Celeste

The majority of critics overwhelmingly praised the story of Celeste for its emotional depth, relatability, and exploration of themes such as anxiety, depression, perseverance, and self-discovery. GameCrate, from the PS4, highlighted how the game offers hope and encouragement to players through its narrative of triumph over personal struggles. Similarly, New Game Network commended the connection between the story and gameplay, focusing on the protagonist's battle against adversity and self-doubt. TheXboxHub found the story to be beautiful, sensitive, and cathartic, particularly for individuals dealing with mental health issues. These positive aspects were echoed by various critics across different platforms, emphasizing the game's ability to engage players on an emotional level and deliver a meaningful narrative experience. While the vast majority of critics praised Celeste's storytelling, a few minor criticisms were raised. Some critics, such as PCWorld and GameCritics, mentioned that the story, while emotionally engaging, may not resonate as strongly with all players due to its focus on personal struggles like depression and anxiety. Additionally, Destructoid suggested that the heavy thematic elements in the narrative may be best experienced individually, potentially indicating that the story's intensity could be overwhelming for some players. These critiques, however, were relatively minor compared to the overall positive reception of the game's story. Overall, the consensus among critics is overwhelmingly positive regarding the story of Celeste. The game's ability to tackle complex themes with sensitivity and authenticity, while weaving them seamlessly into the gameplay experience, resonated with reviewers across various platforms. Critics like Press Start Australia appreciated how the narrative's message lingers even after completing the game, highlighting the lasting impact of Celeste's storytelling. The emotional depth, character development, and relatability of the story were consistently praised, making Celeste a standout title in terms of narrative-driven gameplay experiences. The game's ability to address mental health issues in a positive and pragmatic manner, as noted by TrueAchievements, further solidifies its reputation as a game that not only entertains but also enlightens and empathizes with players facing similar challenges.

The majority of critics unanimously praised the gameplay of Celeste, highlighting its challenging yet rewarding nature, tight controls, and inventive mechanics. TrueGaming commended the game for its simple yet challenging gameplay with new elements in each chapter, catering to both strategic thinking and quick reflexes. Vooks appreciated the tight and rewarding platforming, seamless levels, and optional collectibles that enhance the overall experience. GameCrate and Xbox Tavern both noted the intuitive controls, creative level design, and fair difficulty curve, making the gameplay accessible and engaging for players of varying skill levels. Additionally, IGN Japan and GameSpot highlighted the refined mechanics and satisfying challenge that make success in Celeste immensely gratifying. While the overwhelming sentiment towards Celeste's gameplay was positive, some critics did mention a few drawbacks. Attack of the Fanboy described the gameplay as challenging and frustrating, which might not appeal to all players, although they acknowledged the empowering and rewarding aspects of overcoming obstacles. Slant Magazine noted that the difficulty could be intense, leading to struggles and frustrations, especially when executing complex combinations of skills. However, they also mentioned the optional assist mode that could alleviate some of these challenges for players seeking a less intense experience. Overall, the consensus among critics is overwhelmingly positive regarding the gameplay of Celeste. The game is lauded for its precise controls, intricate level design, and the perfect balance between challenge and reward. Critics such as Game Informer and CGMagazine praised the game for its demanding yet satisfying platforming tasks, while New Game Network and Nintendo Life highlighted the tough yet immensely rewarding gameplay that requires precision timing and quick reactions. Celeste's ability to introduce new mechanics and challenges throughout the game while maintaining a fair difficulty curve resonated well with critics, making it a standout title in the platforming genre.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Celeste are varied, showcasing both positive and negative aspects. Many critics praised the game's pixel art style, with GameCrate appreciating its dream-like vibe and creative use of color, while Hardcore Gamer and TrueAchievements found the visuals stunning and visually appealing. Critics like Atomix and Press Start Australia highlighted the vibrant and detailed pixel art visuals that complemented the gameplay effectively. The charming and expressive character animations were also commended by TrueAchievements and Hobby Consolas, enhancing the overall experience. On the other hand, some critics expressed negative opinions about Celeste's visual design. New Game Network mentioned that while the pixel art was functional, it lacked striking visuals or mesmerizing moments, with some platforming elements being obscured by colors in later levels. Metro GameCentral considered the art style an acquired taste, clashing with hand-drawn character portraits and being cliché for the genre. InsideGamer.nl noted that the cozy pixel graphics might be perceived as outdated by some players, despite the well-crafted platforming mechanics. Overall, the consensus among the critics leans towards the positive side, with many appreciating Celeste's pixel art style for its charm, expressive animations, and ability to complement the gameplay effectively. Critics like GameSpot and Nintendo Life praised the game for its beautiful and diverse environments that reflect the protagonist's journey. While there were some criticisms regarding the lack of depth in colors or clashes in art styles, the majority of reviewers found the visuals of Celeste to be visually appealing, immersive, and enhancing the overall experience of the game.

