Baby Steps Features Among the Most Impactful Decisions I Have Ever Faced in a Game

I've dealt with some challenging decisions in gaming. Some of my decisions in Life is Strange series remain on my mind. Ghost of Tsushima ending section led me to pause the game for several minutes while I considered my alternatives. I am the cause of numerous Krogan demises in Mass Effect that I regret deeply. Not one of those instances compare to what could be the toughest selection I’ve had to make in interactive media — and it involves a enormous set of steps.

Baby Steps, the latest game from the creators of Ape Out, is hardly a selection-based adventure. At least not in the conventional way. You must navigate a sprawling open world as the main character Nate, a grown-up in childish attire who can hardly stay upright on his wobbly legs. It seems like a setup for annoyance, but Baby Steps game’s strength comes from its surprisingly deep narrative that will surprise you when you’re least expecting it. There’s not a single instance that showcases that quality like one major choice that I can’t stop thinking about.

Alert: Spoilers

Some background information is necessary here. Baby Steps game starts when Nate is transported from his parents’ basement and into a fictional universe. He quickly discovers that walking through it is a challenge, as a long time spent as a couch potato have deteriorated his physical condition. The physical comedy of it all arises from players controlling Nate one step at a time, trying to prevent him from falling over.

The protagonist needs aid, but he has difficulty expressing that to others. As he progresses, he encounters a group of unusual individuals in the world who each propose to assist him. A self-assured trekker seeks to provide Nate a map, but he awkwardly refuses in the game’s best laugh-out-loud moment. When he falls into an inescapable pit and is presented with a ladder, he tries to play it off like he can manage alone and genuinely desires to be trapped in the pit. As the plot unfolds, you encounter plenty of frustrating vignettes where Nate complicates his own situation because he’s too self-conscious to accept any assistance.

The Pivotal Moment

That comes to a head in Baby Steps’s one true moment of decision. As Nate approaches the conclusion his quest, he discovers that he must climb to the top of a snowy mountain. The default guardian of the world (who Nate has consistently evaded up to this point) comes to inform him that there are two ways up. If he’s up for a challenge, he can opt for a particularly extended and hazardous route called The Manbreaker. It is the most formidable barrier Baby Steps game has to offer; attempting it appears unwise to any person.

But there’s a alternative choice: He can simply ascend a enormous coiled steps instead and arrive at the peak in a short time. The only caveat? He’ll have to refer to the caretaker “Sir” from now on if he opts for the effortless way.

A Painful Choice

I am very serious when I say that this is an difficult selection in this situation. It’s every one of Nate's doubts about himself culminating in one absurd moment. Part of Nate’s journey is focused on the truth that he’s self-conscious of his body and his masculinity. Each instance he sees that dashing hiker, it’s a hard reminder of what he fails to be. Attempting The Challenge could be a instance where he can demonstrate that he’s as competent as his imagined opponent, but that path is likely paved with more humiliating failures. Is it worth striving just to prove a point?

The steps, on the contrary, give Nate another big moment to choose whether to take assistance or not. The gamer cannot choose in if they reject navigation help, but they can opt to provide Nate with respite and choose the staircase. It ought to be an simple decision, but Baby Steps game is exceptionally cunning about creating doubt anytime you see a simple solution. The environment includes intentional pitfalls that change a secure way into a obstacle on a dime. Is the staircase one more trick? Could Nate reach to the very summit just to be fooled by an ending prank? And more concerning, is he ready to be diminished yet again by being compelled to refer to an odd character as Lord?

No Perfect Choice

The brilliance of that instant is that there’s no perfect selection. Both options leads to a authentic instance of personal growth and emotional release for Nate. If you decide to take on The Obstacle, it’s an personal triumph. Nate finally gets a moment to show that he’s as competent as anyone else, willingly taking on a challenging way rather than enduring one that he has no alternative but to take. It’s challenging, and possibly risky, but it’s the bit of empowerment that he craves.

But there’s no shame in the staircase too. To choose that path is to eventually enable Nate to receive assistance. And when he does so, he realizes that there’s no real catch in store for him. The staircase is not a trick. They extend for some distance, but they’re straightforward to ascend and he doesn’t slide to the bottom if he trips. It’s a simple climb after extended challenges. Partway through, he even has a discussion with the hiker who has, unsurprisingly, selected The Obstacle. He tries to play it cool, but you can discern that he’s worn out, quietly regretting the unnecessary challenge. By the time Nate reaches the summit and has to fulfill his obligation, addressing his new Master, the agreement barely appears so bad. Who has energy for shame by this freak?

My Choice

When I played, I selected the steps. A portion of my thinking just {wanted to call