Celeste, the critically acclaimed platformer from developer Matt Makes Games, offers some of the trickiest, most dexterous gameplay around. Players help Madeline battle inner demons and climb the titular mountain, confronting precarious jumps and pixel-perfect precision challenges along an 8-10 hour journey.
But for elite gamers like speedrunner TGH, conquering Celeste takes less than half an hour. Let‘s analyze TGH‘s world record-pace Celeste run to understand exactly how he climaxes this mountain so dazzlingly quick.
The Rising Popularity of Celeste Speedrunning
Since launch, Celeste‘s superb controls and open-ended movement have made it a speedrunning darling. The initial discovery of "wavedashing" cracked movement wide open, allowing runners to control momentum and position better. This let them sequence break and find shortcuts through levels.
As the scene developed, new tricks emerged enabling faster and faster times:
| Year | Record Time | Record Holder |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 32:14 | Chez |
| 2019 | 29:18 | Bwott |
| 2020 | 27:32 | Eniripsa |
| 2021 | 26:43 | Marlin |
| 2022 | 25:55 | secureaccount |
The evolution of "hypers" and "demodashes" gave more burst mobility options. And finding the optimal routing through Celeste‘s chapters via precise neutral jumps and corner boosts minimized any wasted frames. routes removing major chunks of levels shaved off seconds.
Today, only a handful of elite gamers like TGH can even compete for the top spots on the global Celeste leaderboards. Let’s see how TGH’s run measures up.
Understanding TGH‘s Masterful Speedrun
Sitting at 19th with a blazing 27:02 from 2020, TGH‘s run displays all the hallmarks of an optimized, world-class Celeste speedrun attempt:
Perfect Execution
Every jump, dash, wallbounce and boost connects flawlessly. TGH demonstrates complete mastery over the precise timing required to fluidly chain movements together across 30 grueling minutes.
Optimal Routing
Following meta strategies, TGH minimizes any downtime through intelligent pathing. He uses shortcuts and sequence breaks during key moments demonstrate deep analysis.
Advanced Techniques
From perfectly angled corner boosts to blisteringly quick demodash refreshes, TGH flexes mastery over Celeste‘s entire repertoire of tech.
Total Game Mastery
Like neo seeing the Matrix code, TGH has internalized nearly every pixel of Celeste. He spots micro-optimizations and sees extended routes where others don‘t. TGH plays with an almost preternatural sense for where to be.
{{< youtube id="t5HmZnSMpjY" title="Marlin‘s 4th Place Speedrun" >}}
Marlin‘s run uses similar precision dash chaining as TGH
Zooming in, we can isolate the insane dexterity and mental game sense TGH displays:
Chapter 2‘s Early Corner Boost
This tricky slope boost demonstrates TGH‘s ability to manipulate momentum. He perfectly times his jump off the lip to squeeze extra height from the bounce. This allows skipping an entire mid-level section.
Other top runners like Marlin utilize similar frame-perfect corner boosts showcasing their importance. But TGH‘s smooth execution early on highlights his world-class capabilities.
Chapter 6‘s Demodash Showcase
Here, TGH refreshes Madeline‘s dash mid-air by crouching for 1 frame between dashes. This "demodash" allows chaining several in a row to cross large gaps quickly.
The timing window is incredibly strict, making consistent sequencing very difficult. But TGH pulls off several slick chains flawlessly to blaze through the level above bottomless pits.
The Farewell Ultra Dash
On this final brutal stage, TGH employs an "ultra" dash extension. After dashing left, he jumps and immediately dash-cancels down-right. This enables covering critical distance to make large jumps.
Such technique demonstrates years of experience chaining advanced speed tech seamlessly. It shows off incredible consistency under pressure on Celeste’s hardest chapter.
By stacking these frame-perfect maneuvers, TGH propels himself to a 27 minute pace.
The Blood, Sweat, and Tears of Speedrunning Celeste
Make no mistake – TGH’s times come from endless dedication:
Consistency – Completing a full 30 minute run flawlessly demands intense focus. Single mistimed jumps mean restarting.
Routing – Optimizing paths down to the frame requires deep analysis and grind. TGH has run these levels thousands of times experimenting.
Technique – Mastering advanced movement like demodashes takes serious practice across long sessions. Years of experience enable TGH’s skills.
Concentration – Tracking frame counts, accounting for pixel heights, and keyboard/controller limitations require immense mental bandwidth. Playing at this level takes a prepared mind.
While TGH makes it look easy, very few can reach this tier of play. But his commitment to perfecting his Celeste craft pays off in his legendary run.
TGH Against the Greatest
Sitting just behind record holder Secureaccount, TGH finds himself in elite company on the global Celeste rankings:
| # | Player | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Secureaccount | 25:55 |
| 2 | issactayy | 25:59 |
| 3 | Zkad | 26:14 |
| 19 | TGH | 27:02 |
The mere seconds separating 19th place from 1st displays how razor thin margins are at this level. A single flubbed input or minor route deviation makes all the difference.
But this also showcases just how optimized TGH‘s run is against the best in the world like Zkad and Marlin. While not the #1 spot, hitting 27 minutes proves an astonishing feat.
{{< youtube id="DWyangUvT2Y" title="TGH‘s Legendary Celeste Speedrun" >}}
TGH has without question cemented himself as one of the Celeste greats. His world-class speedrun sets an intimidating target for aspiring runners while cementing his legacy. It serves as a testament pushing platforming technique and mental focus to their very limits.
Appreciating Flawless Platforming Skill
For both casual admirers and hardened speedrunning fans, TGH‘s sub 30-minute unfold of Celeste highlights world-class gaming ability. He demonstrates uncompromising precision, expanded vision, and steady nerves across a taxing feat.
By analyzing TGH’s run, we gain a deeper appreciation for the countless subtleties and years of honed talent allowing such a stentorian feat. It represents a sublime manifestation of focused skill – one sure to be rewatched and studied for years by burgeoning platformer fanatics.
So whether an avid speedrunning watcher or simply a gaming enthusiast, take a moment to witness the mastery TGH displays ascending Celeste’s forbidding heights so seamlessly quick.
