Celeste Strawberry Jam | Passionfruit Pantheon: The Grandmaster Heart Side

From up here, I feel like I can see it all...
What a journey this was. I finalized the flag order for GMHS on 22 October 2021 and finished the map itself on 16 January 2023, after spending over 500 hours working on it in the editor and several hundred more planning and testing it. Organizing, assembling, and polishing this behemoth of a final challenge was deeply satisfying, draining, joyous, miserable, and everything in between. I came close to burning myself out several times during this map's development, but seeing the finished product and ending sequence made all the late nights and six-hour sessions worth it. I hope you can find that same satisfaction at the end of your journey with SJ.
Thank you to everyone who made this map possible, it wouldn't exist without you. Special shoutouts to quadratic97 for going above and beyond with the flag 1 cassette remix and ending music, Ecl1psed for recording and editing this showcase video, and nerferd_ for generously providing the thumbnail.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Lobby walkup
01:02 - Credits
01:40 - Checkpoint 1: Start
03:30 - Checkpoint 2: Humility
05:16 - Checkpoint 3: Divinity
07:06 - Checkpoint 4: Purity
09:22 - Checkpoint 5: Clarity
11:15 - Checkpoint 6: Icarus
13:48 - Flag 1
15:41 - Heart collect & endscreen

[@piotrsawek3613]

That 3-5 polyrhythm at the end might be one of the most menacing things i've seen in any game. Just despair.

[@dry4smash946]

Its not that bad if you used save state practice to memorize the part

[@TheOneWhoHasABadName]

@@dry4smash946 the first time you see it, it's probably very scary, even if you know it is perfectly consistent they captured the feeling of "impossible challenge" very well with that introduction

[@dry4smash946]

@@TheOneWhoHasABadName yep same here (fellow gmhs clearer) it was really menacing even though I already knew that pumber flag is the hardest after all

[@TheOneWhoHasABadName]

@@dry4smash946 actually, i haven't completed gmhs (i'm stuck in GM lobby with low motivation to continue for the time being), just a casual viewer looking at godlike beings undergoing apotheosis the mappers did a very good job

[@dry4smash946]

@@TheOneWhoHasABadName ah, going gmhs blind was the best decision i made good luck on gm maps when you feel motivated!!

[@DarkEspeon40K]

The only thing I'm sad about is that it's way too difficult for a casual player to experience. But I'm glad youtube exists for these cases. Fantastic work.

[@user-ks6mg1of3z]

1. Hardcore players should have at least grandmaster lobby for themselves. 2. If you try I think you can beat this lobby. In like 300-500 hours of playing this and other mods. But you can.

[@purpleshyguy4721]

I’m at like 300 ish hours rn and yeah that’s about how long it took for me to reach this difficulty alone. Mastering it is a whole other level, but if you really want to be up there, then you just have to climb through the difficulties one by one.

[@tim..indeed]

​@@user-ks6mg1of3z Maybe if you play a ton of other platforming video games or speedrun. Someone casual won't reach this in under 1000 hours.

[@nebulae5236]

@@tim..indeedidk, I know a guy that made it here in 800 hours from just picking up the game. Still a stupidly high number but it’s possible if you’re willing to grind for it!

[@misscatbird]

@@purpleshyguy4721are you joking bc I’m at over 4000 hours and still on expert

[@andybuscus383]

This is why giving the players the ability to make their own levels is just asking for trouble. That was fucking amazing to watch. I could never touch that in my life.

[@Dullsonic3]

I know this is one perfect final level…. But flag 1, that alone gets an 11/10. The intro that leads to it, the drop that happens when you actually make it to flag 1, the absolute insanity in gameplay, combining 2 beat block sequences at the same time, the maze of death, and not to mention I have no idea how they synced the music exactly to the finishing blow! Once I git gud, I will have one great time with Grandmaster Heartside

[@quadratic9775]

thanks so much! I did the fmodding for that final music sync (and flag 1) - it was a bit of a nightmare haha

[@apeirocell]

@@quadratic9775 fantastic work! it turned out amazing!

[@serraramayfield9230]

@@quadratic9775 it's a 5/3 polyrhythm, right

[@quadratic9775]

@@serraramayfield9230 yes!

[@dry4smash946]

@@quadratic9775ayooo, i have just finished the map yesterday and man, this ending… is one of my favorite stuff in my entire celeste modded playthrough, i actually cried when i reached the end ( i have like 1400 hours + sj hour count which is 310)

[@owenshirrell1150]

the level of work and care you’ve put into this is genuinely ridiculous, and it’s absolutely paid off. really surreal to finally see this complete.

