Feb 11, 2026
3 min read
Incredible visuals;tight, combat layer;The materia system is as engaging as ever;a story that packs a punch
Some visual reductions compared to other versions.Sometimes bugs
Final Fantasy VII is a game that will be remembered as long as the video game industry and fans remember it.Its impact, both as a remarkable piece of software and as an experience etched into the hearts and minds of players, is undeniable.With such a noble legacy, it might seem crazy to even think about attempting to remake such an outstanding game, let alone a trilogy of games, but if there was ever any doubt, Final Fantasy VII Remake (and its sequel, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade) put an end to it.With the launch of FFVII Remake Intergrade on Nintendo Switch 2, those doubts are put to rest as it's as clean a port as fans could have hoped for.It runs smoothly, looks great, and has a story that's enjoyable from start to finish.
The remake begins with the same basic story setup as the original FFVII: the evil mega-corporation Shinra Electric Power Company is besieging the planet Gaia with its greedy consumption of Mako, the soul of the world's nose.When Gaia is silenced by the company's power reactors, the resistance group AVALANCHE sets out to stop them - by any means necessary.Led by Bart Wallace, AVALANCHE members Jesse, Wedge and Biggs team up with the mercenary Cloud Stryfe to blow up these Mako miners and save the world.Eventually, along with Tippa Lockhart (Cloud's childhood friend), Areth Gainsborough (the last member of a race of beings called the Setra), and Red XIII (mad scientist Hojo's hostage), the team discovers that a greater threat to Earth also exists from Shinra: Sephiroth, a former soldier who defected after Lu.
As the story progresses, it becomes clear that all is not as it was in the first FFVII.In the remake, the heroes struggle to fight against the forces of fate (literally, figuratively, and literally), which is a theme throughout the episode.This is where the story can get a bit confusing for those who never played the original game, for example, story beats like Aerith's death aren't told in the game — instead, the development team seems to consider big details like this ubiquitous and thus, they're never mentioned.It's not the biggest issue, but I can imagine that new fans will inevitably feel a little lost.
As I enjoyed the story, and for all the knowledge I had in the story.I have the first or the last, if you are the same, who is worried about him what happens, and what he knows, when Sephiroth does not know the part of the Ship.
However, for all these nitpicks, I walked away from the remake very satisfied with its conclusionI've managed to avoid any major spoilers for the game for the better part of six years, so it was with fresh eyes that I played through the remake.Although it's only the first part of a trilogy, the remake, like The Fellowship of the Ring, sets up what's to come with the ability to satisfy its own story.By the end of the game, I felt like I had been through a real epic, taking on massive power and coming out the other side to see how much I had experienced.Clearly, the entire cast is lovable;It doesn't take long for players to become fully invested in Cloud, Barrett, Tifa, and their world.
A big part of what sells the remake is its stunning visuals.The developers at Square Enix somehow managed to take the pre-rendered settings of FFVII and turn them into fully realized 3D environments.Replicating the look and feel of the original MiG in the remake is an achievement in itself, and I marveled at the variety of detail on the screen.Midgar, from top to bottom, felt like a real place.Makes a strange idea like a city on top of a city seem somehow logical - at least at a glance.The remake does a great job of taking the original character designs from FFVII and giving it the perfect balance of polish and tweaks to evoke the more realistic styles of Final Fantasy: Advent Children, and is clearly rooted in Final Fantasy VII's aesthetic.It doesn't hurt that they're all heartbreakingly beautiful.You found the woman or man of your dreams during your game.Many of you are convinced of this.
Performance-wise, Remastered runs flawlessly on the Nintendo Switch 2.While not quite as impressive as the PlayStation 5, the hardware is more than adequate for the rigors of Midgar's detailed landscape, as well as frantic, chaotic combat that at times has opponents that nearly fill the screen.Sure, some of the textures are lower resolution and maybe not everything is as sharp on the Switch 2, but this is a port that impressed from the start and never stopped.My only flaw in this regard is a fight in the Intergrade portion of the game where Yuffie flies out of the battlefield and falls to the ground below.I was lucky enough to eventually find a ladder to climb, but it also prevented me from participating in more battles where I could gain experience points - a shame, but not a bug.
None of this would mean much if the gameplay didn't enhance the story and graphics.And thankfully the combat in the remake is sublime.All of the playable characters are fun to fight together.Cloud specializes in sword and spell combinations.Tifa is the ultimate brawler who uses punches and kicks.Yuffie is also a lot of fun to play, but it's a shame we don't see her combination of ranged and melee as part of AVALANCHE's larger cast.
Players all have a variety of fire and super attacks, as well as magical abilities, Ultimate, and more.Combat in The Fix is a cut and cut, realistic affair, unlike the battles based on the original FFVII.While Cloud is clearly at the center of the action, as battle players can't rely on him alone to power through.Instead, the devs created a system where players must actively switch between Cloud and other team members to survive.As the chosen hero boosts the enemy's growth, this is the perfect time to switch to another character and continue the bombardment.This system both prevents battles from becoming random button encounters, while also encouraging players to experiment with the full range of heroes.
Equally important is the materia system, which is largely carried over from FFVII.These magical orbs provide a ton of skills, spells, and more, doing everything from increasing AP to imbuing weapons with elements.Experimenting with materia and finding the right combination is the fun part of the combat system.If casting spells is your bread and butter, there's a build for that too.Add to that an impressive weapon tree and loads of equipment, and this is truly one of the best battle setups in all of gaming.
If there's anything else worth noting, it's that Yuffie's intervention stuff is fun, but woefully short.It's definitely better than outstaying its welcome, but I had so much fun playing with Yuffie and her partner Sonnen that I was sad to see it end so soon.It doesn't add anything essential to the story of the remake, but the Yuffie episode is an interesting piece of story around chapters three through eight of the main campaign.It does a good job of establishing who Yuffie is and what her motivations are.And it's a great prelude to her introduction in FFVII Rebirth.
Great graphics, great story, and great gameplay - it's not often that you get all three in one game, but that's exactly what Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade offers.This is an early must-have title for Switch 2 owners;An RPG for years to come that will be as memorable as the original over time.We highly recommend downloading the remake, especially with the release of Rebirth on Switch 2 this summer.
This game has been submitted for review by others, although this does not affect our recommendations.For each analysis, standard values are used.
