UPDATE: Just wanted to mention that the lead developer now goes by Maddy Thorson, and I didn't see the news about her transition until slightly after making this video - apologies for the mistake! Hello again! Just wanna give a big thanks to my Patreon supporters, they're one of the reasons I'm able to work on longer projects like this one. Here's yet another link if you'd like to consider supporting the channel: www.patreon.com/yakkocmn
4:26 I think the jellyfish and pufferfish are a nod to how Madeline described how depression feels to Theo in Chapter 6, like being in a deep ocean. That could also explain the various other sea life that shows up in the backgrounds of the chapter.
Also between the bird, Badeline, and jellyfish, you spend a lot of the chapter grabbing onto things and having to let them go, even if you don’t really want to.
So, I just got an idea. You know how this game is incredibly meta? In a sense that Madeline is literally you, the player, Mt. Celeste is the game itself, Theo represents casual players that play Celeste simply for the fun of it, Mr. Oshiro is a dev or a modder that clutches on to this game and has anxiety about people liking it? I believe Granny is a metaphor for veteran players. She literally lives on the mountain god know how long and knows all (or most) of its secrets. Granny is constantly making fun of Madeline, saying stuff like "do you really think you can climb this mountain?", but is also helpful, sharing some of the secrets of Mt. Celeste with Madeline for example giving her the idea that she should just talk to Badeline instead. (I am not mentioning the symbolism of this characters in the context of Madeline's struggle to overcome her anxiety because it is not the topic I am talking about now) So how does it corelate with the story of Farewell? It explains why Granny is dead. To unlock Farewell you need to collect crystal hearts, uncover secrets of the game. And by the time you finish Farewell you know all the secret techniques, you have beaten the hardest challenge this game has to offer and you know all about it. You are now a veteran player. You are now Granny. As Madeline learns to say goodbye, player ascends too. You may not be playing a lot, or even at all, after that, your skill may become rusty. And when you will see somebody trying Celeste for the first tome you will sarcastically ask them if they believe they can beat such a hard game, but also will share some of your secrets with them, such as wave-dashing or wall-bouncing. Just like old Granny sitting at the bottom of a Mt. Celeste, greeting Madeline.
btw the moon berry route in the farewell room gives you a checkpoint after you reach the large flat platform with a spring it’s really nice that they did, because the next part is where the pain really starts
@@TheOneWhoHasABadName I spent about 2-3 hours getting to that checkpoint, dying countless times after destroying the electricity box but before getting to the checkpoint... I would've honestly really appreciated a checkpoint much earlier.
@TheOneWhoHasABadName tbh you can get through to the required death room fairly quickly after the spring checkpoint, since that section is very short, but the Moon Berry room itself is absolutely demonic. Like, you just cleared the hardest room in the game, and then you're hit with an equally impossible room
5:40 fun fact is that you can actually skip this barrier without collecting 15 hearts if you're fast enough and can get to the other side before it drops down.
I think this was intentional actually cause to skip this barrier you have to use the mechanic that they want you to practise before you can go past the barrier
Yeah that's exactly what I did, got there after so much trouble and hardship, but I was several hearts short so I searched up a speed run to see if there was a way underneath. Lo and behold there was, so after 10-15 minutes of trying I got it luckily.
I had about 3000 deaths in Chapter 9, including the extra thingy that I don't wanna spoil. My overall death count is about 19k, but that's including replaying a lot of levels for golden strawb practice. (so maybe about 15k)
honestly, I respect players who have a higher deathcount for the same achievement more, since most people with low deathcounts usually just had their first hell levels somewhere else and here they were already ready. But the noobs who haven't had many gaming challenges before require a lot more determination. I have 3k deaths on farewell and I didn't rage much, but I know that's because I had a very hard time in my previous games. I have no idea whether I would have the will to pass celeste if I had no prior experience. For comparison, my sister died 2k times on 3A and she still kept going and beat 7A. idk if I could do that.
Something else: Farewell is actually the A-Side, B-Side and C-Side *all in 1 level* It starts off with the A-Side, not much more to say about it. Then, after 5:30 and the fake crystal heart, it moves on to the B-Side segment where there is a barrier requiring crystal hearts and also a new technique introduced, concluding off with the beat block screens (I know that normally in B-Sides there is only 1 beat block screen however the fact that it still has it is a sign that it is the end of the B-Side segment). Finally, It's onto 9:20 where you enter the C-Side segment and while for most of the screens there isn't much commonality at the end there is one massive room to beat just like all of the C-Sides.
I was literally thinking about that this morning, right before watching this video. And I was thinking how they should've split the three so it's more manageable to beat... silly me!
Yup. They just shove the harder things on the players who just want to complete the story instead of dealing with tryhard garbage like the B/C sides. And no, assist mode does not fix the underlying issue of a broken difficulty curve.
@@Architector_4 tryhard garbage lol theyre well designed levels and the difficulty curve is perfectly fine, it expects you to have played most of the rest of the game by this point, it's supposed to be difficult and frustrating in parts, so yes assist mode does fix the problem if you dont want the challenge and just want the story (or to compensate for actual disability)
@@sashabell9997 The level, directly in line with the rest of the story ("A sides") levels, is more difficult than some of B/C sides of other levels. I believe the appeal of separating B/C sides from A sides was specifically so that people can get the story with a fair (and not a ridiculously hard) challenge. I want a story with a fair challenge, like the rest of the levels provide. This new level is directly in line with the rest of the levels, and proves to be even harder than some of the B/C sides separated from the story as separate hard challenges. If it's supposed to be so hard and frustrating, then why the rest of the levels do not incorporate B/C sides into them too, and instead allow you to experience the full story without playing them? Assist mode, instead, simply removes all challenge. I don't want just the story with no challenge either - at that point why not just watch a playthrough. Or if you don't use invincibility but stick to other options, it then ends up altering the experience big enough for it to be unfamiliar to you, which keeps it a hard challenge. Unless you crank the speed waay down, but then it both becomes a challenge (maybe even a fair one), but also incredibly boring as you have to spend time on the slowdown. I otherwise love this game, love its separation of story from ridiculous challenge in the rest of the levels, and I want to love this closure chapter too. But I can't.
I personally waited 8 months to finally watch this video, and the main reason I finally got to beat Farewell was because I myself started struggling with my own personal goals in life Sometimes the thought that you're not doing anything impactful really catches up to you, that whatever you're doing isn't really meaningful to other people... Farewell told me that my personal achievements are for myself, I climbed the chapter that only 6% of the players bothered to climb, its a worthless game achievement, in the scope of all things this is just a silly made-up goal that does not impact anyone but myself... And that's the point. That goal was for me, it was a challenge that I overcame and that I'm proud of overcoming.. It doesn't matter if others might see it as worthless, it's not worthless to me, and that's what should matter in the end of the day... Have a good day yakko, and thank you for covering Celeste as much as you do, it really is something special. Have a good climb everyone, the view is always worth it.
