NODE tries to present itself as an atmospheric 2D sci-fi game with a unique visual style and an intriguing setting - an abandoned soviet nuclear facility in Siberia. However, beneath that façade lies a failure: the game is a serious letdown when it comes to gameplay and controls.
The control system is a nightmare in itself. You don't control the robot directly - instead, you issue commands via a panel: move forward for a set number of seconds, jump, turn around. Every single action must be measured with pixel-perfect precision - tweaking the timing and sequence of commands just to get the robot to move somewhat correctly. There's no need for quick reflexes or platforming skills - all you do is stare at the interface. Just a 0.2-second mistake sends your robot falling into a pit. Not because you played badly, but because the game doesn't let you play - it forces you to guess how its clunky engine "thinks." It's a frustrating and poorly designed control scheme that turns basic movement into endless trial and error.
The game world is made up of several repetitive zones with similar architecture and visual design. This lack of variety quickly becomes tiresome and boring, as the game offers nothing fresh or engaging in terms of level design. Combined with the awful controls, it completely kills any motivation to keep playing this monotonous challenge.
The atmosphere in NODE leans heavily on Soviet symbolism - which, for many today, is not just a historical aesthetic, but a symbol of repression, authoritarianism, and violence. In the context of the modern world, where russia is openly waging an aggressive war against the sovereign state of Ukraine, this kind of stylization isn't just irritating - it provokes deep moral disgust. Using elements of Soviet legacy today means shamelessly nudging players toward immersing themselves in the image of a country historically responsible for war crimes and aggression. Instead of evoking immersion or respect, this aesthetic only intensifies the sense of alienation and discomfort.
There's really nothing to praise here. NODE is disappointing in both its gameplay and visual design - which, under current circumstances, feels less like an artistic choice and more like an unpleasant, morally problematic backdrop. Simply put: it's awful. 1/10.
