LogFAQs > #945846567

79. Badeline (Celeste character) (16.5 points)
Nominated by: MetalmindStats (3/5 remaining)


Importance: 2.5
Fear: 6.5
Snake: 7.5

"The worst foe lies within the self." When it comes to horror, more so than any other genre, it's often the villains of the story that truly get the spotlight. If horror's goal is to scare, shock, gross out, or otherwise discomfort its audience in any way, than it needs that perfect antagonist to represent something deeper beyond a simple threat. Michael Myers isn't just a serial killer; he's a reflection of 70s paranoia and the growing uneasiness & uncertainty of our future, post-Vietnam, post-Watergate, as a moral panic took hold and society threw more and more of themselves into their vices. Pyramid Head works as a reflection & reminder of James' misdeeds, an executioner of his own making, a portion of his mind made manifested to subconsciously punish him. Count Orlok can be seen as a metaphor for plague, death, and the fear of God, his demonic visage a grisly reminder of our short time here on Earth. The point is, great horror is built on the foundation on exploring something deeper & more meaningful. Badeline is an amazing representation of this mindset. In Celeste, you play as Madeline, a strong-willed & adventurous young woman climbing a mountain to prove herself, but nonetheless a person who also suffers from extreme depression & anxiety. It's interesting to see these traits portrayed as not mutually exclusive, and plays into her character with the presence of Badeline, a literal interpretation of Madeline's inner turmoil. Across the adventure Badeline takes every step into encouraging Madeline to quit, to turn back, that she will never succeed, she's not strong enough, that nagging thought in the back of our minds that we have to push through or it will eat us alive and leave us an empty shell. Most importantly, I think Badeline is a reflection of modern day youth, and the loneliness that comes with spending too much time on the internet or on video games, and the difficulties of fitting in to an increasingly chaotic and alienating world. It's simply terrific, and to see Madeline eventually overcome this part of herself is cathartic in a way few stories get truly right. Making peace with your insecurities is the only way to move past them. Badeline is an embodiment of what makes good horror, and how you can mine the genre even in an unexpected place like a hard-as-nails platformer.

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Is this girl the cat or is she the canary?
https://imgur.com/1e1e70S - https://imgur.com/XObpAjw