The Game Baby Steps Presents One of the Most Impactful Decisions I've Ever Experienced in Video Games

I've faced some difficult decisions in gaming. Some of my decisions in Life is Strange series remain on my mind. Ghost of Tsushima's ending section prompted me to set down my controller for a good 10 minutes while I considered my options. I am responsible for countless Krogan demises in Mass Effect that I would love to reverse. Not a single one of those situations measure up to what could be the hardest choice I've faced in gaming — and it involves a giant staircase.

Baby Steps, the recent title from the developers of Ape Out, isn’t exactly a choice-driven game. Certainly not in typical gaming terms. You only need to explore a sprawling open world as the main character Nate, a onesie-wearing manchild who can struggle to remain on his unsteady feet. It appears to be one big ragebait joke, but Baby Steps game’s appeal is in its surprisingly deep narrative that will surprise you when you’re least expecting it. There’s not a single instance that demonstrates that power like a key selection that remains on my mind.

Alert: Spoilers

A bit of context is necessary here. Baby Steps begins as Nate is magically whisked away from the basement of his home and into a magical realm. He quickly discovers that walking through it is a challenge, as years spent as a couch potato have atrophied his limbs. The slapstick elements of it all stems from users guiding Nate gradually, trying to prevent him from falling over.

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 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 funniest instant. When he drops into an inescapable pit and is presented with a ladder, he attempts to act casual like he can manage alone and truly prefers to be stuck in the hole. As the plot unfolds, you see numerous frustrating vignettes where Nate complicates his own situation because he’s too self-conscious to accept any assistance.

The Defining Decision

Everything builds up in Baby Steps’s key situation of decision. As Nate approaches the conclusion his quest, he realizes that he must climb to the top of a snow-capped peak. The unofficial caretaker of the world (who Nate has consistently evaded up to this point) appears to inform him that there are two routes to the top. If he’s ready for a test, he can take an extremely long and hazardous route named The Challenge. It is the most daunting obstacle Baby Steps game provides; taking it seems inadvisable to anyone.

But there’s a alternative choice: He can simply ascend a massive winding stairs in its place and reach the summit in a few minutes. The sole condition? He’ll have to call the groundskeeper “Sir” from now on if he chooses the simple path.

A Difficult Selection

I am absolutely sincere when I say that this is an painful decision in context. It’s all of Nate’s insecurities about himself coming to a head in a single ridiculous instant. An element of Nate's story is revolves around the truth that he’s unconfident of his physical appearance and manhood. Each instance he sees that dashing hiker, it’s a difficult memory of all he lacks. Taking on The Challenge could be a moment where he can show that he’s as competent as his one-sided rival, but that road is bound to be filled with more awkward mishaps. Is it worth striving just to prove a point?

The staircase, on the flip side, give Nate another big moment to choose whether to take assistance or not. The player has no choice in if they turn away a map, but they can opt to provide Nate with respite and opt for the steps. It ought to be an easy choice, but Baby Steps is exceptionally cunning about making you feel paranoid whenever you encounter an easy option. The world is filled with intentional pitfalls that turn a safe route into a difficulty on a dime. Could the steps one more trick? Could Nate reach all the way to the top just to be disappointed by a final joke? And more concerning, is he prepared to be humiliated yet again by being compelled to refer to an odd character as Lord?

No Correct Answer

The excellence of that situation is that there’s no perfect selection. Each path brings about a authentic instance of protagonist evolution and therapeutic resolution for Nate. If you decide to take on The Obstacle, it’s an philosophical victory. Nate eventually obtains a chance to prove that he’s as able as anyone else, voluntarily accepting a tough path rather than enduring one that he has no alternative but to take. It’s hard, and possibly risky, but it’s the dose of confidence that he needs.

But there’s no disgrace in the staircase as well. To opt for that way is to eventually enable Nate to take support. And when he does, he discovers that there’s no hidden trick in store for him. The steps are not a joke. They go on for a long time, but they’re easy to walk up and he won't slip completely down if he trips. It’s a simple climb after extended challenges. Halfway up, he even has a chat with the outdoorsman who has, of course, selected The Challenge. He strives to appear composed, but you can tell that he’s worn out, quietly regretting the unnecessary challenge. By the time Nate arrives at the peak and has to pay his debt, hailing his new Lord, the agreement barely appears so nasty. Who has time to be embarrassed by this freak?

My Experience

During my game, I chose the staircase. Part of me just {wanted to call