| “ | Madeline, darling, slow down. Oh, I'm simply a concerned observer. I'm part of you... This is just what I look like, okay? Deal with it. Forget about it. I can't tell you what a relief it is to finally get out of your head. But look, I'm worried about us. We need a hobby, but this... You are many things, darling, but you are not a mountain climber. I know it's not your strong suit, but be reasonable for once. You have no idea what you're getting into. You can't handle this. I'm the pragmatic part. And I'm trying to be diplomatic here. Let's go home together. | „ |
| ~ Badeline |
| “ | You're so... so... so stupid! You think you can just leave me behind? You think you can blame everything on me? You think you're above me!? ANSWER ME! (...) You're not above me. And you can't climb this mountain. It's time to accept that. | „ |
| ~ Badeline after Madeline tells her she doesn't need her. |
Badeline, also known as Part of You and Part of Me, is the main antagonist of the indie platformer Celeste.
She is a shadowy entity who embodies all of Madeline's fears and doubts, lurking in the shadows of Celeste Mountain, determined to hinder Madeline's journey towards self-acceptance and inner peace. Every possible obstacle is thrown in Madeline's path by this enigmatic figure, a physical representation of her insecurities. However, amidst all the adversity, it becomes evident that this shadowy incarnation has a genuine concern for Madeline's well-being, striving to shield her from potential pain and disappointment. Although her approach may seem harsh and pessimistic, Madeline eventually realizes that by embracing the synergy between them, they can overcome their differences and work together towards a common goal.
Appearance[]
| “ | This is what I look like, okay? Deal with it. | „ |
| ~ Badeline |
Badeline bears a striking resemblance to Madeline, with the exception of her long, flowing purple locks, porcelain-like skin, and captivating red eyes. Her distinctive style includes a stylish purple jacket paired with sleek black pants and boots. Theo perceives her as a gothic interpretation of Madeline, perhaps due to her unique appearance and edgy fashion choices. During gameplay, Badeline often materializes in mid-air, seemingly defying gravity as she hovers effortlessly. This ethereal presence is enhanced by a captivating purple aura that surrounds her, adding an air of mystery and enchantment to her character. However, in official artwork, the aura is absent, although she still maintains her mesmerizing levitating stance. Overall, Badeline's appearance and abilities contribute to her enigmatic persona, captivating players and adding depth to the game's aesthetic.
Personality[]
| “ | Badeline: You can't handle this. Madeline: That is exactly why I need to do this. Are you the weak Part of Me, or the lazy part? Badeline: I'm the pragmatic part. |
„ |
| ~ Badeline revealing herself to be the "pragmatic" side of Madeline. |
In Chapter 2, Badeline, who is another aspect of Madeline's personality, characterizes herself as the more practical and realistic side of Madeline. On the other hand, in Chapter 6, Madeline openly admits that she possesses traits such as paranoia, a need for control, and even cruelty. In contrast, Badeline tends to exhibit a sarcastic demeanor and her anger tends to arise frequently throughout the narrative, particularly before she and Madeline reconcile. This can be observed right at the start of Chapter 6, when Madeline is approaching the summit of the mountain.
Badeline represents the insecurities and fears that reside within Madeline. She embodies various negative emotions such as loneliness, feelings of incompetence, fear of failure, and hopelessness. Unlike Madeline, who often follows her heart, Badeline tends to approach situations in a more logical manner. She despises being blamed for things and this triggers her anger, particularly evident in the Mirror Temple. Badeline believes in confronting problems head-on rather than making mistakes and dealing with the consequences later. Additionally, Badeline possesses immense power and is capable of breaking through solid rock when experiencing heightened emotions, whether they be excitement or depression.
In both Chapter 5 and Chapter 7, it becomes evident that Badeline possesses an extensive understanding of the mountain.
Biography[]
In Chapter 2 specifically, Badeline takes it upon herself to halt Madeline's ascent up the daunting Mountain. She does so by initially attempting to reason with her, hoping to persuade her to abandon her pursuit. However, when her words fail to make an impact, Badeline resorts to physically chasing Madeline down. What makes this pursuit all the more peculiar is that Badeline mirrors Madeline's every move, but with a slight time delay of 3 seconds. Moreover, if there are multiple instances of Badeline, each subsequent one follows the exact movements of the previous Badeline, but again with a 3-second interval. Badeline is a captivating character who makes her entrance in Chapter 2 of the story. At first glance, she is spotted trapped within a mirror, only to shatter it and emerge into the world. The mystical powers of Celeste mountain are believed to have summoned Badeline from within Madeline's own being, as a means to force her to confront her innermost problems and fears head-on. As the narrative progresses, Badeline continues to make appearances alongside Madeline throughout their treacherous journey, beginning from Chapter 2 and beyond. This unique and enigmatic dynamic between Madeline and Badeline adds an additional layer of intrigue to the story. It raises questions about the duality within oneself, the struggle to overcome personal obstacles, and the potential consequences of confronting one's own fears. As readers delve deeper into the narrative, they are left to ponder the significance and purpose behind Badeline's constant presence and her role in Madeline's transformative journey up the treacherous Celeste mountain.
