and it pays off, because the soundtrack is just beautiful.

    Overall: 10/10
    While I think the story is good, even though I wasn't as deeply impressed with it as many other reviewers were, the controls, gameplay, and design are every bit as good as you've heard and Celeste is a game that deserves to be experienced by anybody who can spare twenty bucks to try it out.    … Full Review »
  2. SethpCecil
    Feb 23, 2018
    3
    To me Celeste is at best a competent platformer with a nice soundtrack, at worst it's an unoriginal retro style game riding the "git gud" waveTo me Celeste is at best a competent platformer with a nice soundtrack, at worst it's an unoriginal retro style game riding the "git gud" wave of better games such as Dark Souls and Super Meat Boy. The gameplay loop becomes repetitive after the first world and the when you finally pass a particularly difficult area you get more a sense of relief that its finally over rather than accomplishment. I appreciate why some enjoy this game, but in no way is it a "best game of all time" game, this game isn't even in my top 10 of 2D platformer games.… Full Review »
  3. MoondogJapan
    Apr 17, 2018
    4
    10/10?? You people are out of your minds.

    tldr: if you usually don't like extremely difficult 2d platformers, but you're thinking that with    10/10?? You people are out of your minds.

    tldr: if you usually don't like extremely difficult 2d platformers, but you're thinking that with all these rave reviews maybe you should buy it and see what all the fuss is about...
    Stop Right There. Do NOT buy this game. It will be a painful waste of money.

    If you're looking for a challenge and hate yourself, buy this game and waste your life on it, please.

    The story? Meh. Common tropes about overcoming personal weakness. That makes it a standout game? Are you serious?

    Tight controls? Absolutely not! The more difficult levels (one screen is one level, typically) rely too much on luck to complete. You can find yourself rehashing the same jump attempt for 20 minutes. And when you succeed? You have no idea what you did different that time. That's luck. Not skill.
    Which means that the game is a Failure at developing skill in players via play.
    It also means the switch analog stick is a Horrible input method for performing such fine movements.

    The art? If you usually don't like pixelated art in games, this game is in no way going to change your mind. I hate pixelated graphics. I don't care if it takes more effort to make. It looks awful. And if you're going to be making players replay the exact same move over and over for over 10 minutes on the same exact screen until they get lucky, the screens should be beautiful to look at.

    The music? Actually very good. I bumped up my score a full point for music.

    The other 3 points are pity points. Some people worked very hard to make this title, and even though it galls me that a game this bad is one of the highest rated games on Switch, the fact that they made a game that some people seem to really enjoy is worth something.

    Mario games have charm and soul. This game is an ugly, repetitious bore that tricks players into thinking they've achieved something when success is too often dependent on luck.

    I can't help but wonder how many of these high scores were bought.    … Full Review »
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