Nintendo fans everywhere have gotten the short end of the stick when it comes to the Metal Gear Solid franchise. Though the GameCube saw the remake of the original in Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, the other entries in the series have always been on non-Nintendo platforms. This time around, Hideo Kojima and crew are giving stealth and espionage lovers the third entry in the series.

In the demo, you are put into the role of Snake as he is making his way through a Russian jungle in the 1960s. Like most other Metal Gear Solid titles, sneaking around and being stealthy is the best way to achieve your goal. I found this to be difficult at times throughout the demo thanks to the odd camera controls. The control layout for the title are serviceable, but can sometimes be a bit frustrating. Player use the circle pad to move Snake around and have the ability to choose weapons and items from the touch screen. Holding L will enter Snake into an aiming mode, and R shoots. The face buttons are used for a pseudo dual analog set up, which did not feel natural or smooth at all. While guiding Snake through the jungles, trying to be sneaky, I can’t count the amount of mistakes I made due to slow, uncomfortable camera control. When the game launches this winter in Japan, it is going to fully support Nintendo’s upcoming 3DS Circle Pad attachment, hopefully making the camera controls more bearable.

One of the main staples behind Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater is a camouflage system. Basically, the better blended in you are with your environment, the less likely the enemies will be able to spot you sneaking around. The 3DS version has a new take on this, giving the user the ability to create their own camouflage designs from pictures taken with the 3DS camera. On the show floor, the Konami staff had a white and lime green polka-dotted bag by the demo unit. After taking a picture of the bag and applying them to Snake’s outfit, Snake was now geared up in white and lime green polka-dotted outfit. Although I’m not sure how practical this is going to be in the game, it is still an interesting implementation of the 3DS technology.

Snake, you might want to reconsider that camo, bro.

Visually, Snake Eater 3D is hit or miss. While playing the game, visuals look quite nice and the frame rate is consistent. However, when the game engages into cut scenes, it can at times be choppy. It can definitely use some work before the final release hits store shelves.

Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D is a quality offering from Konami, but still has a few kinks that need to be ironed out. I’m confident that the Circle Pad add-on will likely alleviate any camera issues with the game as well. I tried pressing the Konami staff about a solid release date for Snake Eater 3D, but got nothing. For now, the title is slated to hit stores in Japan this winter.