Baby Steps Presents Among the Most Impactful Decisions I've Ever Faced in Gaming

I've encountered some hard decisions in interactive entertainment. Certain choices I made in Life is Strange series still haunt me. Ghost of Tsushima ending section made me pause the game for several minutes while I considered my alternatives. I am the cause of numerous 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 ever made in gaming — and it has to do with a massive stairway.

Baby Steps, the recent title from the creators of Ape Out game, isn’t exactly a choice-driven game. Definitely not in any traditional sense. You only need to explore a expansive environment as the protagonist Nate, a adult in a onesie who can struggle to remain on his shaky limbs. It seems like a setup for annoyance, but Baby Steps game’s appeal is in its deceptively impactful story that will catch you off guard when you’re least expecting it. There’s no moment that showcases that quality like a pivotal decision that I keep reflecting on.

Note: Spoilers Ahead

Some background information is required here. Baby Steps game begins as Nate is transported from his parents’ basement and into a magical realm. He quickly discovers that moving around in it is a struggle, as a long time spent as a sedentary person have weakened his muscles. The humorous physicality of it all stems from users guiding Nate step by step, trying to maintain his balance.

Nate requires assistance, but he has problems articulating that to others. As he progresses, he encounters a group of unusual individuals in the world who all offer to give him a hand. A composed outdoorsman seeks to provide Nate a guide, but he clumsily declines in the game’s most hilarious scene. When he plunges into an unavoidable hole and is given a way out, he strives to appear nonchalant like he doesn’t need the help and actually wants to be stuck in the hole. As the plot unfolds, you see numerous irritating episodes where Nate makes life harder for himself because he’s not confident enough to receive help.

The Ultimate Choice

That comes to a head in Baby Steps game’s key situation of selection. As Nate nears the end his quest, he realizes that he must climb to the top of a snowy mountain. The de facto groundskeeper of the world (who Nate has consistently evaded up to this point) appears to let him know that there are two routes to the top. If he’s ready for a test, he can take an extremely long and hazardous route called The Manbreaker. It is the most daunting obstacle Baby Steps game has to offer; choosing it looks risky to any human.

But there’s a alternative choice: He can merely climb a massive winding stairs as an alternative and get to the top in a few minutes. The single stipulation? He’ll have to address the guardian “Master” from now on if he chooses the simple path.

An Agonizing Decision

I am very serious when I say that this is an difficult selection in context. It’s all of Nate’s insecurities about himself reaching a climax in one absurd moment. A portion of Nate's adventure is focused on the truth that he’s insecure of his physique and male identity. Whenever he sees that dashing hiker, it’s a hard reminder of all he lacks. Undertaking The Challenge could be a moment where he can demonstrate that he’s as able as his imagined opponent, but that road is bound to be laden with more embarrassing pratfalls. Does it merit striving just to prove a point?

The staircase, on the contrary, give Nate another big moment to choose whether to take assistance or not. The player has no choice in whether or not they turn away a map, but they can opt to allow Nate some relief and choose the staircase. It might seem like an easy choice, but Baby Steps is devilishly clever about creating doubt anytime you see a simple solution. The game world contains intentional pitfalls that transform an easy path into a difficulty on a dime. Could the steps yet another trap? Might Nate arrive at the peak just to be fooled by a final joke? And even worse, is he prepared to be humiliated yet again by being forced to call an odd character as Lord?

No Correct Answer

The beauty of that moment is that there’s no perfect selection. Either one results in a authentic instance of personal growth and catharsis for Nate. If you choose to tackle The Challenge, it’s an philosophical victory. Nate at last receives a chance to prove that he’s as capable as anyone else, willingly taking on a difficult route rather than enduring one that he has no option except to pursue. It’s challenging, and possibly risky, but it’s the moment of strength that he requires.

But there’s no embarrassment in the staircase either. To choose that path is to eventually enable Nate to receive assistance. And when he does so, he realizes that there’s no secret drawback waiting for him. The staircase is not a trick. They go on for a long time, but they’re straightforward to ascend and he does not fall completely down if he stumbles. It’s a easy journey after lengthy difficulty. Partway through, he even has a discussion with the outdoorsman who has, unsurprisingly, selected The Manbreaker. He tries to play it cool, but you can tell that he’s fatigued, quietly regretting the unnecessary challenge. By the time Nate gets to the top and has to fulfill his obligation, addressing his new Master, the agreement barely appears so nasty. Who has concern for humiliation by this freak?

My Experience

When I played, I selected the steps. Part of me just {wanted to call