View source for Prologue

{{Title|Prologue&nbsp;|icon=[[File:PrologueAndEpilogueIcon.png|45px|left|frameless|alt=|link=Prologue]]}}

{{Infobox chapter
| name = Prologue
| image = [[File:Prologue Screenshot.jpg|200px]]
| chapter = 
| strawberries = None
| sides = Interlude
| characters = {{bull}} [[Madeline]] <br> {{bull}} [[Granny]] <br> {{bull}} [[Bird]]
| music = [[Celeste OST]]:<br> ''01 {{bull}}&nbsp;&nbsp;Prologue''
| previous = 
| next = Forsaken City
}}
The '''Prologue''' is the first chapter the player unlocks in [[Celeste]]'s level progression. It introduces the three basic moves within the game: a jump, a climb, and a dash. [[Madeline]] (she appears earlier during the save creation screen) and [[Granny]], also known as the Old Woman, are introduced in this chapter as characters.

Three gameplay [[Mechanics|objects]] are introduced in this chapter: [[falling blocks]] (albeit a special variety which falls on its own), a collapsing [[bridge]], and the (in)famous [[intro car]].

__TOC__

The Prologue isn't considered an A-Side, but instead an "interlude" chapter, similar to the [[Epilogue]]. Additionally, the chapter does not have any checkpoints, but does have a few spawn points throughout. Its length is shorter than all C-Sides, but it is longer than the epilogue.

== Plot ==


{{Spoiler
|level=Prologue
|

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''This is it, [[Madeline]].''

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''Just breathe.''

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''Why are you so nervous?''

Madeline, having just arrived at the foot at [[Celeste Mountain]] by [[Intro car|car]], is about to embark on a journey. She jumps across several pits, narrowly avoiding a falling block of ice. The [[Bird]] is then introduced; it teaches Madeline how to climb up a wall vertically. After making it past a few bumpy hills, she arrives in front of a shack, where [[Granny|an old woman]] also known as Granny lives.

Madeline asks the old woman whether she is on the right trail or no. After the woman confirms Madeline's statement, the mountain climber subsequently asks about the falling block of ice she encountered earlier. The old woman start laughing, claiming that the mountain might be "too much" for Maddy, but she stays determined and states that she'll be fine. Granny then warns her about how Celeste Mountain is a strange place, where she might end up seeing things, but Madeline ignores her.

As soon as Madeline steps onto the [[bridge]], it starts collapsing under her feet. Managing to make it alive as she jumps across falling pieces, as the music intensifies and introduces the "Madeline" leitmotif for the first time, the bridge ends up self-destructing to the point where she can no longer make it to the other side. After making a leap of faith, the bird makes a reappearance, teaching Madeline how to dash in order to save her. 

Madeline starts panting as soon as she arrives on the other side safely. The camera scrolls upwards towards the night sky, and the text "'''You can do this.'''" appears. Subsequently, the player is returned back to the map screen, but now with [[Forsaken City|Chapter 1]] unlocked.

}}


== Speedrun strategies ==

It is impossible to dash during the prologue, except at the very end. Therefore, the only way to progress quickly is via [[bunnyhops|bunnyhopping]] and cornerboosting throughout the level. It is also possible to skip the dash cutscene right when Madeline stops falling.

== Trivia ==
* Upon release, the final dash cutscene wasn't meant to be skippable, however speedrunners ended up finding an exploit which required frame perfect menu management in order to save time. The devs ended up making it skippable in version 1.2.6.0 to remove the requirement of a very precise and tedious skip at the beginning of a chapter.
** This original skip also allowed skipping the "You can do this" text that appears following the dash cutscene; however, this "feature" was removed, because the developers wanted to remind speedrunners that they can do it, as a message of encouragement.

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