I've dealt with some hard choices in gaming. Certain choices I made in Life is Strange series still haunt me. Ghost of Tsushima concluding moments made me pause the game for several minutes while I considered my choices. I am responsible for countless Krogan fatalities in Mass Effect that I would love to reverse. None of those moments hold a candle to what now might be the toughest selection I've ever made in a video game — and it concerns a giant staircase.
The Game Baby Steps, the newest release from the developers of Ape Out, isn’t exactly a choice-driven game. Definitely not in any traditional sense. You only need to walk around a vast game world as the main character Nate, a onesie-wearing manchild who can hardly stay upright on his shaky limbs. It appears to be one big ragebait joke, but Baby Steps’s appeal is in its surprisingly deep narrative that will catch you off guard when you’re least expecting it. There’s no moment that exemplifies that strength like one major choice that I keep reflecting on.
Some background information is required here. Baby Steps starts when Nate is transported from the basement of his home and into a magical realm. He immediately finds that moving around in it is a challenge, as a lifetime spent as a couch potato have weakened his muscles. The slapstick elements of it all stems from users guiding Nate step by step, trying to prevent him from falling over.
The protagonist needs aid, but he has problems articulating that to other characters. Throughout his hero’s journey, he comes in contact with a collection of quirky personalities in the world who each propose to help him out. A self-assured trekker attempts to offer Nate a navigation aid, but he awkwardly refuses in the game’s most hilarious scene. When he plunges into an trapping cavity and is given a way out, he tries to play it off like he requires no assistance and genuinely desires to be confined in the cavity. As the plot unfolds, you see numerous frustrating vignettes where Nate creates additional difficulties because he’s too insecure to receive help.
That comes to a head in Baby Steps game’s single genuine instance of decision. As Nate approaches the conclusion his adventure, he realizes that he must ascend of a frosty elevation. The default guardian of the world (who Nate has desperately tried to duck up to this point) appears to let him know that there are two ways up. If he’s ready for a test, he can choose a very lengthy and risky path called The Challenge. It is the most formidable barrier Baby Steps includes; attempting it appears unwise to anyone.
But there’s a second option: He can just walk up a gigantic spiral staircase in its place and get to the top in just moments. The sole condition? He’ll have to address the guardian “Sir” from now on if he chooses the simple path.
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 coming to a head in a particularly bizarre situation. Part of Nate’s journey is centered around the fact that he’s insecure of his body and his masculinity. Every time he sees that dashing hiker, it’s a painful recollection of all he lacks. Taking on The Challenge could be a instance where he can show that he’s as able as his unilateral competitor, but that road is bound to be laden with more humiliating failures. Does it merit suffering just to make a statement?
The steps, on the contrary, give Nate another big moment to choose whether to take assistance or not. The player has no choice in whether or not they decline guidance, but they can choose to give Nate a break and choose the staircase. It ought to be an easy choice, but Baby Steps game is devilishly clever about making you feel paranoid anytime you see a simple solution. The game world contains intentional pitfalls that change a secure way into a setback suddenly. Could the steps one more trick? Might Nate arrive at the peak just to be let down by some last-second gag? And even worse, is he prepared to be humiliated yet again by being made to address a strange individual as Master?
The beauty of that moment is that there’s no correct or incorrect choice. Either one leads to a genuine moment of personal growth and catharsis for Nate. If you opt to attempt The Challenge, it’s an philosophical victory. Nate finally gets a chance to prove that he’s as capable as others, consciously choosing a tough path rather than suffering through one that he has no alternative but to take. It’s challenging, and possibly risky, but it’s the bit of empowerment that he needs.
But there’s no embarrassment in the stairs either. To opt for that way is to eventually enable Nate to receive assistance. And when he accomplishes that, he finds that there’s no hidden trick awaiting him. The steps are not a joke. They extend for some distance, but they’re easy to walk up and he doesn’t slide all the way down if he trips. It’s a easy journey after extended challenges. Halfway up, he even has a chat with the outdoorsman who has, unsurprisingly, opted for The Obstacle. He strives to appear composed, but you can tell that he’s exhausted, subtly ruing the unnecessary challenge. By the time Nate reaches the summit and has to pay his debt, addressing his new Master, the deal hardly seems so nasty. Who has concern for humiliation by this strange individual?
In my playthrough, I opted for the stairs. Some part of my reasoning just {wanted to call
A seasoned casino enthusiast and gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in slot machine mechanics and strategies.
