When I bought Celeste, I had no idea what to expect. However, now that I've completed the game, I can say, along with the many other people, that Celeste is one of the best video games I've played in years. This is very impressive for me personally since I don't typically enjoy 2D platformers and often struggle to stay invested in games of said genre.

For starters, the art style and music work really well together, creating an immersive atmosphere. The art style is reminiscant of the 16-bit era but much more refined. However, character diaglogue boxes and end of chapter cutscenes feature smoother, cartoon versions of the 16-bit characters you see in-game, creating a nice visual contrast. The music is also great, some of the best game music I've heard in years. Each song fits really well into the game, a testament how well the the atmosphere was designed for this game.

The platforming is great, but very challenging. I've only completed story so far and that took about 7-8 hours but I know there are many more secrets as well as the bonus level still to play. Each chapter or level of the game has unique platforming mechanics that keep the gameplay varied and interesting. The mechanics in each level are used to their utmost potential by the developers, requiring increasing levels of skill and creativity as you move through each level. This keeps the gameplay fun and super satisfying when you are finally able to complete these platforming challenges.

I originally heard that the story dealt with anxiety and depression and I was admittidly very skeptical about this. I have personally struggled with these things in the past and feel as though stories written to cover these topics often struggle to do so in a positive, constructive way. I have to say that Celeste didn't struggle with any of this. The way the topic is covered as Madeline tries to climb Celeste mountain connected with me and made me want to continue to push forward. I won't say anything more since I believe everyone who plays this game should experience the story on their own but do that Celeste's story is one of the most well told and relatable stories I've seen in a game in years.

Verdict: 10/10
Celeste is an awesome platformer that manages to carve out its own niche in a genre that is extremely saturated at this point. The fanastic atmosphere created by the beautiful aesthetic and music as well as the great story and gameplay make Celeste an experience that anyone can fall in love with.