The majority of critics unanimously praised the sound design and music of Celeste, with many highlighting it as a standout feature of the game. Lena Raine's soundtrack was widely acclaimed for its mesmerizing and catchy tunes that left a lasting impression on players. Critics like GameCrate and Hardcore Gamer commended the seamless transitions between different musical styles, from haunting synth tunes to action-packed chiptune blasts, which set the perfect mood for every moment in the game. The electronic melodies mixed with mellow piano tracks were described as gorgeous, versatile, and fantastic by reviewers such as Push Square and Metro GameCentral. The adaptive nature of the soundtrack, as mentioned by COGconnected and USgamer, perfectly accompanied each new challenge, intensifying as players progressed through the levels and creating a sense of accomplishment and encouragement. Despite the overwhelmingly positive reception, a few critics did mention some minor issues with the sound design and music of Celeste. Push Square noted a strange audio bug during one particular section of the game, which slightly detracted from the overall experience. We Got This Covered highlighted that the meditative and relaxing synth/piano score occasionally felt at odds with the level designs, suggesting a slight disconnect between the gameplay and music in certain instances. However, these criticisms were minor in comparison to the overall praise for the game's audio elements. In conclusion, the consensus among critics is overwhelmingly positive regarding the sound design and music of Celeste. The majority of reviewers lauded Lena Raine's soundtrack as one of the best in recent years, with its ability to enhance emotional moments, complement gameplay mechanics, and create a captivating atmosphere throughout the game. The blend of electronic tones, chiptune beats, and real instrumentation was widely appreciated for its versatility and ability to immerse players in the experience. Despite a few minor issues raised by some critics, the general sentiment is that the sound design and music of Celeste greatly contributed to the game's success and were key factors in elevating the overall gameplay and storytelling.

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In terms of technical performance on different gaming platforms, Celeste received positive feedback from several critics. New Game Network and Push Square both played the game on PS4 and noted that the performance was generally solid, with only minor issues such as music tracks skipping, framerate drops in specific sections, and a strange audio bug. God is a Geek praised the flawless performance on the Nintendo Switch, highlighting quick loading times and perfect responsiveness. Additionally, Xbox Tavern mentioned that while they experienced framerate issues on Xbox One in one section, they were unable to reproduce the problem, indicating that it might have been an isolated incident. On the other hand, some critics highlighted negative aspects of Celeste's technical performance on certain platforms. Areajugones mentioned that while the game performed flawlessly on the Nintendo Switch, they felt that the controls could be improved. Hobby Consolas reported issues with the Joy-Con L stick affecting movement registration, leading to frustrating moments for players. Press Start Australia noted that the game didn't handle well in handheld mode on the Switch, suggesting that using the Pro controller provided a better experience. USgamer experienced a game crash on the Nintendo Switch towards the end of a chapter, resulting in progress loss, despite overall stability being deemed acceptable. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Celeste generally delivers a solid technical performance across multiple platforms. While there were occasional issues such as framerate drops, audio bugs, and control problems on specific platforms, the game's auto-save feature and overall stability helped mitigate these issues. Critics like God is a Geek praised the game for its flawless performance, quick loading times, and responsiveness, contributing to a positive overall experience for players. However, it is important to note that some platforms, such as the Nintendo Switch, had more varied experiences with technical issues, suggesting potential room for improvement in terms of optimization and control responsiveness.

The majority of the critics praised the replay value of Celeste, highlighting various aspects that contribute to its high level of replayability. GameCrate mentions the hidden remixed versions of existing stages that provide a greater challenge, catering to players seeking additional difficulty. New Game Network appreciates the game's assist mode, making it accessible to a wider audience while encouraging players to improve and replay levels. Push Square and Hardcore Gamer both emphasize the presence of hidden collectibles, cassette tapes, and extra challenging chapters that enhance the replay value of Celeste. These features provide players with incentives to explore, persevere, and test their skills, ensuring a rewarding gameplay experience for completionists and those seeking additional challenges. On the flip side, some critics expressed minor drawbacks related to the replay value of Celeste. Game Informer mentions that collecting strawberries may feel futile, potentially diminishing the motivation for some players. IGN Italia hints at the difficulty being challenging and intriguing, which could potentially deter casual players from fully engaging with the replayable aspects of the game. TrueGaming notes that unlocking certain levels can be frustratingly difficult, suggesting that the game's progression system may not cater to all players' preferences when it comes to replay value. Overall, the consensus among the critics is overwhelmingly positive regarding the replay value of Celeste. The game's abundance of hidden secrets, challenging levels, collectibles, and optional content consistently received praise for providing players with a compelling reason to revisit the game. IGN Japan commends the game for seamlessly integrating its story with additional challenges and collectibles, offering a high level of replay value. Nintendo Life appreciates the challenging gameplay experience that rewards perseverance and mastery, further enhancing the game's replayability. The diverse range of challenges, customization options, and post-game content ensures that Celeste remains engaging and enjoyable for players of all skill levels, making it a standout title in terms of replay value according to the majority of critics.