Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade (Nintendo Switch 2) Review – 30 Years Overdue

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Final Fantasy 7 is a landmark game, remembered as the title that led the series to move from Nintendo consoles to PlayStation. Now, after thirty years, the highly praised 2020 remake is finally available on Nintendo systems – and it’s fantastic. The Final Fantasy 7 Remake successfully launched the developer’s planned FF7 remake trilogy in 2020, and remains a captivating game. While some minor technical adjustments were necessary, it’s still a must-play experience on the Switch 2.

The first thing you’ll notice about Remake on the Switch 2 is how stunning it looks. The game was always visually impressive, even when it originally came out on the PS4, and it’s just as breathtaking on the Switch 2 – you really need to see it to believe it.

I did notice a few short dips in frame rate during cutscenes while playing, but they weren’t significant enough to detract from the overall experience.

Whether you’re exploring the gritty slums of Sector 7 or the vibrant city of Midgar, Final Fantasy 7 Remake consistently showcases its impressive visuals and technical capabilities on the Switch 2. It looks surprisingly good – often rivaling the PS5 version of Intergrade – whether you’re playing on the go or docked.

Like most ports, this game has a few small visual and technical hiccups. Character hair sometimes looks strangely see-through, and distant textures can appear blurry or take a moment to fully load. Performance is capped at 30 frames per second, which is a little underwhelming given how fast-paced the gameplay is – the action really shines at 60 FPS, and it’s a shame that isn’t an option. I did notice some minor frame rate dips during cutscenes, but they weren’t significant enough to ruin the experience.

Despite a few small, easily overlooked technical issues, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade looks and runs incredibly well on the Nintendo Switch 2. The gameplay remains as engaging as ever, with the game’s excellent combat system continuing to be a standout feature.

Each area in Midgar feels distinct, vibrant, and packed with detail, making exploration consistently rewarding.

Controlling each character is incredibly fun, and the battle system strikes a great balance between strategic turn-based combat and fast-paced action. It’s really satisfying to use all the different features – like powerful Limit Breaks and the straightforward character progression – to defeat enemies. The boss fights are especially impressive, consistently delivering both spectacular visuals and challenging gameplay.

Players familiar with Final Fantasy 7 Remake will likely point out that, beyond the excellent combat, the game has some flaws. These include straightforward and somewhat dull level designs, and side quests that don’t offer much substance. This version doesn’t address those issues – gameplay is largely unchanged, though there’s a new option to reduce repetitive tasks. However, I still find these shortcomings easy to overlook, considering how strong the game is in other respects.

Midgar in Final Fantasy 7 Remake feels like a truly vibrant and detailed city, and it’s always fun to explore. While the exploration in the newer game, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, is even more captivating, Remake still does a fantastic job of immersing players in its impressive, gritty, and futuristic world.

The game’s story is truly impressive. While it’s not perfect – it has some clear issues, like over-the-top sound effects and moments that feel unnecessarily long – it’s still amazing to see how it reimagines the classic original. Like Final Fantasy 7 Remake did in 2020, this game doesn’t just retell the story and recreate iconic scenes, it also expands upon them and adds surprising new twists.

Playing Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth gives you a whole new appreciation for Remake. Going back and seeing how Remake subtly sets up future events and foreshadows what’s to come is really enjoyable – the way it does it is often surprisingly clever.

“If you choose to play it on the Switch 2, you’re absolutely not going to go wrong.”

You don’t need to have played the original Final Fantasy 7 or Rebirth to enjoy Final Fantasy 7 Remake. However, knowing those stories will definitely make the experience richer and more rewarding. Even after several years, it’s remarkable how well Final Fantasy 7 Remake manages to be both a remake and a continuation of the original’s story.

It’s been expected for years that Final Fantasy 7 Remake wouldn’t stay exclusive to PlayStation, and now that it’s finally available on other consoles, it’s clear the wait was worthwhile. This exciting action RPG was a must-play for both longtime fans and newcomers when it originally launched, and the version on the Nintendo Switch 2 remains just as captivating after five years.

While it might not be quite the best way to experience the game compared to the PS5 version of Intergrade, you absolutely won’t be disappointed playing it on the Switch 2. This is a fantastic port of a truly great game, and I’m already excited for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth to come to the Switch as well.

This game was reviewed on the Nintendo Switch 2.

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2026-01-23 16:42