11:25 yooooo!!! this part of the video is epic!! loved the gameplay, this was probably the best segment if a video on your whole channel. im still trying to get over how cool that trick you did was!!! keep up the good work man!
Celeste’s Farewell is basically a second game completely separate from the main game. It’s not really a Chapter 9, just an extra story to tell that they went all out on.
This is honestly the best analysis of Farewell that I've ever seen. You went over the themes and ideas of every section of this chapter, over how the difficulty of the chapter is an important aspect of the story and has a *reason* to be there, how the music reflects Madeline's emotions at the moment, and how the struggle between Madeline's determination and Badeline's fear that has been present throughout the game as a major theme since Chapter 2 is suddenly turned on its head, with Madeline being the one in the wrong as she pushes herself too far, hurting herself in the process. The entire story of chapter 9 is beautiful, echoing the themes of the game while expanding on them at the same time in new ways. You did an amazing job with this analysis, it's truly incredible.
13:54 "Some parts of the metaphorical climb that is life are going to be so difficult that sometimes, I just gotta put down the metaphorical controller, or the metaphorical keyboard, or metaphorically slam my metaphorical face to a metaphorical wall, maybe even giving my metaphorical brain a metaphorical concussion"
Yakko. Thanks for making videos man. You don't post consistently but when u do each one is really well made and I enjoy them a ton. Thanks for being a damn good youtuber
Honestly, playing Celeste when I did I think made me a much better person in the long run. I was never a particularly anxious person, but the game showed me a lot of what people do go through, and when things did eventually get tough, to stick through it. The whole game, especially the music (I own the vinyls and the god damn Cassettes for some reason) tugs at my heart strings and I like to think made me the person I am today. One thing Matt said at the GOTY acceptance speech really stuck with me though, "if Celeste helped you in any way, know that that change came from inside you". So thank you to this game, from the bottom of my heart and I'm sure so many others, for rather than doing things for us, helping people grow themselves. That's something only a video game could have achieved, and a damn good one at that.
The beauty of Celeste is that even if you're bad, you can still make progress room by room, screen by screen. It may take you 100 tries where a better player may get it in 10, but anyone can beat it with enough persistence!
how do you even do it when misinputs are common, even if they don’t drift keyboard gives me more fingers to work with, just so I can make tech easier on myself (at the cost of feather control, but most mods don’t do extremely precise feathers lol)
I literally just started playing yesterday, and damn that game is amazing. Like you can feel the love and care the devs put into the game. I randomly found the pico-8 game and spent a good half hour clearing levels in there lol
I spent literally nearly two years waiting to watch this video because I was waiting on finishing Farewell myself. It's surprising how taking a break from the game as a whole for an extended period of time is a common occurrence for a lot of players... but I almost feel like it's on purpose. Story wise, it makes complete sense, especially how Granny says "The mountain doesn't pull any punches" and "There's no shame in running back to your car and driving away. Some day you'll be ready, and then you'll come back." But also this just feels very true to life and for a lot of problems and it's very soothing to know that you can come back to them and tackle them another day when you're more ready. The way the game frames that mindset is impossible to explain until you've experienced, and I just find it oddly magical that this game can teach you so much about life and yourself. I'll always be thinking back to this game and going back whenever I feel lost, I love it so much!!
I remember me starting a new game because i just couldn't do farewell. Then my best friend (who showed me this game) asked "Did you already beat farewell?" and i was like "no i just couldn't do it" And then he said the one thing that hooked me again "that's the thing. You can't do it until you tried it. Over and over. You didn't gave up the first 1000 deaths so you stop at the end?" and he was right. After this i sat there 2 hours, just finishing the last screen. I cried screamed and was so attached that i didn't even noticed how much i died or hiw many hours i spended. In the end, it was one of my biggest achievements in gaming and im so thankful that he kept me going.
This chapter was amazing. I thought "I'm probably close to the end" like five times when playing it. Really rewarding to beat. I think the final screen took me around 3 hours.
The Farewell ost is by far my favorite track in all Celeste. When I feel down and/or stressed, I put my headphones on, close my eyes and listen to this amazing soundtrack. It reminds me how difficult this dlc was, and how it looked impossible at first glance (and it still looks impossible now tbh). And how I managed to get through it all. It gives me soooo much determination and it helps me relax a lot. Truly an amazing track. On a side note, this was a very good video, thanks for the amazing work you're doing Yakko !
Honestly, getting this dialog in between Madeline and Badeline really set my flame a light for new hope, that I can make it. These small bits of dialog helped me to push onward and beat this chapter for good and I did. It's such a beautiful game and I am kinda sad that I discovered it now, and not sooner.
11:52 made me tear up. I haven't played the game and ultimately spoiled myself. But god damn, your explanation about that part was just touching for me who loves video games but suck at it and will do my very best with undying determination to finish a game. Man, I need to play this game soon.
'Badeline' is so genuinely caring at times.. despite being only a 2D entity, I think we could all use someone in our lives to just.. ask us if we're okay, every now and then
The hing you kinda did in this video what will completely make your videos a lot better is that the music kinda fits. Music manipulates your subconscious which is used in celeste and if you use it in your videos you can make your videos be remembered by your viewers. Even movies have a lot of thought put in the music.
I feel celeste mountain is a physical manifestation of literal metaphors, which makes it a beautiful yet dangerous place. Granny must have been though to live there.
Instantly one of my favourites of your videos. I haven't played Celeste but from your analysis in this video I could feel the emotions of the game, the creators and yourself. Would love to see more of this kind of content.
You said it so perfectly about the music... there was times that the thought of anger and despair popes up in my head and i want to let go of the chapter but just by hearing the theme its washed away and i am ready to take THE last room one more time again and again!
@@ZekeGenterHonestly, Celeste isn't difficult, it just takes a while to get used to a level and knowing what the shia to do, even the C sides or farewell, it's trial and error, pick the game up, you won't regret it
@@ZekeGenter it looks difficult and it is difficult. Sometimes the game can make you feel like it's impossible to beat but in the end, that's up to you. If you like platformers and a challenge, you have to try this. You're missing out on a lot if you don't, I'm telling you.
@@ZekeGenter The assist mode feels fair, as you can adjust only the speed, if you reaction time is slow. Or you can use infinite dashes as well, whatever you feel is right.
