I played Celeste years and years ago when I was still a massive egg and couldn't even conceive of the possibility I may be trans, and most of the stuff went over my head. Didn't know Madeline was trans, it was just a cool platformer I vibed with.
Now I've repurchased the game on steam and am replaying it years into my transition and damn... I've never played a game where I resonate with the main character on such an intimate level. It's already made me cry a few times and I'm only at the hotel chapter.
Your meaningful, considered reflection upon the game
My adversarial, bitter hatred of strawberries and blue hearts
I just gave up trying get strawberries eventually, and I have yet to find a single blue heart. The game is hard enough, if I really wanted to I could go back later on.
Then I discovered the postgame...
I was legit mad about the blue hearts, still am.
I don't really mind the strawberries, I got 81 and collected many out of obstinate shittiness, but it does kinda bug me that the game went 'hey the strawbs won't do anything, BUUUUT there is a super secret Konami code collectible that unlocks another half of the game!' Smh...
Similar experience for me (although I started my transition a couple of months ago), I won't say much story-wise but there was a moment where I was really forced to think about my own life and how it has been changed by my transition (other than the obvious ways, of course). I also did it on assist mode before, because I was bad at platforms (and an egg, similar context to you), and while I still am I made sure to beat the game without turning it on. It was much more challenging, but much more satisfying one I beat the game.
I've been figuring out my gender recently, and started playing it a couple of days ago. Its so fucking good, Maddy is such a sweetheart, shit makes me wanna cry. Ack!
Also so do some of the strawberries lol those fuckers are hard to get.
