Expedition Log #6: Celeste — Of Fire and Ice
Blind Playthrough
November 25th, 2025 - Celeste has been a difficult challenge. Fun, but difficult. So, I thought The Core would function the same way. NO. I have never had a more infuriating experience than I had trying to finish this level. First, the air dashes. Before, when you landed on a platform, you’d get both of those expended dashes back. Now, you only get them back when you break those little floating crystals. It’s cool and forces you to change how you move through each screen.
One aspect that I loved was the switching between ice and fire. At first, I thought it was just a visual gimmick, a nice one at that, but it, like the changed dash mechanic, completely changes how you approach each room. The fire, with its platforms that launch you, the quick-moving conveyor belts, and fireballs, contrasts well with the ice, everything slowing down as the belts freeze over and the fireballs are transformed into frozen platforms to bounce on.
Looking at the level, you’d think it isn’t that hard. You can visualize what you need to do. But seeing what you need to do and actually following through are two completely different things. The constant switching kept me on edge and made the difficulty much higher than you might think. Every maneuver has to be perfect. A single miscalculation is enough to send you back. Doesn’t help when you start getting those vertical levels with lava or ice rising, forcing you to constantly ascend or face death.
All of these factors come together for a frustrating yet rewarding experience. I definitely unleashed some less-than-family-friendly words. But that feeling of finally clearing a brutal screen is incredible. And getting that final crystal heart felt like the perfect payoff for all the chaos.
With that, Chapter 8 comes to an end, and with it the beginning of the end.
However, we’ve still got one last chapter to cover. And as to what comes next? What comes next is one of the most unforgiving, frustrating, and anger-inducing chapters of any game that I have ever experienced. But hey, a story for another time.
Until next time.
