Baby Steps Presents One of the Most Impactful Decisions I Have Ever Faced in a Game

I've encountered some hard choices in gaming. Several of my selections in Life is Strange remain on my mind. Ghost of Tsushima final sequence led me to set down my controller for around ten minutes while I considered my alternatives. I am the cause of so many Krogan deaths in Mass Effect that I wish I could undo. None of those moments measure up to what now might be the most difficult decision I’ve had to make in gaming — and it has to do with a giant staircase.

Baby Steps, the recent title from the developers of Ape Out, isn’t exactly a decision-focused experience. At least not in typical gaming terms. You simply have to navigate a expansive environment as the protagonist Nate, a onesie-wearing manchild who can barely stand on his shaky limbs. It appears to be a setup for annoyance, but Baby Steps’s appeal is in its surprisingly deep narrative that will surprise you when it's most unexpected. There’s no moment that exemplifies that strength like a key selection that I keep reflecting on.

Note: Spoilers Ahead

Some scene setting is necessary here. Baby Steps game begins as Nate is magically whisked away from his parents’ basement and into a fictional universe. He immediately finds that moving around in it is a difficulty, as years spent as a sedentary person have deteriorated his physical condition. The physical comedy of it all comes from players controlling Nate gradually, trying to prevent him from falling over.

Nate needs help, but he has problems articulating that to others. Throughout his hero’s journey, he meets a collection of quirky personalities in the world who each propose to give him a hand. A self-assured trekker attempts to offer Nate a guide, but he awkwardly refuses in the game’s best laugh-out-loud moment. When he plunges into an unavoidable hole and is offered a ladder, he strives to appear nonchalant like he requires no assistance and actually wants to be stuck in the hole. As the plot unfolds, you encounter plenty of frustrating vignettes where Nate makes life harder for himself because he’s too insecure to take support.

The Pivotal Moment

That comes to a head in Baby Steps’s key situation of choice. As Nate approaches the conclusion his adventure, he finds that he must reach the summit of a snow-capped peak. The default guardian of the world (who Nate has consistently evaded up to this point) comes to tell him that there are two paths upward. If he’s ready for a test, he can choose a very lengthy and dangerous hiking trail called The Challenge. It is the most formidable barrier Baby Steps has to offer; choosing it looks risky to anyone.

But there’s a second option: He can simply ascend a gigantic spiral staircase instead and arrive at the peak in just moments. The only caveat? He’ll have to refer to the caretaker “Lord” 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 the game's narrative. It’s the totality of Nate's self-consciousness about himself culminating in one absurd moment. A portion of Nate's adventure is centered around the fact that he’s self-conscious of his physique and male identity. Every time he sees that dashing hiker, it’s a hard reminder of all he lacks. Undertaking The Challenge could be a instance where he can show that he’s as competent as his unilateral competitor, but that road is bound to be filled with more awkward mishaps. Is it worth suffering just to make a statement?

The staircase, on the flip side, offer Nate an additional crucial instance to choose whether to take assistance or not. The gamer cannot choose in about they turn away a map, but they can decide to give Nate a break and opt for the steps. It might seem like an straightforward selection, but Baby Steps is devilishly clever about causing suspicion anytime you find a gift horse. The game world contains design traps that change a secure way into a difficulty suddenly. Could the steps yet another trap? Will Nate get all the way to the top just to be disappointed by an ending prank? And more troubling, is he prepared to be humiliated yet again by being forced to call some weirdo Lord?

No Perfect Choice

The excellence of that situation is that there’s no right or wrong answer. Both options brings about a real situation of personal growth and emotional release for Nate. If you choose to tackle The Manbreaker, it’s an philosophical victory. Nate finally gets a moment to show that he’s as capable as others, consciously choosing a tough path rather than enduring one that he has no alternative but to take. It’s difficult, and perhaps unwise, but it’s the dose of confidence that he requires.

But there’s no disgrace in the steps either. To choose that path is to eventually enable Nate to receive assistance. And when he accomplishes that, he discovers that there’s no secret drawback in store for him. The steps are not a joke. They go on for a long time, but they’re simple to climb and he doesn’t slide completely down if he falls. It’s a simple climb after extended challenges. Midway through, he even has a conversation with the hiker who has, naturally, opted for The Challenge. He strives to appear composed, but you can tell that he’s exhausted, silently lamenting the unnecessary challenge. By the time Nate arrives at the peak and has to fulfill his obligation, calling the character Lord, the agreement barely appears so unpleasant. Who has time to be embarrassed by this strange individual?

My Choice

In my playthrough, I opted for the stairs. Part of me just {wanted to call