In Chapter 3, Madeline repeatedly states she does not want to stay at The Celestial Resort, a hotel ran by a ghost. He doesn't listen, and Badeline emerges from a nearby mirror and engages in a heated exchange with Mr. Oshiro, inadvertently causing him to form a negative opinion of Madeline. Badeline creates a path forward through the roof for Madeline to continue her climb without any prior prompting. The unfortunate exchange with Mr. Oshiro causes him to follow, asking for clarification on why she helped him, Badeline says it was to fuel her own twisted ego, calls both of them pathetic, and leaves.
In Chapter 4, Badeline doesn't make an appearance until the very end. She appears to disrupt the normal operation of the gondola after Madeline becomes overwhelmed with anxiety about the height. This situation leads to a full-blown panic attack for Madeline, resulting in what has become known as the "Feather Scene". In this particular scene, the player is tasked with the challenging objective of slowing down Madeline's breath to support a floating feather, and calm down.
In Chapter 5, Badeline only appears near the beginning. Madeline enters the mirror temple, and finds Badeline, who she believes has created the temple and captured Theo. Badeline takes offense to this, explaining that the temple is only showing what is inside Madeline and that she deserves this.
In Chapter 6, the story takes a dramatic turn when Badeline receives a call from her alter ego, Madeline. Madeline expresses that they would both be better off without each other and suggests that they part ways for the sake of their individual happiness. This statement fills Badeline with fear and anger, as she interprets it as Madeline abandoning her on the treacherous mountain. To further taunt Madeline, Badeline uses a purple appendage to seize her mid-air, causing her to struggle for breath. Desperate to escape, Madeline tries to use a trick she learned from Theo involving a feather. However, Badeline cuts the feather in two, rendering it useless and thwarting Madeline's escape attempt. Determined not to be defeated, Madeline musters all her strength and resilience to fight her way back up the mountain. Eventually, she manages to convince a defeated Badeline to join forces and climb together. Through their journey, they resolve their differences and develop a deeper understanding of one another. In a surprising turn of events, Badeline willingly merges with Madeline, granting her a second dash ability. From that moment on, Badeline becomes a valuable companion, offering assistance and support at crucial moments. Together, they embark on an arduous climb towards the summit of Celeste Mountain in Chapter 7, engaging in meaningful conversations about their experiences and their evolving relationship.
It is worth mentioning that she does not make any sort of appearance in Chapter 8, except for the instance when she is specifically prompted by the mystical purple orbs.
In Chapter 7 Side B, there is a moment when she unexpectedly shows up. It happens right after she touches the final purple orb, and her reaction is filled with intense excitement and joy. The fact that she and Madeline have made so much progress truly amazes her, and this overwhelming display of emotions catches Madeline off guard as well.
In this way, Badeline's attempts to dissuade Madeline from pursuing the Bird prove futile, ultimately leading to a compromise where Madeline agrees to follow her instincts while also considering the well-being of the bird she seeks to rescue. Despite Badeline's initial failure to dissuade Madeline, she refuses to give up and makes another attempt to convince her that this pursuit is nothing more than a mere dream. She desperately tries to persuade Madeline to abandon her quest, emphasizing the futility of her efforts. Nevertheless, Madeline remains steadfast in her resolve, unwilling to be swayed by Badeline's doubts and skepticism. In the ninth chapter, Badeline makes a sudden and unexpected return, making her presence known once more. This time, her intention is to dissuade Madeline from pursuing the enigmatic Bird, as she believes it to be nothing more than an ordinary creature, unworthy of Madeline's attention and pursuit. However, Madeline's determination and belief in the significance of this Bird outweigh Badeline's objections, prompting her to continue her search for it independently, without Badeline's guidance or support. Undeterred by her previous failures, Badeline makes a final plea to Madeline, hoping to gain her agreement and cooperation. To Badeline's surprise, Madeline finally relents, agreeing to follow her advice, albeit with one condition. Madeline agrees to free the trapped bird before awakening from her dream, recognizing the bird's captivity behind a barrier of electricity.
Other Media[]
Badeline in Towerfall.
TowerFall[]
Alongside Madeline, Badeline appears as a playable character in the Nintendo Switch version of TowerFall.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Badeline is only referred to as Badeline in any media outside of the base game, such as Steam trading cards, official merchandise or crossovers with other games.
- Within the actual game itself, she is generally addressed as "Part of Me/You" in reference to Madeline.
- She is referred to as "ghost" in the game files.
- In spite of Theo referring to her as a demon and the graphics folder labeling her as a ghost, Badeline does not seem to embody either of these descriptions.
- In the game, Badeline is the sole character who breaks free from the confinement of the speech textbox.
External Links[]
- Badeline on the Celeste Wiki
- Badeline on the Magnificent Baddie Wiki