Celeste 64: Fragments of the Mountain

Celeste 64: Fragments of the Mountain is a 3D adventure platformer and sequel to the acclaimed Celeste, created to celebrate its sixth anniversary, where players control Madeline as she returns to the fantastical Celeste Mountain for a journey of self-reflection centered on writing her book. Exploring the vibrant, multifaceted environments, players collect scattered strawberries—some in plain sight and others hidden—while utilizing familiar mechanics like dashing, jumping, climbing, and wall-jumping adapted to a third-person perspective, interacting with returning NPCs to learn about their lives and Madeline’s growth since their last encounter, with cassette tapes unlocking special navigational challenges.

Celeste 64: Fragments of the Mountain: Review

Introduction

Imagine scaling the jagged peaks of Celeste Mountain not in crisp pixel-perfect precision, but through the foggy, low-poly haze of a bygone era, where every dash feels like a leap into nostalgia and peril. Celeste 64: Fragments of the Mountain isn’t just a playful anniversary treat—it’s a bold, heartfelt reinvention of one of indie gaming’s most beloved tales of perseverance. Released in 2024 to mark the sixth anniversary of the 2018 masterpiece Celeste, this free 3D platformer transports protagonist Madeline back to her symbolic mountain of self-doubt and triumph. As a sequel of sorts, it builds on the original’s emotional core while daring to translate its razor-sharp mechanics into the third dimension, evoking the spirit of N64 classics like Super Mario 64. My thesis: Celeste 64 is a triumphant proof-of-concept that, despite its brevity and technical quirks, cements the franchise’s legacy as a beacon of innovative platforming intertwined with profound mental health narratives, proving that even a week-long jam can yield a gem worthy of endless replays.

Development History & Context

Extremely OK Games, the Canadian indie studio behind the original Celeste, has always been a haven for experimental creativity, led by figures like Maddy Thorson (of Maddy Makes Games), Noel Berry, Amora Bettany, Pedro Medeiros, and composer Lena Raine. Formed from the ashes of earlier projects like TowerFall, the team has a track record of blending tight gameplay with introspective storytelling, often under self-imposed constraints to foster innovation. Celeste 64 emerged from just such a scenario: a week-long game jam in late 2023, conceived as a celebratory nod to the original’s milestone. This wasn’t a full-fledged sequel but a “meme” project that ballooned into something more substantial, as Berry noted in interviews, with the team “work[ing] way too hard” to dismiss it lightly.

The vision stemmed from a desire to revisit Celeste‘s roots while pushing boundaries. Art director Pedro Medeiros drew inspiration from the Quake level editor TrenchBroom, experimenting with 3D spatial design to adapt the 2D formula. Paired with a custom engine by Berry, this allowed for rapid prototyping, but the era’s technological echoes—low-poly models reminiscent of the N64 (1996-2002)—were no accident. The jam’s tight deadline forced compromises: lower polygon counts for performance, pixel-art textures for easy tiling on geometry, and a focus on “generic retro aesthetic” over strict emulation. Depth perception proved a nightmare in 3D, addressed through shaders, fog, and outlines to clarify Madeline’s position in space. Audio wizardry came from Raine, who infused motifs from the original score with Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine vibes, creating a soundtrack that feels both familiar and fresh.

At release in January 2024 (Windows and Linux versions on itch.io, macOS shortly after), the gaming landscape was ripe for such nostalgia. The indie scene was booming with retro revivals—think Shovel Knight expansions or Tunic‘s Zelda-like introspection—amid a post-pandemic surge in free, accessible titles. Celeste itself had sold millions, influencing precision platformers like Dead Cells and mental health narratives in Hades. Yet, with the studio’s focus shifting to ambitious projects like the canceled Earthblade, Celeste 64 stood as a low-stakes love letter, open-sourced on GitHub to invite community mods and ports. In an industry dominated by AAA behemoths like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, this jam-born title highlighted indie’s power to innovate without infinite budgets, echoing the N64 era’s constraint-driven creativity.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Celeste 64 weaves a compact yet resonant tale that feels like a gentle epilogue to the original’s harrowing ascent. Set in the abandoned Forsaken City on Celeste Mountain, the story picks up post-Celeste, with Madeline (voiced subtly through environmental cues and dialogue) returning not as a conqueror of anxiety, but as a woman on the cusp of profound change. The plot unfolds through exploration and conversations, eschewing cutscenes for organic encounters that deepen character bonds and inner turmoil.

