Ironfall Invasion: An In-Depth Review

Back in 2015, IronFall: Invasion made its debut on the Nintendo 3DS, capturing my attention with its technical prowess that was, quite frankly, mind-blowing given the platform’s limitations. Originally reviewed for the now-defunct eShop site, 8-Worlds News, I was amazed by how it brought Gears of War-style action to the 3DS, boasting some of the best graphics the handheld could muster. Fast forward nearly a decade, and this remaster has landed on the Nintendo Switch. Sure, there are moments when you’re reminded of its origins, but despite its imperfections, I’m finding myself enjoying IronFall: Invasion all over again.

The game itself is a third-person cover shooter, drawing clear inspiration from Xbox’s iconic Gears of War series. Approaching a piece of cover and tapping B lets you snap into position, and from there, you can slide along, peek out, and fire by holding ZL. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, mechanically speaking, the game is solid. Even back in its 3DS days, it didn’t push any gameplay innovation boundaries, and that holds true for the Switch version. However, having proper dual analog sticks now instead of relying on the circle pad pro or the New 3DS C-nub makes a world of difference. The result is a smoother, more enjoyable experience in terms of movement and shooting on the Switch. Yet, the touch screen puzzle segments tell a different story. Designed for touch interaction on the 3DS, they’ve been awkwardly translated to button controls for the docked Switch experience, leaving handheld players without the touch option. It’s a puzzling oversight, given how clearly these puzzles were intended for a touch interface.

IronFall: Invasion retains its campaign and multiplayer modes, much like the original. In the campaign, you switch between two characters: Jim Woper, a battle-hardened marine rocking massive armor, and Sam Finch, your go-to tech expert wielding just a pistol. The narrative, which revolves around an alien invasion and sketchy scientific ventures, doesn’t particularly stand out. Most of your time is spent with Jim in repetitive but decently structured corridor shooter levels. On the other hand, Sam’s segments feel like they were meant to be stealthy, although a stealth mechanic never materialized. So, you’re left navigating similar corridors but with less protection and firepower. Occasionally, you’re thrown into exciting set-piece moments like turret sections or sniper sequences, offering a refreshing change.

In terms of multiplayer, it’s a bit of a ghost town right now. I struggled to find active players or games. There’s always survival mode as a fallback where you fend off waves of enemies within a time limit, which can be fun. Just like on the 3DS, a limited multiplayer demo had helped fill the servers. A similar offering could potentially rekindle interest in the multiplayer scene on Switch.

Visually, IronFall: Invasion was a standout on the 3DS, and it has been spruced up quite nicely for the Switch. Developer VD-Dev has always had a talent for squeezing impressive visuals from any hardware they tackle, and the Switch version runs at full 1080p when docked and 720p in handheld mode, all at 60fps. You can even adjust the resolution setting between 90% and 100%, with the latter setting resulting in only occasional frame rate dips. Meanwhile, the 90% option should grant you smooth sailing. Environments still look great on bigger screens thanks to VD-Dev’s meticulous work on updating every texture to today’s HD standards. The game has a polished look similar to VD-Dev’s other Switch title, Rise: Race the Future. While the visuals don’t quite pack the same punch as they did on the 3DS, IronFall: Invasion still impresses, despite some stiff character animations.

When it first launched, IronFall: Invasion was a robust third-person shooter wrapped in a technically impressive package on the 3DS. I’d rank it among the system’s most technologically advanced titles, alongside Resident Evil Revelations, Star Fox 64 3D, and Nano Assault. On the Switch, without the 3DS’s context, it comes across as a competent, if unexceptional, third-person shooter. While it doesn’t quite hit the same high notes of technical prowess today, it’s still an entertaining option for those seeking a Gears of War-style experience crafted by a talented indie team. If that’s what you’re after, IronFall: Invasion is worth your time.