Final Fantasy 7 has a special place in the history of Nintendo consoles, being the game that brought about a paradigm shift for the franchise that saw it leaving Nintendo behind for pastures new on PlayStation. Three decades on, the legendary RPG’s acclaimed 2020 remake is finally heading over to Nintendo consoles, and happily enough, the results are spectacular. Final Fantasy 7 Remake kicked off the developer’s ambitious FF7 remake trilogy in excellent fashion back in 2020, and the game has lost none of its charm since then. Due to some understandable technical concessions, it might not be the absolute best, definitive version of the game, but FF7 Remake is still an unmissable experience on the Switch 2.
What stands out instantly about Remake’s Switch 2 port is just how drop dead gorgeous it looks. The game has, of course, always been a technical showcase, even back when it first launched on the PS4, and on the Switch 2, it looks similarly breathtaking, to the point where it really has to be seen to be believed.
"During my time with this port, I also noticed some brief frame rate drops during cutscenes, but thankfully, they were far from major and didn’t really get in the way of the experience."
From the slums of Sector 7 to the dense, bustling metropolis of Midgar’s hubs of civilization, from the proudly over the top action sequences to the magnificent views of sweeping landscapes, Final Fantasy 7 Remake never stops flexing its technical and artistic muscles on the Switch 2. Whether you’re playing in handheld mode or in console mode, it genuinely does look good enough to go toe to toe with Intergrade’s PS5 release (for the most part).
There are, of course, some minor visual and technical issues here and there, as you would expect. Characters’ hair frequently has an uncanny translucent quality, while some textures (especially those off in the distance) can occasionally look muddy or take a second to properly load in. In terms of performance, the game is locked at 30 FPS, and especially for a game like this one, that’s a bit disappointing- FF7 Remake’s high octane, pedal to the metal, blistering action is obviously best suited to 60 FPS, and it’s disappointing that that isn’t at least an option in the Switch 2 version. During my time with this port, I also noticed some brief frame rate drops during cutscenes, but thankfully, they were far from major and didn’t really get in the way of the experience.
Barring those few minor technical hiccups – most of which are rather easy to ignore – Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is a visual and technical marvel on the Nintendo Switch 2. On the gameplay front, meanwhile, it’s exactly as compelling of an experience as it always has been. The 2020 action RPG’s greatest strength has always been its combat, and that continues to shine through still.
"Every location you visit in Midgar feels unique, alive, and dense, and exploring every nook and cranny never loses its charm."
Each playable character is a joy to control, the ATB system perfectly balances turn based systems with real time action, and combining all the different mechanics – from Limit Breaks to the simple but effective progression and customization systems and more – to wreak havoc on enemies feels immensely satisfying. A particular highlight are the boss fights, which combine cinematic action with mechanical strength perfectly almost every single time.
Those who’ve played Final Fantasy 7 Remake before will, of course, tell you that outside of the combat, the game suffers from some design issues, such as linear and uninteresting level design, or unimaginative side quests that mostly feel like filler content. But while those issues do obviously persist (there’s little to no gameplay changes in this port, as you would expect, barring a new streamlined progression option to minimize grinding), personally, I continue to find them easy to forgive, given just how much the game does in other areas.
Every location you visit in Midgar feels unique, alive, and dense, and exploring every nook and cranny never loses its charm. Of course, the exploration is nowhere near as engaging as it is in Remake’s spectacular 2024 sequel, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, but in and of itself, FF7 Remake does more than enough to ensure that players can lose themselves in its wondrous, grimy, cyberpunk-esque setting.
The game is also a narrative tour de force. That’s not to say it doesn’t have flaws – it has pretty noticeable ones, in fact, from the excessive anime grunts in pretty much every cutscene in the game to long stretches that feel like they’re being dragged out more than they should – but just as it was when Final Fantasy 7 Remake first launched in 2020, it’s still incredible to witness it not only recreate the legendary original title’s story and its most iconic moments (in part, at least), but also add to them and twist and remix them in unexpected ways.
Especially after having played Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and knowing where the story is going, it’s a ton of fun to go back to Remake and see what seeds its planting and what future events it is cleverly foreshadowing- and it can be really clever about how it does all of it.
"If you choose to play it on the Switch 2, you’re absolutely not going to go wrong."
Prior knowledge of the original FF7 or of what happens next in Rebirth is by no means required to be able to enjoy Final Fantasy 7 Remake, but if that is how you choose to experience the game, you’re going to have a much fuller, more engaging experience. Even now, years on from its original launch, it’s impressive to see Final Fantasy 7 Remake simultaneously trying to be a remake and a sequel (of sorts) as well as it does.
For the last few years, it has seemed inevitable that Final Fantasy 7 Remake won’t be bound to PlayStation exclusivity for long, and now that it is finally making its way to other consoles, I can confidently say that it’s been worth the wait. The ambitious action RPG was a must play for new and returning fans alike back when it first released, and half a decade later, its Nintendo Switch 2 version is just as impressive.
Some minor technical concessions might hold it back from being the game’s definitive version – I’d say Intergrade’s PS5 release still holds that crown – but even if you choose to play it on the Switch 2, you’re absolutely not going to go wrong. This is an excellent port of an excellent game, and I cannot wait to see Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth inevitably following suit.
This game was reviewed on the Nintendo Switch 2.
THE GOOD
Looks spectacular; Incredible combat; Captivating storytelling.
THE BAD
Frame rate is locked at 30 FPS.
Final Verdict
Final Fantasy 7 Remake is just as impressive now as it was back when it first released, touting blistering combat, an iconic setting excellently brought to life, astounding visuals, and compelling and ambitious storytelling. Its Switch 2 release might not offer a 60 FPS option at launch, but this is still a great way to play a spectacular game.