Why Does Celeste Feel So Good to Play?

Summary

This video dissects the tight and responsive controls of the platformer Celeste, focusing on its protagonist Madeline. The creators, Matt Thorson and Noel Berry, explain the importance of precise acceleration and deceleration curves that enhance player control. Key mechanics such as jumping, climbing, and dashing are examined, emphasizing their fluidity and intuitive feel. The game’s design incorporates feedback through animation and sound, creating an immersive experience. Additionally, forgiving mechanics like 'Coyote Time' allow for smoother gameplay. Overall, Celeste serves as a model for effective platformer character design, showcasing the balance between challenge and player agency.

Takeaways

• 😀 Precise controls are essential for platformer games to avoid sloppy physics and unresponsive gameplay.
• 😀 Madeline from 'Celeste' exemplifies great character movement with tight and responsive controls.
• 😀 The character's run involves three phases: acceleration, top speed, and deceleration, which should be finely tuned.
• 😀 Madeline's movement has ultra-short acceleration and deceleration curves, making her feel human and responsive.
• 😀 Jump mechanics are crucial; Madeline has a low jump height but good hang time, contributing to precise control.
• 😀 Additional mechanics like climbing and dashing enhance gameplay variety and resource management in 'Celeste.'
• 😀 Visual feedback (like dust particles and screen shake) enhances the feeling of control and movement in the game.
• 😀 Developers should be forgiving in gameplay design, incorporating features like Coyote Time to improve player experience.
• 😀 Continuous playtesting and adjustments are necessary during development to ensure smooth character movement.
• 😀 Different platformer designs can emerge by tweaking character movement curves, leading to varied gameplay experiences.

Q & A

What are the key elements to consider in platformer character movement?

The key elements include acceleration, top speed, and deceleration. These factors determine how quickly the character starts moving, reaches full speed, and stops.

How does Madeline's movement in Celeste compare to other platformers like Super Meat Boy and Mario?

Madeline has ultra short acceleration and deceleration curves, allowing her to reach full speed in about six frames and stop in just three frames. This is much quicker compared to characters in Super Meat Boy and Mario, making her feel more responsive and less slippery.

What is 'Coyote Time' and why is it important in Celeste?

Coyote Time refers to the mechanic where players can still jump for a few frames after leaving a platform. This makes gameplay feel more forgiving and allows players to maintain control over their character.

How do the jump mechanics of Madeline enhance gameplay?

Madeline's jump is relatively low but has significant hang time, allowing for precise landings. She can jump to about three times her height, giving her a bouncy, animated feel without being floaty.

What two additional moves does Madeline have in Celeste, and how do they function?

Madeline has a climb move that allows her to stick to walls and a dash move that propels her in a direction. The climb is limited by a stamina system, while the dash can be replenished by touching the ground or collecting crystals.

What role do art and sound effects play in enhancing the game's controls?

Art and sound effects like the squash and stretch of Madeline's jump, dust particles on landing, and screen shakes during dashes all contribute to the overall feel of movement and provide feedback to the player.

How did the developers arrive at the specific movement mechanics for Madeline?

The developers used intuition and extensive playtesting to experiment with different mechanics. They adjusted the numbers based on how players reacted during testing sessions.

What is the significance of the game's camera design in relation to Madeline's movement?

The game's camera is zoomed out and often static, which allows players to see the entire room and makes it easier to execute precise movements without disorienting camera shifts.

In what ways does Celeste's design encourage players to experiment with movement?

The game allows for multiple ways to solve challenges using different moves like jumping, climbing, and dashing. This encourages players to think creatively and experiment with combinations of these moves.

How do the advanced movement techniques contribute to speedrunning in Celeste?

Techniques like dash-cancel, hyperdash, and ultradash allow speedrunners to maximize momentum and execute moves with precision, turning difficult stages into fluid sequences of movement.