[@Chelito0607]

Just today I finished Solar and now I am in front of the heart gate, this exact video is what made me so invested in reaching grandmaster 5 months ago and now I come back and I want to say: I am ready

[@dry4smash946]

I am ready by kazt111????11

[@dangyo962]

Did you do it?

[@Chelito0607]

@@dangyo962 I did! Even uploaded the video in my channel 😁 it's still one of my favorite maps in all of Celeste

[@dangyo962]

@@Chelito0607 ggs!! I'll get there someday

[@Chelito0607]

@@dangyo962 I know you will! I'll be cheering you on

[@RoiGamez]

I'm sorry but... WHAT EVEN IS THIS???? MY EYES FAIL TO REGISTER EVEN 50% OF THIS! And that polyrhythmic section at the end... OMGGGG This was beautiful

[@quadratic9775]

This is an incredible work of art that I never could have imagined would be possible in this game, super huge congrats once again for completing this and putting in so much dedication and effort over the course of these past years!! Making Shatter the Pantheon for flag 1 was some of the most fun that I've had writing music in years and I'm so happy to see how well flag 1 (and the rest of the map as well!) work. Hopefully I can beat this someday!

[@serraramayfield9230]

What kind of drugs were you both on when creating the final room?! 8 different colors?! i loved it but still WHY

[@quadratic9775]

@@serraramayfield9230 you gotta have 8 colors if you wanna to a 5 against 3 polyrhythm :)

[@serraramayfield9230]

@@quadratic9775 i knew it was a polyrhythm

[@meta04]

I could tell...

[@vulcanSCGP]

That final room and the ending has to be one of the coolest things I've ever seen in this game. The way the music syncs with the gameplay in the ending is one of my favorite musical moments in any game. The music, as well as everything in this map, is absolutely stellar, but flag 1 and the ending is definitely my favorite part!

[@dry4smash946]

Sammeeee, i actually cried when i reached there

[@craigcooper1967]

That was the most epic final room music I have ever seen/heard... just amazing all around!!!

[@Ecl1psed276]

Your work ethic is something I aspire to, but I think that might be too lofty of a goal for me xD. This level is the result of literally hundreds of hours of mapping and hundreds of hours of playtesting, and it paid off more than we could ever imagine.

[@pixelator5312]

flag 1 is genuinely the most creative mechanic i've ever seen in celeste. that and everything else completely blew me away, amazing job but... where's the Heartside Heartside where you race back through all the lobbies and get to see elements of every single map all interwoven with one another? /hj

[@xplosives1752]

So grateful I got to work on this, this is absolutely incredible and I am so happy all your hard work paid off!

[@graveyardwyrm]

the ending just about brought tears to my eyes. thank you so much for all the work you put into this! can't wait until i'm experienced enough to clear this heartside myself.

[@Topazzio]

LETS FUCKING GOOOOO!!!! Massive GGs to you val, you went above and beyond by an indescribably large margin to make this level as great as possible, and you exceeded all expectations. Thank you for pouring your heart into this to make quite possibly the most impressive celeste level of all time. I wish you luck on your future endeavors after this.

[@wmeowlissa]

wow. nothing else i can say. flag 1 and the ending genuinely made me tear up. congratulations on putting together a masterpiece

[@hydro0___]

I'm so incredible proud of you for how this turned out val, it's spectacular

[@tykimkim]

thank you so much for pouring all that time into this, the end result is incredible

[@Coffe789]

holy shit this is incredible

[@shye6050]

sorry for the inconvenience, but it appears you did not do a heart ultra. this run is invalid please recelear

[@Xeamless]

This is so cool! Looks absolutely beautiful.

[@davidhamilton6136]

How is that even possible? Those are crazy and so fast, and that final section with all the spike blocks, wow! Thank you for creating this so I could see what it's like!

[@loganm2924]

Can't believe SC is coming out in only a week!

[@xolimono]

HELL YEAH!!!! go val!!!! your hard work paid off like crazy, the entire thing is genuinely so fucking cool i may never beat it, but GOD it's a joy just to watch

[@autumn_mnya]

im rlly proud of u val, good job and im excited to get to this in my sj playthrough !!

