You gotta admire VD-dev, the developers behing Ironfall for the 3DS eShop. Even if their projects aren't perfect, they know how to really take advantage of Nintendo's hardware. Just one look at COP: The Recruit on Nintendo DS, and you'll see what I mean. Now they're taking what they've learned not only about the 3DS hardware, but the New 3DS XL hardware as well, with their own take on third-person cover-shooters.

If you've played games like Gears of War, then you'll feel right at home, as the game plays nearly identical. You control a soldier who has to gun down hordes of enemies by taking cover behind walls and popping out at the right time to take them out. It's a very difficult game to take a run-and-gun approach to, due to the tank-like controls of your main character. I kept forgetting this during my playtime with the game, and ended up taking way more damage than I would've liked.

In most TPS games, you have regenerating health to help you out in these situations, and Ironfall has it in the form of a heart-rate monitor. While aesthetically it does make for an interesting twist, it still functions the same as any other game with the feature. That was a main running theme with my time with the demo: it's the same as every other TPS game out there. Aside from the fact that it's on the 3DS, and making use of the New 3DS' C-Stick, nothing about the game really stood out. Not to say that any part of the game was bad, it's just... bland. Here's hoping the full game can prove me wrong.

Ironfall Invasion will be released on the 3DS eShop in February of this year.