[BUG] npx node@12 executes node@16 #4204

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing issues

This issue exists in the latest npm version

• I am using the latest npm

Current Behavior

Documentation says you can specify node version with npx, but right now, when using npx node@12 it executes latest version instead

Expected Behavior

Execute latest version

Steps To Reproduce

run npx node@12 with node 16, install it, and then see the version.

Environment

• npm: 7.24.0
• Node: v16.10.0
• OS: Windows 10
• platform: Acer
• npm config:

; "builtin" config from C:\Users\k\scoop\apps\nodejs\16.10.0\node_modules\npm\npmrc

cache = "C:\\Users\\k\\scoop\\persist\\nodejs\\cache"
prefix = "C:\\Users\\k\\scoop\\persist\\nodejs\\bin"

; node bin location = C:\Users\k\scoop\apps\nodejs\current\node.exe
; cwd = C:\Users\k\ok\node-ffi-test
; HOME = C:\Users\k
; Run `npm config ls -l` to show all defaults.