The narrative kicks off with Granny, the wise elder from the first game, probing Madeline’s return. What begins as nostalgic reminiscing—”just to remember the good times”—unravels into vulnerability: Madeline is writing a book, a metaphor for processing her life’s “fragments.” Granny’s reassurance, urging her to confront her “other Part of You” (Badeline, the manifestation of anxiety), sets a tone of gentle guidance. This evolves as Madeline climbs to meet Theo, her supportive friend, perched atop a skyscraper. Their banter reveals growth: Theo’s photography for an art gallery symbolizes capturing fleeting moments, while his revelation that he set Madeline up with his sister Alex introduces romance as a new layer of self-discovery. The dialogue here is sparse but poignant—Theo’s surprise at Alex’s mention in the book underscores themes of integration, blending personal milestones with creative expression.

The emotional climax arrives on a floating island, where Madeline reunites with Badeline. This duo’s exchange is the heart of the game: Badeline questions the “hardship and change,” pleading for stasis in their shared “happiness.” Madeline’s retort—”I don’t have to justify the things I do… at the end of the day, it feels right”—is a defiant affirmation of agency. Inviting Badeline along, acknowledging fear as valid, culminates in acceptance: anxiety isn’t banished but embraced as part of the journey. Themes of mental health, particularly depression and transgender identity (hinted through Madeline’s arc, as in the original), shine through without preachiness. Self-reflection dominates—Madeline’s book-writing mirrors the player’s strawberry hunts, piecing together fragmented experiences. Unlike the original’s binary ascent, this sequel explores post-victory ambiguity: growth isn’t linear; it’s a return to the mountain for ongoing reconciliation. Dialogue, delivered in the series’ understated style, avoids exposition dumps, letting environmental storytelling (echoing the city’s decay as emotional residue) amplify introspection. It’s a masterclass in brevity, packing franchise-deep lore into 30-60 minutes while leaving room for interpretation, much like real therapy sessions.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

At its core, Celeste 64 masterfully adapts the original’s punishing-yet-fair platforming to 3D, transforming a linear climber into a semi-open collectathon that rewards mastery and experimentation. The primary loop revolves around exploration: traverse the Forsaken City—a sprawling, interconnected hub of crumbling buildings, precarious ledges, and hidden nooks—to collect 30 strawberries. These aren’t mere pickups; some dangle in plain sight atop wind-swept roofs, while others demand pixel-perfect dashes across spike-laden chasms or wall-jumps up sheer facades. Checkpoints (flags) respawn you efficiently, encouraging bold retries without frustration.

Core mechanics retain Celeste‘s DNA: Madeline runs, jumps, climbs walls, and wall-jumps with responsive precision. The dash—ground or mid-air, recharging on touch-down—is the star, enabling “dash jumps” for extended reach. Gems add depth: green ones refill dashes sans ground contact, purple grant a second consecutive burst, turning hazardous sequences into rhythmic puzzles. A rare feather power-up allows brief floating, perfect for gaping voids, but over-reliance invites falls. No traditional combat exists; “enemies” are environmental hazards like spikes and pitfalls, demanding evasion over aggression. Cassette tapes unlock bonus levels—linear gauntlets echoing Super Mario Sunshine‘s secret courses—where strawberries lurk behind obstacle courses that hone 3D navigation. These serve as tutorials in disguise, acclimating players to the perspective shift.

Progression is light but engaging: strawberries unlock no gates but fuel replayability via a timer for speedruns, a nod to the series’ competitive ethos. UI is minimalist—clean HUD shows health (one-hit deaths, classic Celeste style), dash status, and collection count—keeping focus on the world. Camera controls allow 360-degree freedom, but the “slippery” N64-like orbit can disorient in tight spaces, a deliberate retro flaw that amps tension. Controls shine with controllers (recommended by devs), translating 2D fluidity to 3D traversal, but keyboard inputs feel clunky for fine maneuvers, occasionally leading to misdashes. Innovative systems like the open-world structure (vs. original’s chapters) foster discovery, with hidden tapes rewarding curiosity. Flaws? The 3D adaptation amplifies difficulty—side goals in hazardous spots create “nerve-wracking” moments—but lacks accessibility toggles beyond basic remapping. Overall, it’s a loop of death, learn, triumph that feels evolved, not diluted, proving 3D can heighten Celeste‘s cathartic precision.

