Expedition Log #1: Celeste - Foot of the Mountain

October 20th, 2025 - I began my journey with only a vague idea of what to expect. After playing Celeste on Switch, I later picked it up on PC. Booting it up, I remembered why I was drawn to it. The game's beautiful, with cool colors and soothing music that set a distinct mood compared to other platformers. It’s nice.

The art style stands out. I’ve always loved pixel art, and Celeste is among the best. It’s simple but full of character. I love the expressive portraits during dialogue, especially Madeline’s "I just got here and I’m already over this" face. Despite just starting, I’m already immersed in Celeste’s world.

And that’s just the prologue.

Next is the Forsaken City, where the real fun begins. Wall jumping, mid-air dashing (unlocked in the prologue), and leaping across rooms all feel great. Strawberries are scattered collectibles, each fun to grab (did miss a few so I guess I’ll have to come back for them later). I even met a cool hiker, who might be my favorite character so far. I don’t know where he’s from, but it’s good having company as we climb.

The Old Site gives the game a mysterious feel. After exploring and collecting strawberries, I find a strange mirror. What follows is still odd to me—a being appears, claiming to be "part of me" and urging me to quit. I refuse, leading to an intense chase, which may be my favorite moment so far. The smooth movement is one of the game’s best features.

Long story short, I get away only to find out that everything that just happened was a dream. The chapter concludes with another conversation with Theo, the hiker from earlier, and a call with my mom.

Overall, I had a great time! I’m loving the game. It delivers what I want in a platformer: excellent controls, good music, fun characters, and an intriguing story. Looking forward to the next session!