Baby Steps Presents Among the Most Significant Choices I've Ever Encountered in Gaming

I've dealt with some challenging choices in video games. Several of my selections in Life is Strange remain on my mind. Ghost of Tsushima's ending section led me to put my controller down for several minutes while I weighed my choices. I am responsible for numerous Krogan demises in Mass Effect that I wish I could undo. None of those moments compare to what possibly is the most difficult decision I’ve had to make in interactive media — and it involves a massive stairway.

The Game Baby Steps, the newest release from the developers of Ape Out, is hardly a choice-driven game. At least not in any traditional sense. You only need to explore a sprawling open world as Nate, a onesie-wearing manchild who can barely stand on his unsteady feet. It looks like one big ragebait joke, but Baby Steps game’s power lies in its unexpectedly meaningful plot that will sneak up on you when you least anticipate it. There’s not a single instance that showcases that quality like a pivotal decision that I can’t stop thinking about.

Note: Spoilers Ahead

Some background information is needed at this point. Baby Steps game begins as Nate is transported from his parents’ basement and into a fantasy world. He quickly discovers that walking through it is a struggle, as years spent as a sedentary person have atrophied his limbs. The physical comedy of it all arises from players controlling Nate one step at a time, trying to keep his ragdoll body standing.

Nate requires assistance, but he has trouble voicing that to anyone. As he progresses, he comes in contact with a cast of eccentric characters in the world who all offer to help him out. A composed outdoorsman tries to give Nate a guide, but he uncomfortably rejects in the game’s most hilarious scene. When he drops into an trapping cavity and is presented with a ladder, he tries to play it off like he doesn’t need the help and truly prefers to be confined in the cavity. As the plot unfolds, you experience no shortage of frustrating vignettes where Nate makes life harder for himself because he’s not confident enough to accept any assistance.

The Pivotal Moment

This culminates in Baby Steps’s single genuine instance of decision. As Nate nears the end his quest, he realizes that he must reach the summit of a frosty elevation. The unofficial caretaker of the world (who Nate has actively avoided up to this point) comes to inform him that there are two routes to the top. If he’s prepared for difficulty, he can choose a very lengthy and hazardous route named The Challenge. It is the most formidable barrier Baby Steps game provides; attempting it appears unwise to any human.

But there’s a alternative choice: He can simply ascend a enormous coiled steps instead and reach the summit in a short time. The single stipulation? He’ll have to address the guardian “Master” from now on if he chooses the simple path.

A Painful Choice

I am very serious when I say that this is an painful decision in this situation. It’s every one of Nate's doubts about himself coming to a head in one absurd moment. A portion of Nate's adventure is revolves around the fact that he’s insecure of his physical appearance and manhood. Every time he sees that dashing hiker, it’s a hard reminder of all he lacks. Taking on The Obstacle could be a time where he can show that he’s as competent as his unilateral competitor, but that route is sure to be laden with more awkward mishaps. Does it merit suffering just to make a statement?

The stairs, on the contrary, offer Nate an additional crucial instance to either accept or reject help. The user doesn't get to decide in if they turn away a map, but they can decide to give Nate a break and choose the staircase. It ought to be an easy choice, but Baby Steps game is devilishly clever about creating doubt whenever you find a gift horse. The environment includes planned obstacles that turn a safe route into a setback instantly. Are the stairs one more trick? Might Nate arrive to the very summit just to be let down by a final joke? And more concerning, is he ready to be diminished yet again by being made to address an odd character as Lord?

No Correct Answer

The beauty of that moment is that there’s no perfect selection. Both options brings about a authentic instance of protagonist evolution and emotional release for Nate. If you decide to take on The Obstacle, it’s an existential win. Nate at last receives a chance to prove that he’s as able as anyone else, willingly taking on a tough path rather than struggling through one that he has no choice but to follow. It’s hard, and maybe ill-advised, but it’s the dose of confidence that he requires.

But there’s no shame in the steps either. To choose that path is to eventually enable Nate to take support. And when he does so, he realizes that there’s no hidden trick awaiting him. The stairs aren’t a prank. They continue for a while, but they’re straightforward to ascend and he does not fall to the bottom if he stumbles. It’s a simple climb after extended challenges. Midway through, he even has a chat with the trekker who has, naturally, selected The Manbreaker. He attempts to act casual, but you can tell that he’s worn out, silently lamenting the pointless struggle. By the time Nate gets to the top and has to fulfill his obligation, addressing his new Master, the arrangement scarcely looks so unpleasant. Who has concern for humiliation by this freak?

Personal Reflection

In my playthrough, I opted for the stairs. Some part of my reasoning just {wanted to call