World-Building, Art & Sound

The Forsaken City pulses with layered world-building, transforming Celeste Mountain’s base into a haunting, abandoned metropolis that mirrors Madeline’s inner fragmentation. No longer a vibrant ascent, the setting evokes post-apocalyptic decay—overgrown ruins, floating islands, and echoing voids symbolize unresolved anxieties. NPCs like Granny and Theo are woven into the environment organically: Granny’s hut as a grounding hearth, Theo’s perch a vantage of clarity. This open-world hub, while compact, invites nonlinear discovery, with strawberries as “fragments” tying exploration to theme. Atmosphere builds through subtle details: wind howls signaling updrafts, fog-shrouded depths hinting at peril, creating a tangible sense of isolation and reflection.

Visually, the low-poly art direction is a love letter to 64-bit era, channeling Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie with chunky models and pixel-textured surfaces. Madeline’s squat, blocky form retains her iconic red jacket, but 3D adds expressiveness—her idle animations convey quiet determination. The palette mixes the original’s pinks and blues with urban grays, fog enhancing depth without overwhelming. It’s not hyper-realistic; the retro stylization evokes nostalgia while modern shaders ensure readability, countering 3D pitfalls like clipping.

Sound design elevates the experience to sublime. Lena Raine’s soundtrack reinterprets Celeste motifs with whimsical woodwinds and marimba, evoking Mario 64‘s Dire Dire Docks in the main theme—a buoyant melody underscoring ascent. Bonus levels pulse with Sunshine-esque urgency, while ambient SFX (dashing whooshes, spike tinkles) provide tactile feedback. No voice acting keeps it intimate, letting music carry emotional weight: uplifting strings during reunions, tense silences in hazards. Together, these elements forge an atmosphere of intimate wonder, where every climb feels like a meditative breath, contributing to a cohesive experience that lingers like a mountain echo.

Reception & Legacy

Upon its free launch on itch.io in January 2024, Celeste 64 garnered widespread acclaim, amassing a 4.7/5 rating from 678 users on the platform and effusive praise from critics. Outlets like TheGamer hailed it a “GOTY contender” for flawlessly translating 2D platforming into tougher 3D challenges, while PC Gamer called it a “solid proof of concept” for its collectathon controls. Kotaku dubbed it an “undiscovered secret version of Celeste from 1997,” and GamesRadar+ appreciated the “nerve-wracking” side goals, though noting the camera’s adjustment curve. The soundtrack drew universal love—Polygon and Rock Paper Shotgun compared its themes to Mario 64‘s serene depths, praising Raine’s “on-point” instrumentation.

Commercially, as a free title under 30MB, it “sold” via downloads, collected by thousands and sparking community fervor. Player scores averaged lower on sites like MobyGames (1/5 from two ratings, likely outliers amid bugs), but forums buzzed with positivity, tempered by gripes over “clunky” keyboard controls and input lag—issues devs patched quickly (v1.1.1 added controller fixes). Critically unscored by some (e.g., GameGrin), it still influenced discourse on indie anniversary projects.

Legacy-wise, Celeste 64 has evolved from jam curiosity to cultural touchstone. Its open-source release birthed mods like “Fire In The Hole 64” (Geometry Dash fusion) and accessibility tweaks, extending replayability. It influenced the platformer genre by bridging 2D/3D divides, inspiring titles like Boxes: Lost Fragments in retro aesthetics. For the industry, it underscores mental health representation—expanding Madeline’s arc with themes of change and relationships—while proving small teams can deliver joy amid burnout (echoing Earthblade‘s cancellation). Six months on, its reputation solidifies as a franchise milestone, inviting fans to ponder: if this was a week’s work, what more lies ahead for Celeste Mountain?

Conclusion

Celeste 64: Fragments of the Mountain distills the essence of its predecessor into a compact, 3D odyssey of reflection and precision, blending nostalgic charm with emotional depth. From its jam-forged origins to its innovative mechanics, evocative world, and soaring score, it captures growth’s fragmented beauty without overstaying its welcome. Minor flaws like keyboard clunkiness pale against its triumphs, making it essential for platformer enthusiasts and Celeste faithful alike. In video game history, it carves a niche as indie innovation at its purest—a free beacon affirming that true ascents come from embracing the unknown. Verdict: An unmissable 9/10, a strawberry-sweet testament to perseverance that demands you climb it yourself.