[@autumn_mnya]

thank you

[@officialmelonlord]

the more I watch this, the more I appreciate this map. you start to understand and make sense of more aspects that were previously indescribable. flag 1 is easily the greatest part of the map. everything from the atmosphere, the music, the maze segment. you couldn't have possibly ended the final map in a better way. this is easily one of the greatest things to ever happen to celeste. i can't wait to get to this level of play so that I can experience this to its fullest extent.

[@ashleyunderscorebl]

we truly do have a real jam goin on in all seriousness this is beautiful and flag 1/the ending is *insanely* cool

[@spark9656]

I don't know what's more impressive; how horrifying flag one looks or that the ending makes playing through it look completely worth it

[@gtoast2053]

i must have watched the ending of this heartside over 20 times at this point and i still get chills every single time

[@Juma.711]

It's the most epic thing i've ever seen in a videogame. You all are crazy

[@anhuynhpc]

Ah, can't wait until reaching this level after 50 years, then spend another 50 beating it. Seriously tho amazing end to the level and to the mod as a whole! Thank you so much for making this, incredible work!

[@calypso4533]

this is actually fucking incredible

[@JinGaster]

what a view indeed. GG!

[@alextygesen3101]

You beat possibly one of the hardest levels in Celeste, the god damn sun train, and what are you met with? Absolute, fuckin', despair. I love it.

[@Zerrook]

Its great to regularly look back at this video

[@Skyyyreaper]

5 days ago this was beaten deathless yall... This was truly our Celeste Strawberry Jam Mod experience. And i loved every second of it Thank you everyone who contributed on this mod, and everyone who played this masterpiece

[@apeirocell]

genuinely incredible

[@lonelykn1ght_s]

It’s incredible how a game with such simple mechanics could be pushed that far… I find it truly amazing

[@TeamAquasHideout]

This is so sick. Idk if I'll ever get this far, but I will try lol. I spend a lot of time modding Pokemon, I kind of want to see what the Celeste scene is like

[@trimptrimp]

absolutely beautiful

[@im.josh-ing6924]

Absolutely beautiful.

[@gWeber2.1]

I fell like a really under appreciated part of the level is the background and how it changes from day to dusk to night to dawn to raining at the last checkpoint, and also how at the end of flag 1 the sun goes up as you dash into the hearts

[@noway7891]

THIS IS CELESTE?????

[@eikida]

I am literally crying tears of joy while watching the last few Checkpoints

[@woomiiakarandomveemo5933]

this is so epic i love this

[@calebpark7385]

WOW this is so cool!!!❤

[@enilegnave21]

My son bought me Celeste... and I can barely scale the first wall. Truly beautiful. Thank you

[@emperortgp2424]

Just so you know... this is not part of the base game! It's an extra level made by the fans.

[@cdgood9375]

This has got to be the greatest mod for any game ever

[@twinheadedwendigo]

this is the coolest level ever oh my god

[@petey5009]

holy shit, flag one is the most horrifying and mesmerizing thing I've ever seen.

[@zuggo]

Wow that's amazing!

[@christophermolina800]

That was amazing

[@HopDances]

Awesome ❤

[@piiarwain2361]

Man grandmaster always hit different

[@ihavenoideaofnames272]

"Oops forgot to record" that would be painful

[@park0527]

I was full on expecting some crazy beatblock section at the end but WHAT

[@socksygen]

Amazing

[@timitek]

this is what farewell looks like for me

[@Axe-fs9eb]

I’m just saying. If watching a video of someone collecting the final heart is enough to make me cry, I can’t even imagine how it must feel for someone who’s put hundreds, probably thousands of hours into this lobby. Completing something of this standard is probably the biggest achievement that a gamer can have the pleasure of beating.

[@CapyGMD]

I know that this wasn’t made to be goldened but I need this goldened and I need it NOW

[@SSM24_]

good news!

[@CapyGMD]

@@SSM24_ I knew about this already lmao. Ehs feels like it was made to be goldened but gmhs is like the most beautiful, “fuck you,” to those going for max% and it’s amazinf

[@dan7494]

something I just now realized is that at the end of flag one, when you are going up the tower, each heart crystal is the same color as the ones from each of the lobbies which are the same color as the fruits they are based on. blueberry bay 14:43 raspberry roots 14:45 mango mesa 14:47 starfruit supernova 14:49 passionfruit pantheon 14:54 (the shards after breaking it is purple)

[@alisticious]

Hell Yeah!

