Baby Steps Presents One of the Most Meaningful Decisions I Have Ever Experienced in Gaming

I've encountered some challenging decisions in video games. Several of my selections in Life is Strange remain on my mind. Ghost of Tsushima's ending section made me pause the game for a good 10 minutes while I weighed my options. I am accountable for so many Krogan demises in the Mass Effect series that I regret deeply. Not a single one of those situations compare to what possibly is the most difficult decision I've ever made in interactive media — and it concerns a giant staircase.

Baby Steps, the latest game from the makers of Ape Out, isn’t exactly a decision-focused experience. Certainly not in typical gaming terms. You must explore a vast game world as the main character 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 unexpectedly meaningful plot that will surprise you when it's most unexpected. There’s not a single instance that showcases that quality like a pivotal decision that remains on my mind.

Note: Spoilers Ahead

A bit of context is necessary here. Baby Steps begins as the protagonist is suddenly taken from his family's basement and into a fantasy world. He immediately finds that walking through it is a struggle, as a long time spent as a sedentary person have weakened his muscles. The physical comedy of it all comes 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 other characters. Throughout his hero’s journey, he comes in contact with a group of unusual individuals in the world who each propose to give him a hand. A composed outdoorsman tries to give Nate a map, but he awkwardly refuses in the game’s funniest instant. When he falls into an trapping cavity and is given a way out, he strives to appear nonchalant like he doesn’t need the help and genuinely desires to be confined in the cavity. As the plot unfolds, you encounter plenty of frustrating vignettes where Nate complicates his own situation because he’s too insecure to receive help.

The Ultimate Choice

That comes to a head in Baby Steps’s key situation of selection. As Nate nears the end his quest, he finds that he must climb to the top of a snowy mountain. The de facto groundskeeper of the world (who Nate has actively avoided up to this point) appears to inform him that there are two paths upward. If he’s up for a challenge, he can opt for a particularly extended and dangerous hiking trail named The Obstacle. It is the most intimidating challenge Baby Steps provides; choosing it looks risky to anyone.

But there’s a alternative choice: He can simply ascend a gigantic spiral staircase instead and get to the top in a short time. The single stipulation? He’ll have to refer to the caretaker “Master” from now on if he opts for the effortless way.

A Painful Choice

I am completely earnest when I say that this is an painful decision in the game's narrative. It’s every one of Nate's doubts 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 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 moment where he can demonstrate that he’s as capable as his unilateral competitor, but that path is likely paved with more humiliating failures. Does it merit striving just to make a statement?

The stairs, on the flip side, provide Nate with another significant opportunity to either accept or reject help. The user doesn't get to decide in if they decline guidance, but they can decide to allow Nate some relief and choose the staircase. It ought to be an simple decision, but Baby Steps game is remarkably shrewd about creating doubt whenever you see a simple solution. The world is filled with intentional pitfalls that transform an easy path into a difficulty instantly. Could the steps yet another trap? Will Nate get all the way to the top just to be disappointed by a final joke? And more concerning, is he ready to be diminished once again by being compelled to refer to some weirdo Lord?

No Right or Wrong

The beauty of that moment is that there’s no right or wrong answer. Each path leads to a real situation of character development and catharsis for Nate. If you choose to tackle The Manbreaker, it’s an existential win. Nate at last receives a opportunity to demonstrate that he’s as capable as anyone else, consciously choosing a challenging way rather than struggling through one that he has no choice but to follow. It’s hard, and possibly risky, but it’s the dose of confidence that he needs.

But there’s no disgrace in the stairs either. To select that route is to eventually enable Nate to receive assistance. And when he accomplishes that, he finds that there’s no real catch waiting for him. The steps are not a joke. They continue for a while, but they’re simple to climb and he doesn’t slide all the way down if he stumbles. It’s a easy journey after hours of struggle. Midway through, he even has a chat with the hiker who has, naturally, chosen to take The Obstacle. He tries to play it cool, but you can discern that he’s fatigued, subtly ruing the unnecessary challenge. By the time Nate gets to the top and has to fulfill his obligation, addressing his new Master, the arrangement scarcely looks so bad. Who has energy for shame by this freak?

Personal Reflection

In my playthrough, I selected the steps. Some part of my reasoning just {wanted to call