6:56 There is literally a powerpoint on how to wavedash. Madeline literally googles how to pass the level. The player looking up answers online is canon to celeste. Holy shit this game is good.
I saved this when the video first came out, and I figured it was finally time to watch it. And holy introcar, was it a good watch! I love how you analyzed everything, from the level design, to Lena Raine's amazing music, to even the small details like Badeline's encouragement. Celeste is a very fluid game, changing itself to the mood it wants to make you feel! Want to make the player feel like what they're doing isn't right, despite their avatar, Madeline, wanting to push forward? Make the music determined, but sometimes overbearing. Make the challenges overbearingly difficult, but also tight, and always have another one to tell the player they're not done yet. Make the saturation a little more than normal to the point where it's kinda bright. Make horrible rooms like thAT GOD FORSAKEN COMB- ....ahem. Make Madeline frustrated along with you, and irrational to the point where you're not sure if you should be on her side! Make the person who used to be the antagonist, Badeline, the one who was always trying to stop Madeline, feel like the most rational person! Want to make the player feel like they should push ahead, even when everything's telling them not to? Create hard challenges, but make the open and fast and fun! Have determined and triumphant music, that steadily eggs you on more and more as you get close, a happy setting, and great rewards (like constant checkpoints)! In other words, make it hard but fun! Celeste is a masterpiece. It's both difficult but is user friendly. Mechanically, it slowly gets the player to work harder and get better. Emotionally, the game provides you with a story that feels ingrained in both the gameplay and you, so that you always want to keep going. Thanks for this video, it really helps show all the thought that went into this amazing game. :)
What is incredible for me is the fact that farewell is a variation of the medoly of the second chapter, which is a dream as well. Not only that, but the last section of the song is a combination of piano, synth and violin, which only plays in the moment where madelin, badelin and the bird are working together wake up from that dream. The song is literally telling you the story you are playing .
I just got the chapter 9 today. These videos introduced me to the game and I’m so glad I went out of my way to play it. I’m looking forward to playing the final chapter even though I know it is going to be stressful. Very few games have given me a sense of accomplishment so the fact that Celeste manages to give me that feeling with almost every screen clear makes me so happy. The story of overcoming anxiety and depression really pulled me deeper and deeper into the game. Whenever I feel overwhelmed with anything in life I can simply just breath and know I’ll eventually get to where I need to be. Thank you for making these videos.
I first started playing Celeste late October this year, a few days after finding out that my grandmother passed away, the entire experience was one that I'll never forget. And then came chapter 9, it was by far the hardest thing I've ever played but it hit especially close to home for obvious reasons and I knew that I had to see it through to the end, no matter what, and eventually I got through, it was definitely both a sad and frustrating time but I don't regret a single second of it.
thank you for explaiining what the final chapter was MEANT to feel like. I just kinda got sick of all the extra stuff and wanted to finish of all the content and turned on assist mode to finish everything off.
I got celeste a few weeks ago, and was about halfway through farewell when this video dropped. I continuously toiled away at the level, dying 3651 times, solely for the purpose of being able to watch this video without spoilers. It was worth it.
I subbed to Yakko when he was a goofy league of legends youtuber, but I am so much more greatful for videos like this. The surprisingly deep and articulate way Yakko describes games is amazing. I look forward to videos like this so much more than any other videos from the Karp Krew. You my boi Yakko
I cleared Farewell two days ago, and found this video today. It summarizes everything that Celeste has become, for its community, for the casual players, for the developers. You took a very close look at many of the aspects that helped make the chapter special and put it into terms we could understand, even things we might have missed (because I never actually saw the Badeline talk in the final room, yes I have over 3000 deaths in the chapter overall).
This is beautiful work, honestly felt a little emotional at times watching it. That last screen of the last chapter is the toughest experience I’ve ever had in a game, even more so when I heard about the secret part of the level, going right when you break the electric box instead of right and had to do it all again. Just an incredible game.
I had been debating whether I would put P5 or Celeste on my favorite game of all time, going back to back with them. And then Farewell hit me on the face, and that’s were I knew this was my favorite game of all time. *I mean, P5R came out, and it’s an amazing expansion, but like, it doesn’t compare to the raw emotions I feel with Celeste*
I've literally had this video saved to watch later for a year or two to finish chapter 9 💀 (I stopped playing for a while in between the time, but still)
My god that last screen. Jesus Christ. Im honestly really glad you made this video. None of my friends have played the game fully (I know Igotta get some new ones) so its nice to have someone, whos opinion I value, share the same feelings. I think I died around 4.5k times on the final level but it was all worth it in the end. Very good video, will watch again several times from now on on my second screen while playing something else.
Loved this video! Thank you for capturing my feelings about Farewell so concisely. I just finished Farewell today (7.5 hours, 2,400 deaths) and I can't stop thinking about the entire journey. You're so right about the final Farewell theme being able to calm you down. After going through so many emotions related to, "There's no fucking way I can finish this" the Farewell theme convinced me that I actually could do it. My mood changed in time for that final room. This game ❤️ P.S. I know this video is quite old, but since I don't see it anywhere in the comments, the lead developer now goes by Maddy Thorson 💜
as someone that recently came back to celeste to finally get the moon berry, I still to this day believe that chapter nine is one hell of an experience and does a much better job of translating the emotions and struggle of actually climbing a mountain that any of the other parts of the game did. (not that they were any worse or anything as much as my hands disagree)
I just beat Celeste for the first time after I got it in the steam summer sale. I completed all A and B sides and collected every strawberry, but when I got to chapter 9 it threw me. I had no idea it was in the game when I started and so I went into it fully ready to conquer it, but I just couldn't. I got past the crystal heart and realized there was more, and it just felt impossible. I had to take a break. But seeing that you and others had to do it in parts and take your time and grapple with the themes of the chapter sorta made me feel better. I don't think I'm ready to finish it yet, but I will eventually, and I know it's gonna be satisfying as heck when I do.
For me the beauty of Celeste is feeling like, "wow this level is literally impossible." And then I randomly string together all the moves just right and I think "holy shit I did the impossible." No other game has ever made me feel that way.
I had like the opposite reaction when Badeline showed up in the final room. I hadn’t lost any confidence/determination at that point so it just felt really patronizing lol.
Yakko, I cannot begin to tell you how much I love this video. Have been a fan of yours for a while but this one just hits all of the marks as far as I'm concerned. I study musicology with a focus on music and media, including videogame music. Your video felt like a youtube-version of an essay I could've written. Love your analysis man! Keep it up, can't wait to see more of these videogame/music analysis videos.
Great video man, it's hard to believe that I started seeing you videos when they were league montages. I would love for you to throw a video like this every once in a while. Loved every single moment of the video, keep up the great work Yakko.
