The Game Baby Steps Presents Among the Most Significant Choices I've Ever Encountered in a Game

I've encountered some challenging choices in interactive entertainment. Some of my decisions in Life is Strange series continue to trouble me. Ghost of Tsushima's concluding moments made me pause the game for around ten minutes while I considered my alternatives. I am the cause of numerous Krogan deaths in Mass Effect that I wish I could undo. Not a single one of those situations hold a candle to what could be the hardest choice I've ever made in interactive media — and it involves a massive stairway.

The Game Baby Steps, the latest game from the creators of Ape Out game, isn’t exactly a choice-driven game. At least not in the conventional way. You simply have to walk around a vast game world as the protagonist Nate, a adult in a onesie who can struggle to remain on his shaky limbs. It looks like an exercise in frustration, but Baby Steps game’s power lies in its surprisingly deep narrative that will surprise you when you’re least expecting it. There’s no moment that showcases that quality like a key selection that remains on my mind.

Note: Spoilers Ahead

Some background information is needed at this point. Baby Steps starts when the protagonist is suddenly taken from the basement of his home and into a magical realm. He immediately finds that navigating this world is a challenge, as a long time spent as a couch potato have weakened his muscles. The slapstick elements of it all comes from gamers directing Nate one step at a time, trying to prevent him from falling over.

The protagonist needs aid, but he has difficulty expressing that to anyone. Throughout his hero’s journey, he comes in contact with a cast of eccentric characters in the world who each propose to give him a hand. A cool, confident hiker seeks to provide Nate a map, but he uncomfortably rejects in the game’s most hilarious scene. When he drops into an unavoidable hole and is given a way out, he attempts to act casual like he doesn’t need the help and truly prefers to be stuck in the hole. As the plot unfolds, you experience no shortage of irritating episodes where Nate creates additional difficulties because he’s too self-conscious to take support.

The Pivotal Moment

Everything builds up in Baby Steps game’s single genuine instance of choice. As Nate gets close to finishing his adventure, he realizes that he must ascend of a snowy mountain. The de facto groundskeeper of the world (who Nate has actively avoided up to this point) shows up to inform him that there are two routes to the top. If he’s ready for a test, he can choose a very lengthy and hazardous route dubbed The Manbreaker. It is the most intimidating challenge Baby Steps includes; choosing it looks risky to anyone.

But there’s a alternative choice: He can just walk up a enormous coiled steps instead and reach the summit in a short time. The single stipulation? He’ll have to address the guardian “Sir” from now on if he opts for the effortless way.

A Difficult Selection

I am absolutely sincere when I say that this is an agonizing choice in context. It’s the totality of Nate's self-consciousness about himself coming to a head in one absurd moment. A portion of Nate's adventure is centered around the truth that he’s unconfident of his physique and male identity. Each instance he sees that handsome trekker, it’s a hard reminder of all he lacks. Attempting The Obstacle could be a instance where he can demonstrate that he’s as able as his unilateral competitor, but that road is bound to be filled with more awkward mishaps. Is it worth suffering just to prove a point?

The staircase, 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 turn away a map, but they can decide to allow Nate some relief and choose the staircase. It might seem like an easy choice, but Baby Steps game is devilishly clever about making you feel paranoid anytime you find a gift horse. The game world contains intentional pitfalls that change a secure way into a obstacle suddenly. Are the stairs yet another trap? Will Nate get all the way to the top just to be disappointed by some last-second gag? And more concerning, is he willing to be emasculated once again by being made to address a strange individual as Master?

No Perfect Choice

The excellence of that situation is that there’s no right or wrong answer. Each path results in a authentic instance of protagonist evolution and therapeutic resolution for Nate. If you choose to tackle The Manbreaker, it’s an existential win. Nate eventually obtains a moment to show that he’s as able as everyone else, willingly taking on a tough path rather than suffering through one that he has no choice but to follow. It’s hard, and perhaps unwise, but it’s the bit of empowerment that he craves.

But there’s no embarrassment in the staircase either. To choose that path is to at last permit Nate to receive assistance. And when he does so, he discovers that there’s no real catch awaiting him. The staircase is not a trick. They go on for a long time, but they’re easy to walk up and he does not fall to the bottom if he trips. It’s a simple climb after hours of struggle. Halfway up, he even has a discussion with the trekker who has, naturally, selected The Challenge. He attempts to act casual, but you can see that he’s worn out, quietly regretting the needless difficulty. By the time Nate gets to the top and has to meet his agreement, hailing his new Lord, the agreement barely appears so nasty. Who has energy for shame by this odd character?

My Choice

During my game, I selected the steps. Part of me just {wanted to call