Midgar On The Go
Final Fantasy VII is a game that truly needs no introduction. It was a generational experience that brought RPG’s into the mainstream for many gamers. With strong gameplay mechanics and storytelling most gamers hadn’t experienced at the time it became a fast favourite. Final Fantasy VII is an easy favourite game to many 90’s gamers-I firmly fall into that category myself. As a child, even an adult replaying it, Final Fantasy VII evokes joy and emotion that few other games can match.Given the games importance a remake was inevitable. After teases and flirts dating way back an announcement of a remake trilogy surfaced. In 2020, we received the first part: Final Fantasy VII Remake, originally released on PS4 and later on PC. Now, Final Fantasy VII Remake is making its jump to Nintendo hardware with a release on the Switch 2.
Final Fantasy VII Remake follows Cloud, an ex-SOLDIER turned mercenary. Employed by avalanche, a eco-terrorist cell fighting against the planet-destroying corporation Shinra. For fans of the original game, it tackles the Midgar section from the opening hours. The story is expanded upon giving further character developments to fall in love with these characters all over again. Not all additions to this timeless classic improve the experience. Some absolute nobodies in the original get whole sections that just come across as padding. Unfortunately some of these transpire as part of the main quest and are mandatory. Alas the majority of the narrative is very nicely retold for both old and new fans. Without getting into spoilers some late twists occurring in the last third of the game feel very geared towards newcomers. Overall I had good fun with the story although it only covers a small section of the original. That being said Final Fantasy VII Remake very much feels like its own experience rather than that of a faithful remake.
Square Enix modernised the gameplay of Final Fantasy VII remake while still retaining elements from it’s past. The biggest change comes in how combat is approached. Marrying it’s turn based roots into a more real time action affair. Attacking, blocking and dodging increases ATB, allowing players to slow combat to almost standstill to use items, magic or abilities. The combination of action and turn based strategy is a stroke of genius. Being able to freely take control of other party members in combat is the cherry on top. Each party member plays wildly different giving very different experiences during fights. Tifa in particular is a joy to use, she has a combo-centric brawler play style racking up high damage output. Getting into battles with these modern systems is a personal highlight of Final Fantasy VII Remake.
The elephant in the room which will be the point of many discussions is “How does it run?”. My initial first impressions were extremely positive. Simply put it runs nearly as well as the initial PS4 release. I spent a lot of my time with the game in handheld where the Switch 2 targets 1080p upscaled at 30FPS. I did notice the very occasional dip but the framerate is pretty stable. If anything parts of the game felt like it played over 30FPS, could be the variable refresh screen on the Switch 2. The upscaled visuals while in handheld look fantastic despite obvious anti-aliasing. However the odd fluffy, ghostly edge does not take away from the fact it looks like a portable PS4 game. I was quite frankly blown away by how Final Fantasy VII Remake runs handheld on the Switch 2. I wholeheartedly recommend this port for new or returning players who want to experience Midgar on the go.
While I had excellent time handheld, docked play is less impressive. Contextually I have experienced Final Fantasy VII Remake on PS4, PS5 and PC. Switch 2 docked on a TV just doesn’t hold up in comparison. Going from the Switch 2 home menu in 4K down to 1080p an immediate softness and fuzz is visible. The tricks of upscaling become incredibly clear on the big screen. Anti-aliasing making edges and hair look almost strangely transparent, and reduced texture resolution makes some objects resemble moulding clay. It is possible I’ve been spoilt by with better graphical fidelity versions of the game. Still I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t the intended way to play this port.
With nearly a 100GB install size, the game takes up plenty of your storage real estate. Saying that you are still getting the full fat version of this game. All previous pre-order DLC and the INTERmission episode are included. The pre-rendered cutscenes are a storage hog but they look great. However it would have been nice for Square Enix to compress the install size a little bit. Especially considering some of the compromises while playing in docked mode, some texture files maybe should be compressed. That being said if Final Fantasy VII Remake needs the install size to deliver the brilliant handheld experience so be it.
The Switch 2 version introduces a new feature, streamlined progression. Crudely put cheats. Increased XP, max HP, max damage output, things of that nature. They can be toggled on and off from the menu on the fly to curate your own experience. Head start mode, perfect for players replaying the game. Starting you off at level 45 with a decent build of equipment to speed through the game. Head start is brilliant and makes the early game feel more like a hack and slash due to the power gap between you and the enemies. Some hardcore gamers may complain about the game being made easier. As a strong promoter of accessibility I applaud Square Enix allowing anyone of any skill level to experience the game. Both additions I welcome with open arms to make my experience my own, well played Square Enix.
Review code was provided by Square Enix
This review is featured on OpenCritic