My man this video is probably one of the best ones on this channel and is REALLY well made and the effort REALLY shows I know I'll waste my time watching this again and again even later on
I came across this video back when it got uploaded, and it's what made me buy Celeste. My first playthrough, I felt accomplished beating chapter 9 and put the game down without touching any of the C-sides. This year, I decided to start over, and as of today I have finished all A, B, and C sides and got the moonberry! The whole game was an amazing experience with many frustrating moments that made the victories so much sweeter. Thanks yakko for introducing a game that I will hold close to my heart for a long time
i absolutely still adore this video and i also noticed something that i think was missed, but might have been considered and dropped for run time in the level design and music, it all opens with this nervous and dark vibes, representing the new environments and Madeline's hesitancy to explore this dream and then it all opens up, the music gets playful, and the dream plays along with Madeline's determination to save Granny, throwing the heart at her as if to say, "okay, that's enough! time to wake up!" but then as she forces her way through the rest, it tenses up, tries to close her out. the music is tight, the platforming is claustrophobic, she's breaking through the walls of this dream, climbing through the metaphorical vents to try to find a way to the end and then the dream opens up and says, "fine, you want to keep going? you're playing by our rules now," and takes everything away, forces her to look the void in the eye, and makes her slow down and take each move seriously, forcing her to think about everything that's happening ("look at what you've done!") and then finally, she relents, decides what she truly needs (set the bird free and make what she did right), and gives her one last fight to right her wrongs. it's long and arduous and sometimes she'll fall but so long as she keeps getting up, she'll make it and then there's peace
Thanks for that. I'm 50, not a hardcore gamer by any means (I wouldn't have known about Celeste if my kids weren't playing it), but this game and its music really hit me in the soul. I ran out of talent near the end of Core, but it was good to see an analysis (not just a walkthrough) of Farewell.
"If you're a speedruninng legend, who's amazing at Celeste, you may've not even seen this section of dialogue" Well, TGH had it pop up, which should say something about its difficulty.
Superb. This game is truly a piece of art from its platforming to its story and all the elements in between. As I grow older, music in movies and games move me so much more than they used to, and Celeste legit has brought me to tears at moments from its powerful usage of its musical motifs and simple yet profound character development (not to mention from the end cutscene of Golden Ridge through Reflection are some of the starkest and most accurate depictions of what struggling with anxiety and/or depressive thoughts really feels like).
Yakko, this game and it’s beautiful soundtrack and DLC, you are a god for uploading this. This game single-handedly made me look at video games differently.
11:00 "A track can exist in the background for a multi hour play session without feeling repetitive" *The final scene of farewell would like to speak with you*
UPDATE: Just wanted to mention that the lead developer now goes by Maddy Thorson, and I didn't see the news about her transition until slightly after making this video - apologies for the mistake!
Hello again! Just wanna give a big thanks to my Patreon supporters, they're one of the reasons I'm able to work on longer projects like this one.
Here's yet another link if you'd like to consider supporting the channel: www.patreon.com/yakkocmn
They the epic ones.
Are you going to revisit Battle Chef Brigade? The game got a huge update a while back and now you can play as the necromancer and COUCH VS MODE
umm you havent beat chapter 9 lmao look up the moonberry
but gg the final chapter is hell and if u really enjoyed and wish there mas more content there is there's a tonne of mods for celeste on game banana
@@andromeda_neko i haven’t even got to the heart gate and already have over 1000 deaths
Tbh, rickrolling fans that looked through the audio files is the ultimate powermove by the devs
why have I not been able to find anyone else making a post/video on this
Ah, with my like now it is 420, nice
@Ayden Shields 11:16
Ayden Shields listen to the secret character again
Can u upload the full Rick roll?
Getting blocked by the heart barrier and then immediately opening it has to be my most powerful gaming moment.
Take it the next step. Skip the door entirely.
Hey dude i just skipped it
*LAUGHS IN CHAPTER 9 GATE SKIP*
I got blocked and skipped it out of pure anger and determination lol
When the door appeared after all those deaths i just: 😃... what?
4:26 I think the jellyfish and pufferfish are a nod to how Madeline described how depression feels to Theo in Chapter 6, like being in a deep ocean. That could also explain the various other sea life that shows up in the backgrounds of the chapter.
Also between the bird, Badeline, and jellyfish, you spend a lot of the chapter grabbing onto things and having to let them go, even if you don’t really want to.
I’ve never thought of it like that! This game’s fans always surprise me with their thoughts on symbolism
This is genius
That is a nice one dude!
There's also ... random bacteria in the background
So, I just got an idea. You know how this game is incredibly meta? In a sense that Madeline is literally you, the player, Mt. Celeste is the game itself, Theo represents casual players that play Celeste simply for the fun of it, Mr. Oshiro is a dev or a modder that clutches on to this game and has anxiety about people liking it? I believe Granny is a metaphor for veteran players. She literally lives on the mountain god know how long and knows all (or most) of its secrets. Granny is constantly making fun of Madeline, saying stuff like "do you really think you can climb this mountain?", but is also helpful, sharing some of the secrets of Mt. Celeste with Madeline for example giving her the idea that she should just talk to Badeline instead. (I am not mentioning the symbolism of this characters in the context of Madeline's struggle to overcome her anxiety because it is not the topic I am talking about now)
So how does it corelate with the story of Farewell? It explains why Granny is dead. To unlock Farewell you need to collect crystal hearts, uncover secrets of the game. And by the time you finish Farewell you know all the secret techniques, you have beaten the hardest challenge this game has to offer and you know all about it. You are now a veteran player. You are now Granny. As Madeline
learns to say goodbye, player ascends too. You may not be playing a lot, or even at all, after that, your skill may become rusty. And when you will see somebody trying Celeste for the first tome you will sarcastically ask them if they believe they can beat such a hard game, but also will share some of your secrets with them, such as wave-dashing or wall-bouncing.
Just like old Granny sitting at the bottom of a Mt. Celeste, greeting Madeline.
that's so galaxy size brain shit right there
That's deeper than Evangelion tbh
Wow
Actually speechless. This was lovely, thanks
:O
"two minutes of precise platforming without checkpoints"
_cries in Moon Berry_
btw the moon berry route in the farewell room gives you a checkpoint after you reach the large flat platform with a spring
it’s really nice that they did, because the next part is where the pain really starts
@@TheOneWhoHasABadName I spent about 2-3 hours getting to that checkpoint, dying countless times after destroying the electricity box but before getting to the checkpoint... I would've honestly really appreciated a checkpoint much earlier.