[@Artur-Ellena-O-Pingu]

Flag number 1 is awesome

[@aetergator7020]

grintastic

[@emmettshaw967]

So fucking amazing

[@ru2763]

No casoosted fuper ending ):

[@eikida]

Sick

[@Trickshotter]

The best heartside the Celeste community has ever seen

[@quincius8638]

i hope the rest of strawberry jam can kinda build up to this so i can eventually be good enough lol

[@DumbNub_]

it does

[@BeeHive5]

I wholeheartedly believe that strawberry jam should be turned into a free DLC for vanilla

[@DumbNub_]

vanilla celeste is coded in a different language i believe

[@tamnker8465]

The heart being called "Apotheosis" suggests Madeline literally becomes a god.

[@PikaZap]

That looks humanly impossible...I just have no other words

[@JoweeTheRapo]

Wait, your telling me this isn't TAS? Awesome job bro.

[@rise1990]

you are sick dude

[@TopPotato109]

As someone who found farewell (with moon berry) to be probably the hardest thing I’ve done in gaming this looks miserable

[@luiz.z.7k]

muitooo brabo

[@ratandcompact3354]

At 9:53 would have been a cool idea for Summit C Side, small parts of all the levels you beat.

[@user-wu7lc9gb6g]

There are 2 insane challenges that I want to eventually beat. This and the pantheon of nightmares (modded hollow knight) this is definitely way harder though

[@SwiftIRLtv]

i will make it here soon.

[@ministroofmemes9157]

I feel too sad about inability to challenge this difficulty,even though I handled B/C/ some CC sides,I couldnt get past intermediate difficulty.And even after years I will be unable,its just insane😮

[@TobyConger]

GG

[@tymon4729]

Maybe someday

[@tofufiish]

val try not to make everything as good as possible challenge (impossible)

[@RedStone576]

silent clubstep near ending

[@Diggdigital]

I tried to beat this I completed everything else in Strawberry Jam with enthusiasm; I got to flag 7 and I ended up having a nervous breakdown... What a letdown. I was too weak for this

[@uk1ran]

sorry for the late reply, but I disagree. Are you really going to let ONE room stop you from achieving this? You managed to beat everything else, and the very last level makes you throw in the towel? Nah. you got that. I believe in you. No matter how long, you got this, just have faith, and give it time!!

[@MelodyWasTaken]

And people like me thought that getting all C-Side Goldens made me *good* at Celeste lol

[@endingsky8271]

Wow

[@tear959]

7:52 nice sync btw

[@arcadeoriginal5273]

This without context kind of looks like madeline trying to reach heaven after she (maybe i guess) suffocated in space during farewell

[@dry4smash946]

I mean, farewell is a dream after all

[@arcadeoriginal5273]

Oh dang I actually never thought about farewell being a dream. I was thinking about another way Madeline would die would be from making the strawberry pie technically since most of them are golden but it feels seriously hard to think that she eats the pie too

[@dry4smash946]

@@arcadeoriginal5273i know i am pretty late but, is madeline trying to kill everyone? If not then why did she bake a pie that is made out of golden lol

[@sebihahah1147]

One must imagine madeline happy 🗿

[@kakyoindonut3213]

Of course the blessing from god can only be obtained by beating god's toughest battles

[@edbailey3879]

GIgachad

[@hopydoesnt]

10:51 makes sense to me

[@SpLiTtSpLaTt7036]

Bro got tired of watching TAS so he BECAME the TAS

[@marsh4329]

and im bad at even the intermediate levels... goddamn.

[@RemixNoul]

Celeste fans can do anything fr

[@DC-xc2wf]

Ben's Comments: Bruh, that's kind of the message the game was trying to give. "You can do this."

[@BirB08]

This is bringing back hollow knight pantheon flashbacks and Celeste flashbacks at the same time I hate it

[@FoxyCAMTV]

This must be keyboard,my controller can't put flawless inputs.

[@3psilon9]

The final part of the first flag gave me serious Geometry Dash vibes. If you know, you know 💀

[@Redjd2098]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqfGY4ylgbyAZsUsi=uTpFVZgUNux7mK3C

[@penguinflames707]

Limbo, right? Anyways, 9 months has passed since your original comment, and now 2.2 is a thing, so get ready for a few months or so to pass before something like this shows up as an extreme demon

[@Pixel_Airon]

I am waiting for some amazing mod, but not that hard. Maybe summit bside hard lvl

[@1votdopeningfan138]

strawberry jam beginner and intermediate levels got you. might not have this epic theme but they made some rlly creative and unique levels there already