Unique, Challenging, Hilarious
Baby Steps is a one-of-a-kind walking simulator and it's done very well. I'm not going to get into the plot or characters, but I think most people will find the game funny and entertaining. I will say that those easily offended or frustrated should probably stay away. It's too bad the demo seems to have disappeared, as it would be a great way to gauge if the game is for you.
It takes a little while to get used to the walking mechanics and controls. Once you get the hang of things it all feels pretty natural, but never becomes easy. The realistic physical simulation of balance, grip, slipping on different surfaces, etc. is actually extremely impressive. Another very impressive feature is the camera control. The camera never really gets in the way, even when in very close quarters or enclosed areas and usually can be positioned perfectly to see what you're doing. You will still fall, a lot, but at no time did I blame the game design or controls for any of my failures.
There is a huge world to explore, with various optional challenges and items to collect along the way. Most of the time it looks great and the time of day changes as you climb makes for some picturesque moments. Nate's flailing around never gets old and the varying stains on the onesie as you explore is a great touch.
Technically the game textures, overall visual quality and performance is a little mediocre, but perfectly acceptable for an indie title. The game defaults to FSR Quality up-scaling, which is pretty ugly. Unless you're playing on a potato or old hardware, I'd highly recommend setting it to FSR Native for the best visual quality.
The voice acting, effects and ambient sound is excellent. The dynamic soundtrack also fits the game perfectly, but some people might find it annoying. I never ran into any noticeable bugs or other technical problems with the game on my PC.
12 gamers found this review helpful