NODE First Impressions: Clever, But Not a 32:9 Showcase

NODE First Impressions: Clever, But Not a 32:9 Showcase

NODE: The Last Favor of the Antarii caught my attention because of its puzzle-platforming idea, but also because the game was pitched around ultrawide support. After playing it in 32:9, my honest take is simple: it is a clever puzzle platformer, but not something I would call a 32:9 showcase.

I should probably say this right away: I am not the best person when puzzles enter the room. I can loot, harvest, run, shoot, fight, jump, plan strategy, and manage systems all day. But puzzles are puzzles, and I am not going to pretend I am great at them.

Does that affect my impression of NODE? No. A clever game is still a clever game, even when I am the one making the mistakes.

NODE: The Last Favor of the Antarii Trailer

NODE 32:9 Gameplay from Fix Gaming Channel

32:9 gameplay captured by Fix Gaming Channel.

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A clever puzzle platformer, but puzzles are puzzles

NODE is a 2.5D puzzle platformer set inside a Cold War-era nuclear complex. You guide an AI robot through rooms, hazards, switches, and timing-based challenges, with the main idea built around planning actions and learning from retries.

That idea works. I can see why puzzle fans would enjoy the route planning, the timing, and the way the game asks you to think before acting. It has a clear identity, and it is not trying to be everything at once.

For me, though, it is fun more than anything else. It is a puzzling platformer with a clever system. Beyond that, I do not think it becomes much more than what it is.

The 32:9 pitch needs context

One reason NODE landed on my radar was the ultrawide angle. Lapsus Games pointed toward wider aspect ratio support, including 21:9 and 32:9, and that naturally matters to me because I test games across wider formats.

But support alone is not the same as feeling made for 32:9.

To be fair, the mark I use for 32:9 is a high one. Recent tests like 007 First Light gave me a strong reference point for what ultrawide presentation can feel like when framing really works. I do not expect every indie game to match that kind of presentation, because that would be unfair.

Still, when a game is pitched directly around ultrawide support, I look at whether the extra space feels intentional, readable, and useful. In my time with NODE, 21:9 made more sense. At 32:9, the option is there, but it did not hit the mark I personally look for.

If the game was made only for that angle, I would be very disappointed. But I do not think that is the real strength here. NODE works better as a puzzle platformer than as a game you sit with for hours because of the ultrawide presentation.

Movement, timing, and trying again

The gameplay feel did not fully land for me. The movement can feel clunky, and if your spacebar timing is not in sync with what the game wants, you will probably fail a few more times than needed.

That said, the game is not really punishing. You fall, fail, get back up, and try again. There is no heavy punishment for dying, which helps when the timing or movement does not feel perfect.

Visually, I would say the game is fine. I cannot really call the graphics bad, but I also cannot say they were the main thing pulling me forward. The setting has atmosphere, and the game does have a story, but during the time I played, I did not feel strongly connected to that story.

Maybe that changes later. I did not play the full game, so this is not a scored review. These are only my first impressions.

Would I play more?

Yes, I will probably visit NODE again. But next time, I might choose my normal 2K monitor instead. For this type of game, wide support is nice, but it is not needed.

NODE is fine. Not bad. Not amazing from what I played. Just fine, with a clever puzzle idea that will probably work better for puzzle fans than it did for me.

At the time of writing, NODE is listed on Steam with a 40% discount. Regional pricing may vary, but at that discount, I would recommend trying it and deciding for yourself if puzzle platformers are your thing.

NODE: The Last Favor of the Antarii

Release: August 28, 2025

Genre: Adventure, Indie, Puzzle Platformer

Developer / Publisher: Lapsus Games

Platforms: PC — Steam

Source: Steam store page for NODE: The Last Favor of the Antarii.

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