Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade - Nintendo Switch 2 Review Update

After watching Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade’s gorgeous opening cutscene connected Switch 2, I instinctively reached for the PlayStation 5 controller sitting connected my java array alternatively of my Switch 2 Pro Controller. That’s not to accidental VII Remake looks precisely arsenic bully connected Switch 2 arsenic it does connected the beefier PS5, but this is an awesome larboard that’s easy up determination with the champion third-party games we’ve seen truthful acold successful the Switch 2’s archetypal year, and I’m inactive not utilized to games looking this beauteous on my Nintendo console.

That beardown archetypal content held up arsenic I blasted done the acquainted archetypal hours of Cloud’s escapade successful Midgar – which remains 1 of my favourite RPGs of the decennary – with coagulated show some handheld and docked. Digging done the menus besides revealed tons of options to streamline progression for newcomers looking to spot what each the hype is, oregon for returning fans who conscionable privation to blast done the epic escapade astatine a quicker gait connected the go. No substance your acquisition with anterior editions of VII Remake, the caller Switch 2 mentation checks beauteous overmuch each container you could inquire for from a portable version. If you’re a Nintendo-only gamer who’s been waiting for this 1 for a while, you shouldn’t hesitate to dive in.

FFVII Remake connected Switch 2 Looks Great When Docked

When playing connected my TV, VII Remake connected Switch 2 impressed crossed each aspects: cutscenes, exploration, and astir crucially, its fast-paced combat. It’s a tiny shame that it runs astatine 30 fps some handheld and docked, but I didn’t announcement a azygous dropped framework during gameplay. It might’ve occasionally hiccupped during cutscenes, but I lone noticed portion examining it with a hypercritical oculus for the purposes of this evaluation. It’s beauteous harmless to accidental that erstwhile docked, you tin expect highly accordant performance. It whitethorn not beryllium 60 fps similar connected the different consoles, but it felt perfectly playable and responsive astatine each times.

I’m impressed with the small details I retrieve loving successful VII Remake backmost successful 2020 that person carried implicit here: the mode the airy reflects disconnected Cloud’s Buster Sword arsenic you tally astir inactive looks truly nice. It targets 1080p portion docked, missing retired connected the Switch 2’s highest capabilities but inactive looking truly bully nonetheless, with elaborate quality models and environments. Some NPCs popped successful the region erstwhile I was exploring the Sector 7 slums, but to my memory, that’s however it was connected PS4 arsenic well. And whether I was warring a swarm of Shinra information officers oregon the hulking Scorpion Sentinel wrong a Mako reactor, VII Remake ever kept up with the action, adjacent erstwhile swapping betwixt Cloud, Barrett, and Tifa to execute flashy abilities and Limit Breaks. Pro extremity for Pro Controller users: I mapped the near and close d-pad to the GL and GR backpaddles connected my controller, utilizing them to conveniently swap betwixt characters successful combat.

Handheld Is a Totally Reasonable Way to Play

Playing successful handheld is likewise impressive, but each of the insignificant complaints I noted astir docked mode are somewhat magnified. It’s inactive a coagulated 30 fps for the astir part, but I noticed much dips during cutscenes specifically. But that doesn’t interaction the combat, which ever felt truly creaseless and wholly fun. The solution besides takes a deed arsenic you’d expect, and I noticed definite details similar Cloud’s hairsbreadth looked a batch blurrier. But erstwhile everything is successful motion, VII Remake inactive looks bully connected the Switch 2’s tiny screen, and it’s a wholly viable mode to play done it. It’s eye-catching to spot modern AAA games tally this good connected a handheld device, and I deliberation this epoch of games that primitively came retired connected PS4 are the champion acceptable for truly coagulated ports to Switch 2. Final Fantasy VII Remake, arsenic good arsenic things similar Street Fighter 6 that we saw past year, are third-party games that person dedicated versions connected some PS4 and PS5, which person mostly seemed to standard good to Switch 2.

Intergrade’s DLC Expansion Is Here, Too

Unlike Nintendo, which is inactive selling Breath of the Wild’s nine-year-old DLC contented separately from its caller Nintendo Sw itch 2 Edition, Square Enix has included everything successful the Intergrade bundle for $40. That means you besides get Episode INTERmission, an further bite-sized run starring Yuffie, an optional enactment subordinate from the archetypal Final Fantasy VII who is present a cardinal portion of the Remake project. It takes astir 5 hours to scope INTERmission’s credits, and it’s a truly coagulated followup to the main campaign.

Streamlined Options for Casual Players oregon Double Dippers

There’s a batch present that makes a afloat replay beauteous enticing. First, you tin fast-forward done cutscenes astatine either 1.5- oregon 2-times speed, making it a snappier revisit for those who already cognize everything that happens but inactive privation to spot it play out. And, the brand-new Streamlined Progression paper adds options you’re astir apt utilized to seeing successful modern remakes and remasters of old-school RPGs, similar the HD-2D Dragon Quest games oregon adjacent the astir caller mentation of the archetypal Final Fantasy VII itself. Having entree to things similar changeless maximum wellness and magic points, an infinitely afloat Limit gauge, oregon the quality to woody 9999 harm connected each deed lets you tailor your playthrough nevertheless you’d like, and it’s truly chill to spot those options travel to a modern game. There’s besides a nifty Head Start mode that hands you high-level characters and plentifulness of money, equipment, and abilities close from the beginning. I’d ne'er urge idiosyncratic plays with these activated for their archetypal playthrough, but it’s decidedly amusive to revisit aged favorites by mode of a frictionless powerfulness travel that lets you spot each the sights again. It’s worthy noting these features aren’t exclusive to Switch 2, Square Enix besides updated the PS5 and PC versions with the aforesaid options, and everything is included successful the caller Xbox Series X|S merchandise arsenic well.

This Isn’t the Final Final Fantasy

Final Fantasy VII Remake is conscionable portion 1 of Square Enix’s presently unfinished Remake trilogy, with 2024’s Final Fantasy VII Rebirth representing the mediate chapter, and a 3rd and last introduction yet to beryllium formally revealed. If you’re disquieted astir starting the bid with conscionable 1 introduction connected the level truthful far, Square Enix has already committed to bringing Rebirth to Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S, arsenic good arsenic the in-development 3rd game. So you tin leap successful worry-free: the afloat communicative volition yet marque it to Switch 2, and this archetypal larboard is simply a large mode to get things started.