Author’s Note:The author was provided a Nintendo Switch 2 code by the publisher for the purpose of this review.
It’s hard to believe that the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy journey began almost six years ago now. Since then, we’ve seen an updated version of the original 2020 PlayStation 4 version of the game with the Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade on PlayStation 5, a PC port, its sequel, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and now the game is available on Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X/S.
After yet another 40-hour playthrough, I can confidently say that Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade gives me high hopes for third-party software support on the Switch 2, and, as of right now, it’s the best Switch 2 port yet.
An RPG to Remember
Players control Cloud Strife, a mercenary and fan-favorite Final Fantasy lead character, as he reluctantly joins up with Avalanche, a group aiming to stop the corrupt Shinra Electric Power Company from destroying the planet, while also dealing with the unexpected resurfacing of Cloud’s arch nemesis, Sephiroth. There is quite a bit more to the story, with it featuring commentary on vigilantism, environmental destruction, and the moral gray area of improving day-to-day life for people at the expense of natural resources.
Final Fantasy 7 is one of the all-time great RPGs, so it’s hard to add anything that hasn’t already been said about the game’s narrative. Though the Remake does play with the story (in some good ways and some controversial ways), Final Fantasy 7 Remake might be one of the best entry points into the extensive Final Fantasy series, with it featuring fast but strategic combat, outstanding music, and a presentation that somehow works just as well if not better on Nintendo Switch 2 than the original PlayStation 4 version.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake is more cinematic in nature than the original game. There are several forced walking-and-talking segments that slow player movement down a bit, but I don’t mind them, even after revisiting this game yet again. The additional dialogue and NPC interactions make the city of Midgar feel more lively than the original game, and fleshed-out areas and backstories add additional layers to both the characters and world.
Plenty of fans who have already played Remake previously have issues with the game’s narrative changes, the introduction of the Whisperers, and some of the “filler” present in the game. Personally, I don’t have issues with any of those things. Final Fantasy 7 Remake is not a one-to-one remake of the original game; it’s most akin to other modern remakes like the Resident Evil 2, 3, and 4 remakes: the heart of the game is the same, but it’s in a different body.
Combat: A Perfect Mix of New and Classic
During the game’s hybrid combat system, which is part action and part command-based, players can actively control and switch between any of their current party members, while the ones not being controlled by the player are controlled by the game’s serviceable AI. Each party member is best suited to certain strategies. For example, Cloud is an all-rounder, while Barrett is the game’s primary tank and ranged fighter. Aerith is the game’s mage, and Tifa is the game’s all-out speedy attacker.
Using Materia, players can make a decent amount of builds for the four playable characters. It’s, of course, not as extensive as the original game or Rebirth, but it still provides a degree of character customization and player expression.
Combat is fast, often frantic, but always strategic. The core combat loop consists of players using basic attacks and each character’s unique attack to raise party members’ ATB gauges, and then spending those gauges for more powerful abilities and magic. This allows the game to mix real-time action with classic turn-based combat.
Coupling all of that with a good variety of basic enemies and extensive boss encounters, Final Fantasy 7 Remake‘s combat is one of the best combat systems in the history of the beloved franchise.
Nintendo Switch 2 Performance: Better Than Many May Expect
I remember falling in love with Final Fantasy 7 original, then again with Final Fantasy 7 Remake on the PlayStation 4 in 2020, and I got another reminder of that upon booting up the Switch 2 version of this game in 2026.
The game runs quite well on Nintendo Switch 2, running at 1080p, 30 FPS, in both docked and handheld mode. Docked, the game is a consistent 30 FPS with no drops, and the game looks gorgeous. There are a couple of drawbacks when comparing the Switch 2 version to the PlayStation 5 and PC versions of the game, though; shadows have been adjusted and can look blocky, especially during combat, and hair strands are noticeably less detailed upon close inspection.
In handheld mode, the game is still gorgeous, and the frame rate is a mostly solid 30 FPS, with occasional dips in action-packed segments or cutscenes. That being said, the dips are infrequent and don’t last long enough to negatively impact the quality of combat or cutscenes.
From my perspective, the game looks closer to the PlayStation 4 Pro version of the game than the original PlayStation 4 version, and that is a mighty accomplishment to be able to put a game that looks this good in the palm of your hand and play it on lunch at work or while waiting at the airport.
Battery life is pretty standard with other major Switch 2 releases. The battery lasts around 2 hours of continuous play. Though that is more of a hardware issue than a software issue.
Another point I feel needs to be brought up is the game’s storage size. This is a big game, coming close to around 90 GB for installation. The Switch 2 only has 256 GB of internal storage. Without a microSD Express card for memory expansion, the game will take up a sizable amount of storage. If this is any indication of the size of future Final Fantasy titles on Switch 2 (or other third-party games in general), fans may need to consider expanding storage or at least being mindful about what games they have currently downloaded.
A Mighty Achievement For the Nintendo Switch 2 and ‘Final Fantasy’
Never in a million dreams would I have imagined that I could take a game as beautiful as Final Fantasy 7 Remake on the go and it would run as well as it does on the Switch 2. The Switch 2 version is a premium-quality product that is easy to recommend to fans of the game and first-timers. There are some new features, like being able to always do max damage, have max gill, and other streamlined progression options, so fans can burst through the game in small play sessions if they wish, and the game is also more accessible to casual or younger gamers. Those features are also coming to the other versions of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade.
With a 30-40 hour main story and the INTERmission expansion starring Yuffie, which offers another 6-10 hours of content, coupled with the price tag of $39.99, there is a lot of value here for potential fans that have not gotten to play Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade yet. For fans who have already played the PlayStation 5 version of the game or the PC version, the purchasing question comes down to whether or not they want to play the game on the go. If not, there isn’t anything new or substantial for fans.
But for fans who haven’t gotten to play the game yet, the Nintendo Switch 2 version is an easy recommendation.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade Nintendo Switch 2 version will release on Thursday, January 22. The Xbox Series X/S versions of the game will also be available that same day.
