Do Any Celeste Runners Use Stick

Caroline Mae

2 min read

·

05-01-2025

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The question of whether any Celeste speedrunners use a joystick is a fascinating one, diving into the nuances of controller choice and its impact on high-level gameplay. The short answer is: yes, but it's exceptionally rare.

The Prevalence of Controllers in Celeste Speedrunning

The overwhelming majority of Celeste speedrunners utilize a gamepad – typically an Xbox controller or similar – for its precise directional control and button layout. The game's demanding platforming sections require pinpoint accuracy and rapid input, features that are generally considered easier to achieve with a gamepad's analog sticks and readily accessible buttons.

The Challenges of Using a Joystick

While joysticks are common in fighting games and other genres emphasizing precise, albeit different, movements, they present several significant obstacles in Celeste:

• Precision: Achieving the level of fine-tuned movements necessary for many of Celeste's challenging segments is considerably more difficult with a joystick. The inherent lack of precise, granular control compared to analog sticks makes executing complex maneuvers significantly more challenging.

• Responsiveness: The speed at which one can make micro-adjustments is often slower with joysticks. The faster-paced nature of Celeste speedruns requires rapid reactions and adaptations, a demand that a joystick might struggle to meet.

• Accessibility: The prevalence of gamepad usage within the Celeste speedrunning community makes finding tutorials and guides tailored to joystick usage exceedingly difficult. This creates a steeper learning curve for potential joystick users, which can be discouraging.

Why Gamepads Reign Supreme

The advantages of using a gamepad for Celeste speedrunning are readily apparent:

• Intuitive Control: The layout of buttons and analog sticks is generally well-suited to the game's mechanics, facilitating smooth and accurate movements.

• Community Support: A wealth of resources, guides, and community support are readily available for gamepad users, easing the learning process.

• Proven Effectiveness: Top-tier speedruns consistently use gamepads, demonstrating their effectiveness in achieving optimal performance.

The Rare Exception

While incredibly uncommon, there could be exceptional players who have mastered Celeste speedrunning using a joystick. The skill required would be substantially higher than with a gamepad, requiring an extremely high level of dexterity and adaptation. However, their presence within the wider speedrunning community would be highly unusual.

In conclusion, while technically possible, using a joystick for Celeste speedrunning is far from the norm and presents significant challenges compared to the readily accessible advantages offered by a gamepad. The overwhelming preference for gamepads within the community speaks volumes regarding its effectiveness for optimizing performance in this demanding platformer.