Celeste is a masterclass in platforming design. Tightly crafted levels, buttery smooth controls, and an emotionally resonant story combine to create an indie classic that‘s beloved by casual gamers and hardcore platforming fans alike. But while most players are content to simply reach the summit of Celeste Mountain, a dedicated cadre of speedrunners are racing to the peak as fast as humanly possible.
And when it comes to Celeste speedrunning, few runs are as impressive or influential as TGH‘s 27 minute and 2 second Any% clear. Sit down with any Celeste speedrunner worth their salt, and they‘ll speak of this run with reverence. It‘s a seemingly superhuman showcase of skill that‘s inspired countless runners to lace up their climbing boots and take a stab at the world record themselves.
The Evolution of Celeste Speedrunning
To fully appreciate the majesty of TGH‘s run, we need to rewind the clock to January 2018. Celeste had just released to rave reviews, with critics praising its tight gameplay, emotional storytelling, and steep but fair difficulty curve. Speedrunners immediately saw the game‘s potential for optimization. With its snappy movement mechanics and open-ended level design, Celeste seemed primed for high-level play.
The game‘s fluid controls and expansive moveset gave runners a ton of room for creativity right out of the gate. Techniques like corner boosting, spike jumping, and hyper dashing quickly became foundational skills for aspiring record seekers. And of course, the wavedash was a monumental discovery. This advanced maneuver, performed by chaining together a series of dashes, jumps, and directional inputs, allowed runners to maintain momentum after landing and traverse huge swaths of terrain in the blink of an eye.
Celeste speedrunning progressed at a meteoric pace throughout 2018 as runners pioneered new strategies and pushed the game to its absolute limit. Categories were established for Any% runs (reaching the credits as fast as possible by any means necessary), All Chapters (individual level runs), and 100% completions requiring the collection of all in-game strawberries, hearts, and B-Side cassette tapes.
The times were nothing short of astonishing. Prior to Celeste‘s release, an Any% clear in under an hour seemed virtually impossible. Yet in just a few short months, runners had smashed through that barrier and dipped well below the 40-minute mark. These early runs were a testament to the game‘s enthralling mechanics and the ingenuity of the speedrun community.
The Human TAS: Analyzing TGH‘s 27:02 Peak Performance
Fast forward to November 15th, 2021. This was the day TGH shocked the Celeste speedrunning world with his groundbreaking 27 minute, 2 second Any% run. Clocking in a full minute faster than the previous record of 28:03 by Marlin, TGH‘s run was a watershed moment for the Celeste community. Virtually overnight, the idea of a sub-27 minute run went from seeming nigh impossible to feeling almost inevitable.
So what exactly makes TGH‘s run so remarkable? For starters, the level of execution on display is absolutely immaculate. TGH navigates Celeste‘s labyrinthine levels with the precision and grace of a classically trained dancer, his inputs fluid and measured. Rooms that would take a casual player dozens of tries to clear are polished off in a matter of seconds. Even notoriously challenging sections like the rising lava chase in Chapter 8 or the Badeline boss fight at the end of Chapter 6 become almost trivial in TGH‘s capable hands.
But TGH‘s run is far more than just a flex of elite gaming skills. It‘s also a masterclass in route optimization. The tech-heavy tricks TGH employs allow him to bypass huge chunks of Celeste‘s most challenging platforming gauntlets entirely. To the untrained eye, it can almost look like he‘s cheating. But make no mistake: every ceiling boost, corner clip, and pixel-perfect wavedash is the product of hundreds of hours of meticulous practice and route refinement.
Perhaps most impressive of all is TGH‘s uncanny consistency. A 27-minute Celeste run leaves virtually no room for error. A single missed wavedash or bungled hyper dash can cost precious seconds that spell the difference between a world record and a 10th place finish. To perform at such a high level for a near half-hour straight is a truly Herculean feat of physical and mental endurance. The amount of focus and discipline required boggles the mind.
Speedrunning By The Numbers
At time of writing, a staggering 2,798 runners have officially submitted a Celeste speedrun to speedrun.com. Of those, 1,865 fall into the Any% category. All Chapters runs clock in at 521 total, while 100% completions number just 67. It‘s a testament to the game‘s staying power and devoted fan community that, more than five years after release, dozens of new runs are still being submitted every single day.
The progression of the Any% world record over time paints a striking picture of just how much speedrunning strategies have evolved. The first sub-60 minute run was achieved by henneko_j on January 31st, 2018, mere days after the game‘s initial release. From there, the record plummeted precipitously. Gyroninja‘s 38:16 run in March of 2018 was the first to crack the 40-minute barrier. Marlin‘s 29:14 in October of that same year broke the 30-minute mark.
From there, the race to the bottom has been a game of inches. Prior to TGH‘s groundbreaking 27:02, the record stood at 28:03, courtesy of Marlin. As of July 2023, the top spot belongs to secureaccount with his astonishing 25:45. It‘s been a truly wild ride watching the Celeste speedrunning community redefine what‘s possible again and again.
The Tech Behind The Times
Of course, speedrunning is about more than just superhuman button presses. As the leaderboards grow ever more competitive, runners are increasingly turning to advanced tools and technology to eke out every possible advantage.
Most serious speedrunners have rigs built specifically for gaming. High refresh rate monitors, lightning fast CPUs, and rock-solid GPUs are all essential for squeezing out the fastest times. Minimizing input lag is also critical, so many runners opt for wired controllers over wireless ones. The more responsive the setup, the better.
Speedrunners also rely heavily on specialized software to analyze and optimize their runs. Split trackers like Livesplit allow runners to monitor their pace in real-time, while tools like KDT help identify optimal routes and strats. Then there are TAS (tool-assisted speedrun) programs that allow for frame-by-frame input precision and faster-than-humanly-possible tricks.
And we can‘t forget capture cards and recording software. After all, a record-breaking run doesn‘t mean much if you don‘t have video proof. Being able to study footage of top-level runs frame by frame is an invaluable resource for runners looking to refine their own strategies and execution.
The Future of Celeste Speedrunning
Five years out from release, Celeste speedrunning shows no signs of slowing down. Fresh blood is joining the race every day, and new skips and strategies are still being discovered at a breakneck clip. With the rise of online marathons and charity events like Games Done Quick, speedrunning continues to cement its place as both a respected competitive pursuit and a beloved spectator sport.
The increasing prize pools certainly don‘t hurt. Last year‘s Celeste at the Moon tournament, a head-to-head Any% race featuring 10 of the game‘s fastest runners, boasted a $12,000 grand prize. With that kind of cash on the line, the competition is fiercer than ever.
Looking ahead, it‘s exciting to imagine where Celeste speedrunning might go next. Will we see a sub-25 minute Any% run? A sub-20 minute All Chapters clear? Might AI-assisted routing and TAS bots help redefine what‘s humanly possible? One thing‘s for certain – the future is bright for Celeste, and the game‘s most dedicated climbers show no signs of slowing their ascent any time soon.
So the next time you watch a top-level Celeste run, take a moment to really appreciate the superhuman skill, creativity, and determination on display. Because as TGH‘s legendary 27:02 so powerfully demonstrates, this is gaming at its absolute finest. It‘s a celebration of the boundless potential of the human spirit and the unifying power of digital play.
And for aspiring runners eager to test their own mettle against the mountain, remember: it‘s not about reaching the summit. It‘s about the friends and memories you make along the way. So strap on those climbing shoes, calibrate that controller, and get ready for the climb of your life. The peak of Celeste Mountain awaits.