@TheOneWhoHasABadName tbh you can get through to the required death room fairly quickly after the spring checkpoint, since that section is very short, but the Moon Berry room itself is absolutely demonic. Like, you just cleared the hardest room in the game, and then you're hit with an equally impossible room
Yakko: Excited about discovering a secret character
Celeste Devs: Haha, lmao
Exited
@@lewis9s Thanks for the grammar lesson teach
Nyever gyonya gyive yyou yup
Nyver gonna lit u down
@@lewis9s good job buddy, you fucked up
5:40 fun fact is that you can actually skip this barrier without collecting 15 hearts if you're fast enough and can get to the other side before it drops down.
I think this was intentional actually cause to skip this barrier you have to use the mechanic that they want you to practise before you can go past the barrier
@@Ylaiah Big Brain Moment
@@Ylaiah it was made for speed runners
Yeah that's exactly what I did, got there after so much trouble and hardship, but I was several hearts short so I searched up a speed run to see if there was a way underneath. Lo and behold there was, so after 10-15 minutes of trying I got it luckily.
You can also die there if you’re too slow (even in assist mode!)
11:22 Wow, they referenced THAT with this secret character? I love games paying homages to the greatest games of all time and the greatest characters
Best character 2020
You're goddam right
It’s so endearing to see indie devs give reference to the games that inspired them. That was the best part of this game.
A form of art beyond anything ever seen.
never gonna aeiou up
Celeste literally whipped me emotionally until i beat a level, then will repeat it
I'll tell people that "I'm playing this game, I hate it, it's so much fun" and chuckle as I slam my face into spikes for an hour at a time
Yakko: "I died 3514 times."
Me: Has died 12456 times*
I uhhh. 750.
Same lol, my save file has 31k deaths total with Farewell making up a little less than half of it. Same for my playtime.
I had about 3000 deaths in Chapter 9, including the extra thingy that I don't wanna spoil. My overall death count is about 19k, but that's including replaying a lot of levels for golden strawb practice. (so maybe about 15k)
honestly, I respect players who have a higher deathcount for the same achievement more, since most people with low deathcounts usually just had their first hell levels somewhere else and here they were already ready. But the noobs who haven't had many gaming challenges before require a lot more determination. I have 3k deaths on farewell and I didn't rage much, but I know that's because I had a very hard time in my previous games. I have no idea whether I would have the will to pass celeste if I had no prior experience. For comparison, my sister died 2k times on 3A and she still kept going and beat 7A. idk if I could do that.
@@freddy4603 Hah, what a nub, I have 14k
I didn't rage, but I took a 4 month hiatus right before the final chapter for some reason
Something else: Farewell is actually the A-Side, B-Side and C-Side *all in 1 level*
It starts off with the A-Side, not much more to say about it.
Then, after 5:30 and the fake crystal heart, it moves on to the B-Side segment where there is a barrier requiring crystal hearts and also a new technique introduced, concluding off with the beat block screens (I know that normally in B-Sides there is only 1 beat block screen however the fact that it still has it is a sign that it is the end of the B-Side segment).
Finally, It's onto 9:20 where you enter the C-Side segment and while for most of the screens there isn't much commonality at the end there is one massive room to beat just like all of the C-Sides.
I was literally thinking about that this morning, right before watching this video. And I was thinking how they should've split the three so it's more manageable to beat... silly me!
The moon berry is part of the c-side too
Yup. They just shove the harder things on the players who just want to complete the story instead of dealing with tryhard garbage like the B/C sides.
And no, assist mode does not fix the underlying issue of a broken difficulty curve.
@@Architector_4 tryhard garbage lol theyre well designed levels and the difficulty curve is perfectly fine, it expects you to have played most of the rest of the game by this point, it's supposed to be difficult and frustrating in parts, so yes assist mode does fix the problem if you dont want the challenge and just want the story (or to compensate for actual disability)
@@sashabell9997
The level, directly in line with the rest of the story ("A sides") levels, is more difficult than some of B/C sides of other levels. I believe the appeal of separating B/C sides from A sides was specifically so that people can get the story with a fair (and not a ridiculously hard) challenge.
I want a story with a fair challenge, like the rest of the levels provide. This new level is directly in line with the rest of the levels, and proves to be even harder than some of the B/C sides separated from the story as separate hard challenges. If it's supposed to be so hard and frustrating, then why the rest of the levels do not incorporate B/C sides into them too, and instead allow you to experience the full story without playing them?
Assist mode, instead, simply removes all challenge. I don't want just the story with no challenge either - at that point why not just watch a playthrough. Or if you don't use invincibility but stick to other options, it then ends up altering the experience big enough for it to be unfamiliar to you, which keeps it a hard challenge. Unless you crank the speed waay down, but then it both becomes a challenge (maybe even a fair one), but also incredibly boring as you have to spend time on the slowdown.
I otherwise love this game, love its separation of story from ridiculous challenge in the rest of the levels, and I want to love this closure chapter too. But I can't.
I personally waited 8 months to finally watch this video, and the main reason I finally got to beat Farewell was because I myself started struggling with my own personal goals in life
Sometimes the thought that you're not doing anything impactful really catches up to you, that whatever you're doing isn't really meaningful to other people...
Farewell told me that my personal achievements are for myself, I climbed the chapter that only 6% of the players bothered to climb, its a worthless game achievement, in the scope of all things this is just a silly made-up goal that does not impact anyone but myself...
And that's the point. That goal was for me, it was a challenge that I overcame and that I'm proud of overcoming.. It doesn't matter if others might see it as worthless, it's not worthless to me, and that's what should matter in the end of the day...
Have a good day yakko, and thank you for covering Celeste as much as you do, it really is something special.
Have a good climb everyone, the view is always worth it.
When you said “he’s gonna say it” I thought it was leading up to “childlike wonder”
disliked and unsubbed
gotta keep the tension building for when i'll say it next
People who say games are not art are the same people who said films aren't art.
Called the cops
Pancakes?????
@@Hello-bg8hv Pancakes.
11:25 yooooo!!! this part of the video is epic!! loved the gameplay, this was probably the best segment if a video on your whole channel. im still trying to get over how cool that trick you did was!!! keep up the good work man!
I... hate you
I'm so gullible
@@tomturtl nae naed
"Im so upset. I cant believe they did this to me.!"
Same
Celeste’s Farewell is basically a second game completely separate from the main game. It’s not really a Chapter 9, just an extra story to tell that they went all out on.
They litterally rick roll you in the audio files?!
I would've feel destroyed.
