REVIEW: ‘Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade’ Is An Impressive Switch 2 Showcase

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, the complete package port of the 2020 reimagining, is an impressive technical showcase on the Switch 2. The game looks incredible, with next to no performance issues, making Cloud and company’s journey in Midgard a must-own for Switch 2 owners. It looks and feels fantastic, an incredible port that genuinely stands almost toe to toe with the PS5 version. It’s an easy recommendation for those looking for more Final Fantasy 7 on the go.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade brings together the base game that originally launched in 2020, and the expansion, which dropped in 2021. Focusing on the Midgard section of the classic JRPG, it also expands on it in massive ways. Cloud, Tifa, Barret, Aerith, and the rest of AVALANCHE are more fleshed out here than before.

The remake also bringing in new story elements not present in the original. It’s a fantastic reimagining, more than just a simple remake, choosing to play with what made the PS1 classic so special rather than just retreading old ground beat by beat. 

The Switch 2 version of Final Fantasy VII Remake was worth the wait.

The Intermission expansion, which focuses on Yuffie, is also excellent. Yuffie is a blast to play as, much more agile and quick than Cloud. It takes about 6 hours to roll through, with some fantastic moments and battles that make it a worthy extra chapter to the base game. The expansion helps bridge the gap between Remake and its sequel in Rebirth. 

The Switch 2 version is the first time Remake hits Nintendo consoles, and man, was it worth the wait. Playing docked, it’s nigh indistinguishable from its counterparts on other consoles, with the frame rate being the only major exception.

The graphics look incredible, with a high amount of detail, gorgeous lighting, and plenty of particle effects popping off during cinematic moments. While there was the occasional slight stutter here and there, they were infrequent and mostly during cutscenes. The Switch 2 port might not hit the 60fps seen on the PS5, but it does stay at a very constant 30fps. 

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade runs excellently in handheld on Nintendo Switch 2.

A lot of the same can be said handheld, where I’ve spent the majority of my time playing. It looks and runs incredibly well, even if the resolution does take a hit. Environments can be a bit fuzzier, and if you spend too long looking at a passing NPC, they can look quite blurry. The frame rate largely stays locked, but it does stutter more handheld. These stutters almost never happened in combat, making them acceptable trade-offs to be able to take one of the best JRPGs in recent years on the go. 

There’s a host of other enhancements as well, including a fast-forward mode during conversations and cut scenes. For a returning player, these are so nice, letting you speed things up to get back to the action sooner. There are a few others as well that can ease the friction for those looking to rip through. Streamlined Progression gives you cheat-like options, letting you toggle things like Constant Max HP/MP, Limit Gauge Always Full, among plenty of others, to let you destroy anything in your path.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is a fantastic way to experience the modern JRPG classic.

There’s a Headstart mode too, giving you higher-level characters, maxed-out materia, and other boosts. Both options are entirely optional, but also act as accessibility options, letting players who may have struggled for any reason play easier than before. 

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is a fantastic way to experience a modern JRPG classic. It feels right at home on Switch 2, with incredible graphics and really solid performance. Having access to Cloud’s journey on the go feels like cheating, with the experience genuinely comparable to other consoles.

The other enhancements make it easy for returning players to jump back in, while giving new players more accessibility options to enjoy. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is a strong technical showcase for the Switch 2, and a promising indicator for more third-party titles in the future. 

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is available now on Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PS5.