Beating Celeste without collecting many, or any, strawberries primarily impacts the Epilogue scene of the game, leading to a more subdued and less celebratory conclusion. While collecting strawberries is not necessary to complete the main story and reach the summit, their absence changes the emotional tone of the post-game content.
Completing the Game
Regardless of how many strawberries you collect, reaching the summit of Celeste Mountain is the ultimate goal and signifies the completion of the main storyline. Madeline successfully overcomes her inner struggles and achieves her objective, leading to the game's credits. The core narrative arc remains the same.
The Epilogue: A Subdued Celebration
The most significant difference when completing the game with a low number of strawberries (specifically 0-19 strawberries) becomes apparent during the Epilogue. In this scene, Madeline bakes a strawberry pie, a symbolic act of her journey and growth. However, if your strawberry count is minimal:
- Bland Expressions: The characters present in the scene, including Madeline herself, display bland or neutral expressions, lacking the warmth and joy seen when more strawberries are collected.
- Badeline's Silence: During this particular moment, Badeline does not speak, which contrasts sharply with her usual more vocal and expressive presence throughout the game.
- Badeline's Disappointment: She is depicted looking down at the pie, visually conveying disappointment with the outcome.
- Ending Photo: The final ending photo taken during this scene will also reflect this subdued and less vibrant mood, emphasizing the quiet nature of the celebration.
Essentially, while you still complete the game and see the ending credits, the emotional payoff in the Epilogue is significantly dampened. This serves as a subtle reward or consequence system for exploration and collection. Strawberries are optional collectibles that add depth and a sense of achievement to the player's journey, influencing the game's final emotional note rather than its narrative progression.
For more details on the game's ending and its variations, you can refer to the Celeste Wiki's Epilogue page.