This is honestly the best analysis of Farewell that I've ever seen. You went over the themes and ideas of every section of this chapter, over how the difficulty of the chapter is an important aspect of the story and has a *reason* to be there, how the music reflects Madeline's emotions at the moment, and how the struggle between Madeline's determination and Badeline's fear that has been present throughout the game as a major theme since Chapter 2 is suddenly turned on its head, with Madeline being the one in the wrong as she pushes herself too far, hurting herself in the process. The entire story of chapter 9 is beautiful, echoing the themes of the game while expanding on them at the same time in new ways. You did an amazing job with this analysis, it's truly incredible.
11:25 boi I'm incapable of can't, for real that was funny
I love it.
When you think about it, that’s what Celeste character’s hear online.
13:54 "Some parts of the metaphorical climb that is life are going to be so difficult that sometimes, I just gotta put down the metaphorical controller, or the metaphorical keyboard, or metaphorically slam my metaphorical face to a metaphorical wall, maybe even giving my metaphorical brain a metaphorical concussion"
Yakko. Thanks for making videos man. You don't post consistently but when u do each one is really well made and I enjoy them a ton. Thanks for being a damn good youtuber
Honestly, playing Celeste when I did I think made me a much better person in the long run. I was never a particularly anxious person, but the game showed me a lot of what people do go through, and when things did eventually get tough, to stick through it. The whole game, especially the music (I own the vinyls and the god damn Cassettes for some reason) tugs at my heart strings and I like to think made me the person I am today. One thing Matt said at the GOTY acceptance speech really stuck with me though, "if Celeste helped you in any way, know that that change came from inside you". So thank you to this game, from the bottom of my heart and I'm sure so many others, for rather than doing things for us, helping people grow themselves. That's something only a video game could have achieved, and a damn good one at that.
“If you haven’t played Celeste, do you really have an excuse anymore”
I suck
assist mode
Play it
The beauty of Celeste is that even if you're bad, you can still make progress room by room, screen by screen. It may take you 100 tries where a better player may get it in 10, but anyone can beat it with enough persistence!
Assist mode
to bad there so bad people using assist mode
Man, I love Celeste. Like, a lot. Also, I did the stage "Farewell" on the portable Switch lol. Nice video man
Ocamper Joycon drift entered the chatroom
Ocamper I am using joy cons that have drift and my pro that hasn’t got it doesn’t work ;-; and I am on summit chapter 3 part. HELL
Ocamper I don’t know. It is a 3rd party product tho
I'm doing it on portable Switch too.
I actually did the entire rest of the game on portable too.
how do you even do it when misinputs are common, even if they don’t drift
keyboard gives me more fingers to work with, just so I can make tech easier on myself (at the cost of feather control, but most mods don’t do extremely precise feathers lol)
I literally just started playing yesterday, and damn that game is amazing. Like you can feel the love and care the devs put into the game. I randomly found the pico-8 game and spent a good half hour clearing levels in there lol
I literally started playing it two days ago lol, i feel the same thing tbh, ive played all the 2018 gotu nominees but this game felt different.
11:16 god I love this game
“After collecting fifteen crystal hearts”
*laughs in skip*
i mean, you need to know hot to wave dash to skip so its kinda of saying "look i dont want to do everything again ok? just let me pass it"
*Laughs in Debug Mode*
1:45 I can say... That was so fun to hear and see that I'm gonna replay persona 4 now
I spent literally nearly two years waiting to watch this video because I was waiting on finishing Farewell myself. It's surprising how taking a break from the game as a whole for an extended period of time is a common occurrence for a lot of players... but I almost feel like it's on purpose.
Story wise, it makes complete sense, especially how Granny says "The mountain doesn't pull any punches" and "There's no shame in running back to your car and driving away. Some day you'll be ready, and then you'll come back."
But also this just feels very true to life and for a lot of problems and it's very soothing to know that you can come back to them and tackle them another day when you're more ready. The way the game frames that mindset is impossible to explain until you've experienced, and I just find it oddly magical that this game can teach you so much about life and yourself. I'll always be thinking back to this game and going back whenever I feel lost, I love it so much!!
11:27 *damn the devs just rickrolled us like that*
The fading in of granny’s laughing is the best lart
I actually got really emotional when you showed that part where Badeline talks to the player, I think everyone needs a little push from time to time
I remember me starting a new game because i just couldn't do farewell. Then my best friend (who showed me this game) asked "Did you already beat farewell?" and i was like "no i just couldn't do it"
And then he said the one thing that hooked me again "that's the thing. You can't do it until you tried it. Over and over. You didn't gave up the first 1000 deaths so you stop at the end?" and he was right. After this i sat there 2 hours, just finishing the last screen. I cried screamed and was so attached that i didn't even noticed how much i died or hiw many hours i spended. In the end, it was one of my biggest achievements in gaming and im so thankful that he kept me going.
I’m leaving a more serious comment just to say holy hell, your music analysis is excellent. Really engaging to listen to.
This chapter was amazing. I thought "I'm probably close to the end" like five times when playing it. Really rewarding to beat. I think the final screen took me around 3 hours.
As a Switch user, I'm sad that I can't listen to the "secret character" file
I can't even find it on UA-cam :(
it's a rick roll
@@Andrews13channel I'm aware, but I wanna be able to listen it anytime
ua-cam.com/video/zKJ6xGVzrnI/v-deo.html
@@droycon The only rickroll I'll ever accept
Mauro Padrón yes
The Farewell ost is by far my favorite track in all Celeste. When I feel down and/or stressed, I put my headphones on, close my eyes and listen to this amazing soundtrack. It reminds me how difficult this dlc was, and how it looked impossible at first glance (and it still looks impossible now tbh). And how I managed to get through it all. It gives me soooo much determination and it helps me relax a lot. Truly an amazing track.
On a side note, this was a very good video, thanks for the amazing work you're doing Yakko !
Honestly, getting this dialog in between Madeline and Badeline really set my flame a light for new hope, that I can make it.
These small bits of dialog helped me to push onward and beat this chapter for good and I did.
It's such a beautiful game and I am kinda sad that I discovered it now, and not sooner.
Love hearing you talk about Celeste. It's easily one of the best platformers ever made and everyone should know about it.
11:52 made me tear up. I haven't played the game and ultimately spoiled myself. But god damn, your explanation about that part was just touching for me who loves video games but suck at it and will do my very best with undying determination to finish a game. Man, I need to play this game soon.
I got jumpscared by that.
'Badeline' is so genuinely caring at times.. despite being only a 2D entity, I think we could all use someone in our lives to just.. ask us if we're okay, every now and then
Nathan Carver
Honestly, we all need our own Badeline in our lives.
