The Game Baby Steps Presents One of the Most Meaningful Choices I Have Ever Encountered in a Game

I've faced some difficult decisions in interactive entertainment. Certain choices I made in Life is Strange series remain on my mind. Ghost of Tsushima final sequence prompted me to set down my controller for several minutes while I weighed my alternatives. I am responsible for so many Krogan demises in the Mass Effect series that I wish I could undo. None of those moments compare to what possibly is the toughest selection I've faced in a video game — and it involves a massive stairway.

Baby Steps, the recent title from the makers of Ape Out, is not really a decision-focused experience. At least not in typical gaming terms. You simply have to explore a sprawling open world as the protagonist Nate, a grown-up in childish attire who can barely stand on his shaky limbs. It seems like a setup for annoyance, but Baby Steps game’s strength comes from its surprisingly deep narrative that will sneak up on you when you’re least expecting it. There’s no situation that showcases that quality like a pivotal decision that remains on my mind.

Note: Spoilers Ahead

A bit of context is required here. Baby Steps game begins as the protagonist is suddenly taken from his parents’ basement and into a fictional universe. He quickly discovers that moving around in it is a challenge, as a long time spent as a sedentary person have deteriorated his physical condition. The humorous physicality of it all comes from gamers directing Nate step by step, trying to prevent him from falling over.

Nate needs help, but he has problems articulating that to anyone. Throughout his hero’s journey, he encounters a group of unusual individuals in the world who each propose to give him a hand. A self-assured trekker tries to give Nate a map, but he awkwardly refuses in the game’s most hilarious scene. When he falls into an trapping cavity and is given a way out, he attempts to act casual like he doesn’t need the help and actually wants to be trapped in the pit. During the narrative, you encounter plenty of irritating episodes where Nate makes life harder for himself because he’s too insecure to take support.

The Defining Decision

Everything builds up in Baby Steps’s one true moment of decision. As Nate gets close to finishing his adventure, he discovers that he must ascend of a snow-capped peak. The unofficial caretaker of the world (who Nate has consistently evaded up to this point) shows up to let him know that there are two paths upward. If he’s up for a challenge, he can opt for a particularly extended and dangerous hiking trail dubbed The Obstacle. It is the most intimidating challenge Baby Steps game includes; choosing it looks risky to any human.

But there’s a other possibility: He can just walk up a enormous coiled steps instead and get to the top in just moments. The sole condition? He’ll have to address the guardian “Master” from now on if he chooses the simple path.

An Agonizing Decision

I am completely earnest when I say that this is an painful decision in this situation. It’s every one of Nate's doubts about himself culminating in a single ridiculous instant. An element of Nate's story is focused on the truth that he’s unconfident of his body and his masculinity. Whenever he sees that handsome trekker, it’s a painful recollection of everything he’s not. Undertaking The Obstacle could be a instance where he can show that he’s as capable as his unilateral competitor, but that road is bound to be filled with more awkward mishaps. Is it justified striving just to prove a point?

The steps, on the flip side, give Nate another big moment to choose whether to take assistance or not. The user doesn't get to decide in whether or not they reject navigation help, but they can choose to allow Nate some relief and take the stairs. It ought to be an easy choice, but Baby Steps is devilishly clever about creating doubt whenever you encounter an easy option. The world is filled with design traps that change a secure way into a setback on a dime. Could the steps an additional deception? Could Nate reach all the way to the top just to be let down by some last-second gag? And more concerning, is he willing to be emasculated another time by being forced to call an odd character as Lord?

No Perfect Choice

The beauty of that moment is that there’s no perfect selection. Each path brings about a genuine moment of protagonist evolution and emotional release for Nate. If you choose to tackle The Obstacle, it’s an existential win. Nate eventually obtains a moment to show that he’s as able as anyone else, voluntarily accepting a difficult route rather than enduring one that he has no option except to pursue. It’s challenging, and maybe ill-advised, but it’s the dose of confidence that he needs.

But there’s no embarrassment in the staircase as well. To choose that path is to eventually enable Nate to accept help. And when he does so, he finds that there’s no secret drawback in store 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 falls. 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 attempts to act casual, but you can discern that he’s exhausted, silently lamenting the needless difficulty. By the time Nate gets to the top and has to fulfill his obligation, calling the character Lord, the agreement barely appears so bad. Who has energy for shame by this freak?

My Experience

When I played, I chose the staircase. Part of me just {wanted to call