Imagine going on a casual little nature walk, up a small hill, but you’re in pajamas and barefoot. It probably wouldn’t be the most comfortable thing in the world, but with enough effort, you’d still manage to reach the top, right? Of course. Now imagine the same scenario, except you’ve forgotten how to walk. You still have everything you need to walk normally; you’ve just forgotten how to do it. That’s Baby Steps – a third-person walking simulator that will frustrate you, make you laugh, or entertain you… Or all three at once. From the very beginning, it’s clear this isn’t a game made for a massive audience, BUT, if you’re someone who likes challenges, has nerves of steel, and wants something truly unique, then maybe this is for you.
Step by step, bit by bit
In Baby Steps, you play as Nathan. We don’t know much about him, but judging by how he’s dressed and how he looks, it’s safe to assume he’s not exactly physically active, spends a lot of time indoors, and is pretty sloppy. One lazy day, Nathan is lying on his couch when he mysteriously disappears (into the TV) and finds himself in a damp valley with a few hills.
Naturally, Nathan is not happy about this and wants to get back to his cozy home as soon as possible but… he’s forgotten how to walk. As Nathan, your goal is to hike from checkpoint to checkpoint (levels) while simultaneously trying to (re)learn how to walk and, of course, figure out where the heck you are. The first thing you’ll do in Baby Steps is fall flat on your face… and that’s something you’ll be repeating throughout the entire game.
Unusual but precise controls
The first time we saw Baby Steps was during a PlayStation showcase. There, we watched Nathan struggling to climb a relatively small platform with an absurd amount of effort. Already then it was clear that this was a “literal” walking simulator… whether that’s a good thing or not. But once we saw who the lead developer was, everything made sense.
Bennett Foddy, the lead developer, seems obsessed with frustrating games where just moving is a challenge. Games like QWOP or Getting Over It are remembered as both infuriating and fun — games most people skip, but those who master them get full bragging rights. Using incredibly bizarre controls, the goal is always to make it as far as possible, and Baby Steps pretty much follows the same idea. Even though I’d say Baby Steps is the easiest of all Bennett Foddy’s games, that doesn’t mean it’s any less frustrating.
To move in this game you have to simultaneously use two triggers and the left analog stick. The left trigger lifts Nathan’s left leg, the right trigger his right, and the left analog pushes his body forward. It might sound simple when written like this, but trust me, it’s not. Pull a trigger just a little too much or lean forward too early, and Nathan will collapse. Saying you need practice to walk in Baby Steps is an understatement.
But even with these strange controls, after a few hours, I was almost able to run and move forward instinctively… like a baby who learns to walk and then figures out how to run. Unfortunately, just walking or running isn’t enough to finish the game…
You need to learn to walk before you can climb
Once you’ve mastered walking, get ready for some of the strangest, funniest, and most frustrating obstacles. First off, walking uphill isn’t the same as walking on flat ground because you need to lift your legs higher (hold the triggers longer), and every fall can send you rolling all the way down. Because of this, it’s best to move slowly… literally baby steps.
Besides that, you’ll face some pretty narrow bridges, staircases with missing steps, and even a few silly traps that gleefully send you back to the start. However, even with all of this, I almost never felt like the game cheated me. Every fall was my fault simply because I hadn’t fully mastered the controls. And every time I overcame a tough obstacle, I felt a sense of accomplishment I never thought possible in a walking simulator. Baby Steps doesn’t have a map, and it certainly won’t save you from a nasty fall just when you’re about to reach your destination, but it does offer multiple paths and safe zones where you can catch your breath.
And if even that’s not enough, every level has a few hidden items, even side quests, where you’ll need to overcome even harder obstacles. Usually, you’ll be rewarded with some goofy hat (which you can lose after a nasty fall) or a cutscene.
Speaking of cutscenes, the dialogue is incredibly realistic. It really feels like the characters are alive, eccentric individuals — especially Nathan. Aside from him, you’ll meet a few quirky characters (humans and other creatures) who have no problem walking. Nathan, on the other hand, is clearly embarrassed about forgetting such a basic motor skill but always tries to change the subject or dodge the conversation. I didn’t exactly laugh out loud, but I’m sure some people will find these dialogues funny, just like the constant falls.
Not for everyone, but it’s definitely unique
I have to admit, despite all the frustrating moments, I had a good time playing through Baby Steps. Even though the game isn’t very long, it feels longer because you’ll be repeating the same climbs many times. It’s a great feeling when you finally overcome an obstacle and reach the next checkpoint.
The PlayStation DualSense controller feels like it was made for this game — you can hear and feel every step Nathan takes through the controller’s speaker, which definitely helps while moving around.
As for graphics and music, the game has some pretty nice lighting, but overall the visuals are very outdated, I’d say seventh console generation level. In terms of sound, the game mostly relies on ambient noises — footsteps, animals, insects around you. From time to time, the game will remix these sounds into some sort of rhythm, which I wasn’t a fan of, but I have to admit it’s unique.
And that’s the keyword for Baby Steps — unique. It’s not the longest, the prettiest, or even the most fun game, but it’s definitely unique. Baby Steps knows that many players will quit immediately, but for those who are willing to master the controls, an unforgettable experience awaits. And if you’re a streamer bold enough to play games like this, you’ll definitely have something special for your audience.
We would like to thank Devolver Digital and Cosmocover for providing us with a copy of the game for review purposes.
Baby Steps (PlayStation 5)
If you’re the kind of player who gets frustrated easily and gives up after a few failures, Baby Steps probably isn’t for you. But… if you’re someone who loves challenges, doesn’t quit even after the hundredth fall, and wants to hike through a bizarre world with strange controls, then at least give Baby Steps a try, a frustrating but truly unique walking simulator.