The hing you kinda did in this video what will completely make your videos a lot better is that the music kinda fits. Music manipulates your subconscious which is used in celeste and if you use it in your videos you can make your videos be remembered by your viewers. Even movies have a lot of thought put in the music.
I feel celeste mountain is a physical manifestation of literal metaphors, which makes it a beautiful yet dangerous place. Granny must have been though to live there.
Instantly one of my favourites of your videos. I haven't played Celeste but from your analysis in this video I could feel the emotions of the game, the creators and yourself. Would love to see more of this kind of content.
You said it so perfectly about the music...
there was times that the thought of anger and despair popes up in my head and i want to let go of the chapter but just by hearing the theme its washed away and i am ready to take THE last room one more time again and again!
Yo, wtf? I haven't even played this game, but that "Say good-bye to her for me," has me crying
Play it you bafoon!
@@Queen_Olivene it looks way too difficult for me, tbh. And I'd want to 100% it which just wouldn't happen
@@ZekeGenterHonestly, Celeste isn't difficult, it just takes a while to get used to a level and knowing what the shia to do, even the C sides or farewell, it's trial and error, pick the game up, you won't regret it
@@ZekeGenter it looks difficult and it is difficult. Sometimes the game can make you feel like it's impossible to beat but in the end, that's up to you.
If you like platformers and a challenge, you have to try this. You're missing out on a lot if you don't, I'm telling you.
@@ZekeGenter The assist mode feels fair, as you can adjust only the speed, if you reaction time is slow. Or you can use infinite dashes as well, whatever you feel is right.
6:56 There is literally a powerpoint on how to wavedash. Madeline literally googles how to pass the level.
The player looking up answers online is canon to celeste.
Holy shit this game is good.
Lmao that IS true
isn't wave dash in the game from the beginning, you just never knew it?
I saved this when the video first came out, and I figured it was finally time to watch it. And holy introcar, was it a good watch!
I love how you analyzed everything, from the level design, to Lena Raine's amazing music, to even the small details like Badeline's encouragement. Celeste is a very fluid game, changing itself to the mood it wants to make you feel!
Want to make the player feel like what they're doing isn't right, despite their avatar, Madeline, wanting to push forward? Make the music determined, but sometimes overbearing. Make the challenges overbearingly difficult, but also tight, and always have another one to tell the player they're not done yet. Make the saturation a little more than normal to the point where it's kinda bright. Make horrible rooms like thAT GOD FORSAKEN COMB- ....ahem. Make Madeline frustrated along with you, and irrational to the point where you're not sure if you should be on her side! Make the person who used to be the antagonist, Badeline, the one who was always trying to stop Madeline, feel like the most rational person!
Want to make the player feel like they should push ahead, even when everything's telling them not to? Create hard challenges, but make the open and fast and fun! Have determined and triumphant music, that steadily eggs you on more and more as you get close, a happy setting, and great rewards (like constant checkpoints)! In other words, make it hard but fun!
Celeste is a masterpiece. It's both difficult but is user friendly. Mechanically, it slowly gets the player to work harder and get better. Emotionally, the game provides you with a story that feels ingrained in both the gameplay and you, so that you always want to keep going.
Thanks for this video, it really helps show all the thought that went into this amazing game. :)
What is incredible for me is the fact that farewell is a variation of the medoly of the second chapter, which is a dream as well.
Not only that, but the last section of the song is a combination of piano, synth and violin, which only plays in the moment where madelin, badelin and the bird are working together wake up from that dream.
The song is literally telling you the story you are playing .
Yakko discussing music theory has got to be the most attractive thing I've heard in a while. 😳
I just got the chapter 9 today. These videos introduced me to the game and I’m so glad I went out of my way to play it. I’m looking forward to playing the final chapter even though I know it is going to be stressful. Very few games have given me a sense of accomplishment so the fact that Celeste manages to give me that feeling with almost every screen clear makes me so happy. The story of overcoming anxiety and depression really pulled me deeper and deeper into the game. Whenever I feel overwhelmed with anything in life I can simply just breath and know I’ll eventually get to where I need to be. Thank you for making these videos.
Such a fun video! Celeste is my favorite game of all time. Here’s a sub, you earned it
I first started playing Celeste late October this year, a few days after finding out that my grandmother passed away, the entire experience was one that I'll never forget. And then came chapter 9, it was by far the hardest thing I've ever played but it hit especially close to home for obvious reasons and I knew that I had to see it through to the end, no matter what, and eventually I got through, it was definitely both a sad and frustrating time but I don't regret a single second of it.
Wait THERES DLC
Ye, it’s free and out for a while. I warn you though, this is by far the hardest level in the game and you need fifteen hearts to reach the end.
Unless you skip the heart wall.
@@octosmic how?
@@Oliver-hd5fk after a while in this video you will see... ua-cam.com/video/guLwB_52yOU/v-deo.html
And so how was the DLC ? Did you beat it?
7:36 you did it, you described all of celeste, congrats
wavedashing to skip that barrier only for it to open behind me right afterwards has to be my ultimate powermove.
thank you for explaiining what the final chapter was MEANT to feel like. I just kinda got sick of all the extra stuff and wanted to finish of all the content and turned on assist mode to finish everything off.
9:15 was my exact reaction to chapter 5
I got celeste a few weeks ago, and was about halfway through farewell when this video dropped. I continuously toiled away at the level, dying 3651 times, solely for the purpose of being able to watch this video without spoilers.
It was worth it.
I just finished 100% this game after getting the Moon Berry about an hour ago. I. Feel. So. Alive!!!
16:05 "Madeline, I don't feel so good. Because I'm dead."
I subbed to Yakko when he was a goofy league of legends youtuber, but I am so much more greatful for videos like this. The surprisingly deep and articulate way Yakko describes games is amazing. I look forward to videos like this so much more than any other videos from the Karp Krew. You my boi Yakko
I cleared Farewell two days ago, and found this video today. It summarizes everything that Celeste has become, for its community, for the casual players, for the developers. You took a very close look at many of the aspects that helped make the chapter special and put it into terms we could understand, even things we might have missed (because I never actually saw the Badeline talk in the final room, yes I have over 3000 deaths in the chapter overall).
This is beautiful work, honestly felt a little emotional at times watching it. That last screen of the last chapter is the toughest experience I’ve ever had in a game, even more so when I heard about the secret part of the level, going right when you break the electric box instead of right and had to do it all again. Just an incredible game.
I had been debating whether I would put P5 or Celeste on my favorite game of all time, going back to back with them.
And then Farewell hit me on the face, and that’s were I knew this was my favorite game of all time.
