The Game Baby Steps Features One of the Most Impactful Decisions I Have Ever Faced in Video Games

I've dealt with some hard choices in interactive entertainment. Some of my decisions in Life is Strange series still haunt me. Ghost of Tsushima final sequence prompted me to put my controller down for around ten minutes while I thought through my alternatives. I am responsible for numerous Krogan demises in Mass Effect that I regret deeply. Not a single one of those situations compare to what possibly is the most difficult decision I’ve had to make in gaming — and it involves a giant staircase.

The Game Baby Steps, the latest game from the developers of Ape Out game, isn’t exactly a selection-based adventure. Definitely not in the conventional way. You simply have to explore a sprawling open world as the main character Nate, a grown-up in childish attire who can barely stand on his shaky limbs. It looks like an exercise in frustration, but Baby Steps game’s power lies in its deceptively impactful story that will catch you off guard when you’re least expecting it. There’s not a single instance that demonstrates that power like a pivotal decision that remains on my mind.

Alert: Spoilers

Some background information is necessary here. Baby Steps begins as Nate is magically whisked away from the basement of his home and into a fictional universe. He soon realizes that navigating this world is a struggle, as a lifetime spent as a inactive individual have weakened his muscles. The slapstick elements of it all stems from players controlling Nate one step at a time, trying to keep his ragdoll body standing.

The protagonist needs aid, but he has trouble voicing that to others. As he progresses, he meets a cast of eccentric characters in the world who all offer to help him out. A self-assured trekker attempts to offer Nate a navigation aid, but he uncomfortably rejects in the game’s most hilarious scene. When he drops into an inescapable pit and is offered a ladder, he tries to play it off like he can manage alone and truly prefers to be trapped in the pit. During the narrative, you experience no shortage of irritating episodes where Nate creates additional difficulties because he’s too self-conscious to receive help.

The Pivotal Moment

That comes to a head in Baby Steps game’s single genuine instance of choice. As Nate nears the end his journey, he discovers that he must reach the summit of a snowy mountain. The de facto groundskeeper of the world (who Nate has consistently evaded up to this point) comes to let him know that there are two ways up. If he’s prepared for difficulty, he can opt for a particularly extended and dangerous hiking trail named The Obstacle. It is the most intimidating challenge Baby Steps includes; attempting it appears unwise to any person.

But there’s a second option: He can just walk up a gigantic spiral staircase as an alternative and reach the summit in just moments. The only caveat? He’ll have to call the groundskeeper “Sir” from now on if he takes the easy route.

A Painful Choice

I am very serious when I say that this is an painful decision in the game's narrative. It’s every one of Nate's doubts 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. Each instance he sees that dashing hiker, it’s a hard reminder of everything he’s not. Attempting The Manbreaker could be a moment where he can prove that he’s as competent as his one-sided rival, but that road is bound to be laden with more humiliating failures. Does it merit struggling just to demonstrate something?

The staircase, on the contrary, provide Nate with another significant opportunity 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 decide to give Nate a break and choose the staircase. It should be an straightforward selection, but Baby Steps game is devilishly clever about creating doubt each time you find a gift horse. The game world contains intentional pitfalls that transform an easy path into a setback on a dime. Are the stairs an additional deception? Might Nate arrive all the way to the top just to be let down by some last-second gag? And more troubling, is he prepared to be humiliated once again by being made to address an odd character as Lord?

No Correct Answer

The beauty of that moment is that there’s no correct or incorrect choice. Each path results in a authentic instance of protagonist evolution and catharsis for Nate. If you choose to tackle The Challenge, it’s an philosophical victory. Nate finally gets a opportunity to demonstrate that he’s as capable as everyone else, consciously choosing a challenging way rather than suffering through one that he has no alternative but to take. It’s hard, and possibly risky, but it’s the dose of confidence that he craves.

But there’s no shame in the stairs as well. To select that route is to eventually enable Nate to accept help. And when he does, he realizes that there’s no hidden trick in store for him. The steps are not a joke. They extend for some distance, but they’re easy to walk up and he won't slip all the way down if he stumbles. It’s a simple climb after extended challenges. Partway through, he even has a conversation with the outdoorsman who has, unsurprisingly, opted for The Manbreaker. He tries to play it cool, but you can discern that he’s worn out, silently lamenting the unnecessary challenge. By the time Nate reaches the summit and has to pay his debt, hailing his new Lord, the agreement barely appears so nasty. Who has energy for shame by this odd character?

My Experience

During my game, I chose the staircase. A portion of my thinking just {wanted to call