GDYARVE # Chapter 64: The Shackles of Self and the Abyss of the Heart
# Chapter 64: The Shackles of Self and the Abyss of the Heart
Any player, upon seeing their countless deaths in a game, would feel frustrated and inevitably quit. But in Celeste, death is not truly death; it becomes a simple process. Here, you are not a person who repeatedly fails. Just as when crossing a river by feeling the stones, everyone may head in the wrong direction, but as long as you don't stay in the wrong place forever, every step is meaningful.
In the game, if you die, the BGM doesn't rewind and replay. Players joke, "This is the first time I've felt the kindness of a cruel developer, and this is the first game where I can joyfully die and restart happily." This method of trial and error through death is extremely gentle. At the end of each level, when seeing the number of deaths, you can't help but laugh and continue playing happily. If the initial levels make you want to smash your keyboard, by the sixth or seventh chapter, the urge to do so quietly disappears.
Previously, players couldn't imagine that in a platformer game, a completely standalone level was just to tell a story. On a starry night, Madeline sits by a campfire, believing that the cruel, delusional, and controlling dark side of herself should and must be let go. She thinks that if this side leaves her forever, she will "get better."
But to the dark, purple-haired, red-eyed little girl, this means Madeline wants to abandon her! This enrages her; she refuses to be discarded! The dark side girl grows large and terrifying, her purple hair almost suffocating Madeline.
At this moment, the protagonist has reached a temple at an altitude of 2500 meters, but the dark side suddenly strikes, knocking her down to a valley at 0 meters. Everything has to start over. From top to bottom, you almost see all the scenery again from the climb.
"Damn it! Starting over again!" Brother Yin pounds the table. Because the journey is arduous, everyone feels angry. The barrage also laughs, recognizing the familiar style of the cruel developer. "Weak upper body, limp lower body, stifling operation, touching intelligence, a joke of a climber, why are you even climbing a mountain?"
"Uh... the familiar feeling, but it seems different."
"Cheer for the number of deaths!"
...
Everyone is still laughing, but after falling completely to the bottom, they find the map here is entirely different from the beginning. There are only beautiful visuals and serene music. Here, the protagonist starts to reflect, facing depression, and trying to reconcile with their dark side.
The protagonist realizes that wanting the dark side to leave is seen as abandonment by that side; she too is... afraid. The protagonist decides to talk to her dark side again, but having been abandoned once, she doesn't trust Madeline anymore. She warns Madeline not to come looking for her again, or she will suffer.
Here, the game's background music sweeps away previous tension, and there are almost no collection elements. There are no strawberries to collect here. This place is another highlight of the game! If the first major event was the initial chase, here is the second chase. But this time, the target has reset. The previous chase was painful, with the frantic shadow leaving a deep impression. But here, the protagonist becomes the chaser, with the dark side fleeing ahead, attempting to attack to prevent approach. What you need to do is control the protagonist, quickly close in, and give her a hug! Again and again.
The road to hugging her is full of thorns, but in this process, you don't treat the other as a boss to defeat, just to hug. This time, even if you die on the reunion path, no one complains or feels troubled. This is definitely the level with the highest completion rate. Perhaps some will fall on the way up the mountain, but no one will fall in this level; those who reach here will strive forward in this emotional interaction.
Players joke even in death. "Hey girl, stop! Where are you running?"
"Every time I'm killed by that little black ball, those two circle eyes look at me all innocent and startled, like I'm disturbing it. Damn, I'm the one who died, okay!!"
"Stop, let me wash your hair; it's really greasy!"
"What’s a hug? This is sticking together!"
"Stick together!"
"I'm super brave!"
"This is the only chapter where no matter how many times you die, you won’t feel defeated."
...
At this moment, players downloading the game are eager to hug their own dark side. Xie Lingjiang watches as everyone controls the game character, hugging again and again. Every time she sees this chapter, she feels redeemed.
At the end of the path, the dark side with flying purple hair sits hugging her knees in a corner. When the protagonist stands in front of her, she only sighs helplessly.
"Alright, you win. I feel you don't actually need me. If you want me to go, I will try."
The crimson eyes try hard not to let tears fall. The protagonist stands in front of her, feeling a bit guilty.
"I didn't mean that. I need your help now more than ever. Please, let's overcome this together." Madeline, almost coaxing a child, smiles.
"Please, let's get through this together!"
"You killed me seven hundred times, how can I not have you with me!"
"Come on, cutie! Let's go! Stick together!"
...
Here, the protagonist reconciles with her dark side, and they start to cooperate, climbing towards the summit again! Finally, with another "me" accompanying, Madeline reaches the top of Celeste Mountain. After countless deaths and rebirths.
Cheer for the number of deaths! Seeing the beautiful scenery at the summit, players finally understand the meaning of that phrase.
The more you die, the more you loathe the process, and the greater the joy of reaching the summit. Opening the Celeste comment section, Xie Lingjiang's comment is the first thing that catches the eye.
"Celeste Mountain is not just a mountain's name; it's also the truest self, anxiety, and depression... the shackles of self and the abyss of the heart. Just like this, Madeline, keep breathing. I can do it, indeed. Whether climbing Celeste Mountain or any other 'mountain,' the scenery is always at the top.
Thank you, Black Star. Thank you, Sprout. Thank you, players, for bringing me an unparalleled adventure."
(End of chapter)