Reflection: Difference between revisions

| characters = {{•}} [[Madeline]] <br> {{•}} [[Badeline]] <br> {{•}} [[Theo]] <br> {{•}} [[Granny]] <br> {{•}} [[Bird]]

'''Reflection''' is the sixth chapter of [[Celeste]]. Preceded by [[Mirror Temple]] and succeeded by [[The Summit]], it introduces five new mechanics: [[Feather|feathers]], [[Kevin Blocks]], [[Bumper|Bumpers]], [[Badeline Boss|Badeline as a boss]], and Badeline moving blocks.

When describing what depression feels like to Theo, Maddy states it's like being at the bottom of the ocean, not seeing anything, feeling claustrophobic yet exposed, and constantly fighting yourself. Theo attempts to convince Madeline that she's, after all, a good person. Maddy then states that she wishes to get rid of [[Badeline]] to be "free" again; Theo suggests that Madeline could learn to control her instead. When Theo asks why not take a vacation instead, Madeline tells him that it would be unproductive and that she needs a challenge. When she asks why Theo went to the mountain, he states that it is because he found a new job but hated it; when she then asks about his grandpa {{c|Carlos}}, he tells her that he's deceased, but they had spent good times before. Apparently, he's the person who told Theo about [[Celeste Mountain]] and suggested he visitsvisit it, albeit rather mysteriously.

When Theo asks Madeline who built the temple, Madeline doesn't know, but suggests that it was built prior to everything else on the mountain; she then interjects, saying that thatthis might be why [[Granny]] lives there. She interprets herGranny as a mean person, but one who enjoys living on the mountain. Madeline then asks for the first time herself to take a selfie with Theo (the reverse, where Theo asked Madeline, happened twice, in {{ch|2|lf=1}} and {{ch|4|lf=1}}). Theo then remembers that Madeline should be able to reach the summit tomorrow and suggests going to sleep to rest well. Madeline agrees, and they both head to sleep.

Shortly before dawn, Madeline is transported into another one of her dreamsdream. Northern lights appear, the campfire turns green (like in {{ch|2|lf=1}}), and a single golden [[feather]] appears. ''{{soundtrack|num=14|track=Starjump''}} intensifies. Madeline then flies upwards, encountering some turquoise-colored [[Starjump Blocks]] along the way. Once she makes it past a short maze consisting solely of these blocks, Madeline finds [[Badeline]], where she decides to "set her free" in a bid to reclaim control over herself, insulting her in the process and calling her cruelty and manipulativeness out. This ends poorly, and Badeline chokes her using one of many tentacles; she fails to calm herself down with the [[Feather minigame|feather technique]] Theo taught her at the end of {{ch|4|lf=1}}. She starts then starts falling.

After heading somewhat deeper into the crystal cavern, she finds [[Badeline]] waiting there. Madeline apologizes and says that they should get over it and work together; Badeline, still scared, attempts to defend herself and becomes aggressive, fighting back Madeline.

Upon being defeated, Badeline concedes, saying she'll try to leave. However, Madeline tells her they should work together and that "it's okay to be scared." Badeline eventually agrees to "fuse" with Madeline, granting her a second dash. The skies clear out, and, using the second dash, they climb out a section of the cave before Badeline "Badeline-boosts" Madeline out of the cave. Madeline is shocked at first by their "together" powers when they are together, and tells her counterpart that they could still climb the mountain once again; Granny and Theo encourage her further. Badeline remains worried and scared this whole time, but eventually agrees. Theo asks if he can help, and Madeline reluctantly accepts, so he holds her bag. Madeline then states that "This won't take long."

Reflection's A-Side is perhapsone of the longest A-SideSides found in ''Celeste'', after (if that counts) {{ch|9|lf=1}} and {{ch|7|lf=1}}. Its most significant addition is a Badeline boss fight, but it does introduce many other mechanics, including but not limited to [[feathers]], [[Kevin]]s, and [[bumpersBumper|Bumpers]].

The ''Resolution'' checkpoint has Madeline use a newly-obtained second dash to get back up with help from Badeline, who throws her upwards into a cutscene with Granny and Theo, ending the chapter. It is nigh-impossible to die here outside of the first screen without resetingresetting.

Reflection's B-Side is notable for being very difficult and is a sizable step up from the A-Side. Neither the cutscene with Theo nor with, Badeline, nor with grannyGranny are present in this level. It starts with somewhatrelatively difficult gameplay, before plunging into a series of rooms where you fall through for quite a while. Overall, these rooms are quite a difficulty spike from the previous. After this checkpoint, the boss fight with Badeline starts, which is also a massive step up from the one in 6A. Due to the lack of cutscenes, the entirety ofentire 6B is spent with onea single dash. Despite this, you will still have 2 dashes in {{ch|7|lf=1}}, even if you completed 6B beforeinstead of 6A.

Reflection's C-Side is notable for having four gameplay checkpoints instead of the typical three within [[C-Sides]]. despiteDespite this, it is still three screens. The first room consists primarily of [[wallbounces]] and bumpers;. theThe second room is a "freefall" section with feathers. The final room, which contains two checkpoints, is divided into two sections: a "[[Kevin|Kevin Block]] section", where a single four-sided Kevin Block must be hit several times to then provide momentum to cross a large gap, and a final section, consisting mainly of bumpers and one additional wallbounce.

Reflection does ''not'' contain any red strawberries, owing to its narrative importance and use of split paths on several occasions. However, a [[Cassette Tape]], [[Golden Strawberries|Golden Strawberry]], and Blue [[Crystal Heart]] are hidden within, just like all prior A-Sides.

In any%, All Red Berries (ARB), and True Ending speedruns, the optimal strategy is to collect the [[Reflection#Collectibles|Cassette Tape in 6A]] and then subsequently complete 6B. This is because how Reflection's B-Side is quite a bit shorter than [[6A|its A-Side]] and because how 6A does not contain any red strawberries.

In the middle of the final falling room of 6B is a wide gap in-between spikesspinners, allowing players to [[Demodash]] through it and save a few seconds. The window to perform it is, however, quite tight (2 frames), so it's mostly used by higher-level speedrunners.

* Reflection is the only chapter in the game other than {{ch|9|lf=1}} without red berries. One of the reasons is the split paths, as the developers wanted players to be able to get every strawberry in one go, but also it also fits the general narrative of the chapter.<ref>Maddy Thorson, [https://youtu.be/u-nSjhIgmXc?si=TJYeTjVd6_wrM968&t=6965 Celeste Developer Commentary Livestream] on YouTube</ref>