Baby Steps Presents Among the Most Meaningful Choices I Have Ever Experienced in a Game

I've faced some hard decisions in gaming. Some of my decisions in Life is Strange series still haunt me. Ghost of Tsushima's final sequence prompted me to put my controller down for a good 10 minutes while I considered my options. I am responsible for countless Krogan demises in the Mass Effect series that I regret deeply. None of those moments compare to what possibly is the hardest choice I've faced in a video game — and it has to do with a massive stairway.

The Game Baby Steps, the recent title from the creators of Ape Out, is hardly a selection-based adventure. Definitely not in the conventional way. You must explore a expansive environment as the protagonist Nate, a adult in a onesie who can barely stand on his wobbly legs. It appears to be one big ragebait joke, but Baby Steps game’s power lies in its unexpectedly meaningful plot that will catch you off guard when you’re least expecting it. There’s no moment that showcases that quality like a pivotal decision that remains on my mind.

Alert: Spoilers

Some background information is needed at this point. Baby Steps game begins as Nate is magically whisked away from his parents’ basement and into a fantasy world. He immediately finds that navigating this world is a struggle, as a lifetime spent as a sedentary person have weakened his muscles. The humorous physicality of it all stems from players controlling Nate gradually, trying to maintain his balance.

The protagonist needs aid, but he has difficulty expressing that to other characters. Throughout his hero’s journey, he comes in contact with a cast of eccentric characters in the world who all offer to assist him. A composed outdoorsman seeks to provide Nate a guide, but he awkwardly refuses in the game’s funniest instant. When he falls into an inescapable pit and is offered a ladder, he attempts to act casual like he requires no assistance and truly prefers to be trapped in the pit. As the plot unfolds, you see numerous annoying scenarios where Nate creates additional difficulties because he’s not confident enough to take support.

The Ultimate Choice

That comes to a head in Baby Steps game’s single genuine instance of choice. As Nate approaches the conclusion his journey, he finds that he must ascend of a snowy mountain. The default guardian of the world (who Nate has desperately tried to duck up to this point) comes to inform him that there are two ways up. If he’s ready for a test, he can choose a very lengthy and hazardous route called The Manbreaker. It is the most formidable barrier Baby Steps includes; attempting it appears unwise to any human.

But there’s a alternative choice: He can simply ascend a massive winding stairs instead and get to the top in a few minutes. The sole condition? He’ll have to address the guardian “Master” from now on if he takes the easy route.

A Difficult Selection

I am completely earnest when I say that this is an difficult selection in context. It’s the totality of Nate's self-consciousness about himself coming to a head in a single ridiculous instant. A portion of Nate's adventure is focused on the reality that he’s unconfident of his physical appearance and manhood. Whenever he sees that dashing hiker, it’s a painful recollection of all he lacks. Undertaking The Challenge could be a moment where he can demonstrate that he’s as competent as his unilateral competitor, but that road is bound to be filled with more embarrassing pratfalls. Is it justified struggling just to make a statement?

The stairs, on the contrary, provide Nate with another significant opportunity to either accept or reject help. The user doesn't get to decide in about they decline guidance, but they can decide to allow Nate some relief and choose the staircase. It should be an straightforward selection, but Baby Steps game is exceptionally cunning about making you feel paranoid each time you find a gift horse. The game world contains design traps that turn a safe route into a obstacle suddenly. Could the steps one more trick? Will Nate get to the very summit just to be disappointed by a final joke? And more concerning, is he prepared to be humiliated yet again by being forced to call some weirdo Lord?

No Correct Answer

The brilliance of that instant is that there’s no correct or incorrect choice. Both options results in a authentic instance of protagonist evolution and catharsis for Nate. If you decide to take on The Manbreaker, it’s an personal triumph. Nate finally gets a opportunity to demonstrate that he’s as capable as everyone else, voluntarily accepting a challenging way rather than suffering through one that he has no option except to pursue. It’s challenging, and possibly risky, but it’s the moment of strength that he needs.

But there’s no shame in the steps either. To select that route is to eventually enable Nate to receive assistance. And when he accomplishes that, he discovers that there’s no secret drawback in store for him. The stairs aren’t a prank. They extend for some distance, but they’re easy to walk up and he won't slip completely down if he trips. It’s a straightforward ascent after extended challenges. Midway through, he even has a chat with the trekker who has, unsurprisingly, chosen to take The Manbreaker. He strives to appear composed, but you can see that he’s worn out, subtly ruing the unnecessary challenge. By the time Nate arrives at the peak and has to meet his agreement, addressing his new Master, the arrangement scarcely looks so bad. Who has time to be embarrassed by this odd character?

My Experience

In my playthrough, I selected the steps. Part of me just {wanted to call