*I mean, P5R came out, and it’s an amazing expansion, but like, it doesn’t compare to the raw emotions I feel with Celeste*
I say both
I've literally had this video saved to watch later for a year or two to finish chapter 9 💀 (I stopped playing for a while in between the time, but still)
I played farewell over 2 years and just beat it now
yes i noticed that sick transition at 10:40
My god that last screen. Jesus Christ. Im honestly really glad you made this video. None of my friends have played the game fully (I know Igotta get some new ones) so its nice to have someone, whos opinion I value, share the same feelings. I think I died around 4.5k times on the final level but it was all worth it in the end.
Very good video, will watch again several times from now on on my second screen while playing something else.
The music reminds me of how Kira's theme progresses as he gains the third bomb.
the music calms my soul
7:34 I feel personally attacked
Loved this video! Thank you for capturing my feelings about Farewell so concisely. I just finished Farewell today (7.5 hours, 2,400 deaths) and I can't stop thinking about the entire journey. You're so right about the final Farewell theme being able to calm you down. After going through so many emotions related to, "There's no fucking way I can finish this" the Farewell theme convinced me that I actually could do it. My mood changed in time for that final room. This game ❤️
P.S. I know this video is quite old, but since I don't see it anywhere in the comments, the lead developer now goes by Maddy Thorson 💜
as someone that recently came back to celeste to finally get the moon berry, I still to this day believe that chapter nine is one hell of an experience and does a much better job of translating the emotions and struggle of actually climbing a mountain that any of the other parts of the game did. (not that they were any worse or anything as much as my hands disagree)
I just beat Celeste for the first time after I got it in the steam summer sale. I completed all A and B sides and collected every strawberry, but when I got to chapter 9 it threw me. I had no idea it was in the game when I started and so I went into it fully ready to conquer it, but I just couldn't. I got past the crystal heart and realized there was more, and it just felt impossible. I had to take a break. But seeing that you and others had to do it in parts and take your time and grapple with the themes of the chapter sorta made me feel better. I don't think I'm ready to finish it yet, but I will eventually, and I know it's gonna be satisfying as heck when I do.
For me the beauty of Celeste is feeling like, "wow this level is literally impossible." And then I randomly string together all the moves just right and I think "holy shit I did the impossible."
No other game has ever made me feel that way.
Theo even says that in of the later rooms in 5-B
0:44 a little over half of what I did, you're good
I had like the opposite reaction when Badeline showed up in the final room. I hadn’t lost any confidence/determination at that point so it just felt really patronizing lol.
Yakko, I cannot begin to tell you how much I love this video. Have been a fan of yours for a while but this one just hits all of the marks as far as I'm concerned. I study musicology with a focus on music and media, including videogame music. Your video felt like a youtube-version of an essay I could've written. Love your analysis man! Keep it up, can't wait to see more of these videogame/music analysis videos.
12:56 Just so you know, they go by Maddy now
Great video man, it's hard to believe that I started seeing you videos when they were league montages. I would love for you to throw a video like this every once in a while. Loved every single moment of the video, keep up the great work Yakko.
"I died three thousand five hundred and fourteen times.
In other words a few."
This is both a joke, and Completely Accurate.
"Funerals are for all you suckers stuck living without me."
Well, guess I know what quote I'm having read at my funeral.
only 3514???
30 hours for all celeste? You overestimate me really hard
WHERE DO I GET THAT DVD?????? 0:02 I NEED IT I WANT IT
My man this video is probably one of the best ones on this channel and is REALLY well made and the effort REALLY shows
I know I'll waste my time watching this again and again even later on
Damn I love this game, honestly love all its content
'It's not just a farewell to granny but also to the game' it's also farewell to:
- your sanity
- your fingers
- your controller/keyboard
*dies 3.5k times*
GD players: Those are rookie numbers
Badeline gave me that pep talk before I had made it halfway through the first jellyfish segment
I’m sorry..?? 3514 deaths for farewell?? I jave 2551 deaths in 3C alone and I thought I was somewhat dexent at Celeste..
7:38 such an accurate depiction of the binoculars lmao
Looks like a mounted skull to me.
How do you unlock chapter 9
Beat chapter 8
I came across this video back when it got uploaded, and it's what made me buy Celeste. My first playthrough, I felt accomplished beating chapter 9 and put the game down without touching any of the C-sides. This year, I decided to start over, and as of today I have finished all A, B, and C sides and got the moonberry! The whole game was an amazing experience with many frustrating moments that made the victories so much sweeter. Thanks yakko for introducing a game that I will hold close to my heart for a long time
Mes a simple creature: see celeste I click
2:30 HE SAID IT, HE SAID THE LINE
But honestly, good video, keep up the good work
i absolutely still adore this video and i also noticed something that i think was missed, but might have been considered and dropped for run time
in the level design and music, it all opens with this nervous and dark vibes, representing the new environments and Madeline's hesitancy to explore this dream
and then it all opens up, the music gets playful, and the dream plays along with Madeline's determination to save Granny, throwing the heart at her as if to say, "okay, that's enough! time to wake up!"
but then as she forces her way through the rest, it tenses up, tries to close her out. the music is tight, the platforming is claustrophobic, she's breaking through the walls of this dream, climbing through the metaphorical vents to try to find a way to the end
and then the dream opens up and says, "fine, you want to keep going? you're playing by our rules now," and takes everything away, forces her to look the void in the eye, and makes her slow down and take each move seriously, forcing her to think about everything that's happening ("look at what you've done!")
and then finally, she relents, decides what she truly needs (set the bird free and make what she did right), and gives her one last fight to right her wrongs. it's long and arduous and sometimes she'll fall but so long as she keeps getting up, she'll make it
and then there's peace
Thanks for that. I'm 50, not a hardcore gamer by any means (I wouldn't have known about Celeste if my kids weren't playing it), but this game and its music really hit me in the soul. I ran out of talent near the end of Core, but it was good to see an analysis (not just a walkthrough) of Farewell.
"If you're a speedruninng legend, who's amazing at Celeste, you may've not even seen this section of dialogue"
Well, TGH had it pop up, which should say something about its difficulty.
Superb. This game is truly a piece of art from its platforming to its story and all the elements in between. As I grow older, music in movies and games move me so much more than they used to, and Celeste legit has brought me to tears at moments from its powerful usage of its musical motifs and simple yet profound character development (not to mention from the end cutscene of Golden Ridge through Reflection are some of the starkest and most accurate depictions of what struggling with anxiety and/or depressive thoughts really feels like).
Yakko, this game and it’s beautiful soundtrack and DLC, you are a god for uploading this. This game single-handedly made me look at video games differently.
11:00 "A track can exist in the background for a multi hour play session without feeling repetitive"
*The final scene of farewell would like to speak with you*