Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade Switch 2 Review – An Impressive and Fantastic Port

It is always curious to see previous console exclusives come to Nintendo hardware, especially when it comes to a famous series like Final Fantasy. When Square Enix announced that it would bring the highly revered Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade to Nintendo’s newest handheld, naturally, I had skepticism.

Originally released on PS4, it was functional, albeit with some noticeable presentation and technical issues. It was only optimized when it reached the current generation of PS5, PS5 Pro, and PC. Only then would the game be in its optimal build. No way would it run on the original Switch, so how would it run on Nintendo Switch 2? Can it handle all the games’ demands?

The answer: Yes.

Not in every aspect, but what Square Enix did with its optimization and performance is nothing short of impressive. Be it handheld or in docked mode, playing Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on Switch 2 is an amazing achievement. If you haven’t played Final Fantasy 7 Remake, you want to play it on a Nintendo console, and you will not be disappointed. This port is fantastic.

Game Name: Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
Platform(s): PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch 2 (Reviewed)
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix
Release Date: January 22, 2026

**This review will be complementary to the original review on PS4.  This review will focus on the Nintendo Switch 2 Version of the game in terms of performance and stability. Story and content are the same as the Intergrade version. Please refer to the original review in terms of story and mechanics**

Square Enix Works Its Magic on Switch 2

When starting the bombing run at the beginning of the game and being introduced to Cloud Strife, the presentation and graphics were surprisingly good on Switch 2. While playing in handheld mode, the game runs at a lower resolution, hovering at the 30FPS mark. However, that improves when playing in docked mode, with increased resolution and frames-per second. Obviously, this Switch 2 port doesn’t compare to the PS5 or PC version, but Switch 2 handles the game’s demands quite well. It can’t do the full 60 FPS mode, but resolution-wise, it holds, plus being able to play the game on the go is a nice bonus.

During the story moments, it is crazy to see that in the close-up shots, you can see the texture and pores on the characters. The pre-rendered CG cutscenes are also retained in this version without much downgrade.  I do not know how they did it, but it is amazing. I had to go back to the PlayStation 5 version to remind myself what had changed since then.

If there are any criticisms I have regarding the presentation, it’s generally minor. When you reach the slums of Sector 7, the one thing any player would do is look up and look at the plates overhead. Thankfully, the skybox has some illusion of dimensions. Especially when factoring in the day and night. Though if you examine very closely, you will notice a bit of the flatness and the difference from the models and the background. More apparent when playing in handheld mode. When using the added Photo Mode, you can tell the difference when everything is still. Like the hair and surface texture. But again, it is beautiful when it is all in motion.

The Switch 2 keeps pace with its fast combat and effects. I thought that the system would stutter in frames, but I did not see any drops in performance. The sword sparks, the limit breaks, and it all flows without any performance issues. I know I shouldn’t be surprised, as Nintendo Switch 2 is capable of such performance, but it depends on developers and how they optimize the game. And this, I will continue to give kudos to Square Enix. Combat feels so good. From playing as Cloud, Tifa, Barrett, and Aerith, it is engaging and fun.

Loading times are also impressive when booting up the game; it takes only a few seconds before it loads. Quicker in docked mode. But noted that this is a Game Key Card game, so the majority of the load will factor from your SD Card. A reminder note that this game is 90 GBs. If you do not have at least a 251 GB SD card, it will take half of the Switch 2’s internal memory.

So, it is best to have a memory card before you buy this game. While I wish we lived in a reality where this game could fit into a Switch 2 cartridge, I will give it a pass, as it is a massive game. Again, the fact that they fit all this to Switch 2 is magical.

Quality of Life Improvements

An added feature introduced in the Switch 2 versions and later released to the other versions is the Streamlined Progression Options. Basically, modifiers to the game to make the game easier and take away the grinding aspect of certain things, like the weapon abilities when you need to fulfill certain actions several times. Other options include max Gil, max material levels, unlimited Limit breaks, max damage, and so forth.

This is for those who want to save time or are just having difficulty getting through the game. While some may argue this is basically easy mode, again, this is optional. In case you don’t have the luxury of spending 100 hours on the grind and getting a 100% full completion, this helps tremendously. Plus, the idea of having unlimited limit breaks is just a fun broken option. Having trouble with a certain boss? Just limit break away!

The Core FF7 Remake Intergrade Experience

Make no mistake. This is still the same Final Fantasy 7 Remake experience. Including the Intergrade DLC with Yuffie Kisaragi. The score from Nobuo Uematsu, Wall Market, Sephiroth, and everything in between. With the stellar photo mode, you can take albums of your favorite moments and characters. Just make sure you have the memory for all those snapshots. Whether you want to relive the tale again or add it to your Switch 2 library, it is a worthy addition.

The new streamlined progression options offer new ways to play, or if you are struggling at certain points. I didn’t experience any crashes during my playtime. The criticisms are minor, and I don’t recall any point that made me not like this port.  The resolution and the frame performance are the obvious tradeoff, but I feel that bringing it to Switch 2 is well worth it. If it is not clear already, it is amazing and impressive on Nintendo Switch 2.

So, worry not. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade port isn’t hollow. It is the real deal and another great example of how to bring a port to Nintendo Switch 2. So, the team at Square Enix and Director Naoki Hamaguchi, my compliments to you.

Review Disclosure Statement: Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade for Nintendo Switch 2 was provided to us by Square Enix for review purposes. For more information on how we review games and other media, please see our Review Guideline/Scoring Policy.

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