Baby Steps Presents One of the Most Significant Decisions I've Ever Encountered in Video Games

I've encountered some hard decisions in video games. Some of my decisions in Life is Strange series remain on my mind. Ghost of Tsushima concluding moments prompted me to pause the game for a good 10 minutes while I considered my options. I am responsible for numerous Krogan demises in the Mass Effect series that I would love to reverse. Not a single one of those situations hold a candle to what now might be the toughest selection I've ever made in gaming — and it concerns a giant staircase.

The Game Baby Steps, the newest release from the makers of Ape Out, is not really a choice-driven game. Definitely not in typical gaming terms. You must explore a vast game world as the protagonist Nate, a adult in a onesie who can barely stand on his unsteady feet. It seems like a setup for annoyance, but Baby Steps’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 key selection that remains on my mind.

Note: Spoilers Ahead

A bit of context is required here. Baby Steps begins as Nate is transported from the basement of his home and into a fictional universe. He quickly discovers that walking through it is a struggle, as years spent as a sedentary person have deteriorated his physical condition. The humorous physicality of it all arises from users guiding Nate one step at a time, trying to keep his ragdoll body standing.

The protagonist needs aid, but he has problems articulating that to other characters. Throughout his hero’s journey, he encounters a group of unusual individuals in the world who all offer to help him out. A cool, confident hiker tries to give Nate a navigation aid, but he uncomfortably rejects 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 requires no assistance and genuinely desires to be stuck in the hole. Throughout the story, you encounter plenty of annoying scenarios where Nate complicates his own situation because he’s too insecure to take support.

The Defining Decision

This culminates in Baby Steps’s key situation of selection. As Nate nears the end his quest, he discovers that he must reach the summit of a snowy mountain. The de facto groundskeeper of the world (who Nate has actively avoided up to this point) shows up to tell 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 dubbed The Obstacle. It is the most intimidating challenge Baby Steps includes; attempting it appears unwise to any human.

But there’s a second option: He can merely climb a gigantic spiral staircase instead and get to the top in a short time. The only caveat? He’ll have to call the groundskeeper “Lord” from now on if he chooses the simple path.

A Painful Choice

I am completely earnest when I say that this is an painful decision in this situation. It’s all of Nate’s insecurities about himself coming to a head in a particularly bizarre situation. An element of Nate's story is revolves around the fact that he’s self-conscious of his body and his masculinity. Whenever he sees that dashing hiker, it’s a hard reminder of all he lacks. Attempting The Challenge could be a instance where he can prove that he’s as capable as his unilateral competitor, but that route is sure to be laden with more embarrassing pratfalls. Is it justified suffering just to make a statement?

The stairs, on the contrary, give Nate another big moment to choose whether to take assistance or not. The player has no choice in if they reject navigation help, but they can decide to allow Nate some relief and opt for the steps. It might seem like an straightforward selection, but Baby Steps is exceptionally cunning about creating doubt each time you encounter an easy option. The game world contains design traps that turn a safe route into a obstacle suddenly. Could the steps yet another trap? Could Nate reach to the very summit just to be fooled by some last-second gag? And even worse, is he ready to be diminished yet again by being compelled to refer to a strange individual as Master?

No Perfect Choice

The beauty of that moment is that there’s no perfect selection. Both options leads to a genuine moment of character development and emotional release for Nate. If you decide to take on The Challenge, it’s an philosophical victory. Nate eventually obtains a chance to prove that he’s as capable as others, voluntarily accepting a tough path rather than suffering through one that he has no alternative but to take. It’s hard, and perhaps unwise, but it’s the bit of empowerment that he requires.

But there’s no embarrassment in the staircase as well. To select that route is to at last permit Nate to receive assistance. And when he does so, he discovers that there’s no real catch waiting for him. The steps are not a joke. They extend for some distance, but they’re simple to climb and he won't slip 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, of course, selected The Manbreaker. He strives to appear composed, but you can tell that he’s worn out, subtly ruing the unnecessary challenge. By the time Nate reaches the summit and has to meet his agreement, calling the character Lord, the agreement barely appears so nasty. Who has time to be embarrassed by this strange individual?

Personal Reflection

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