Final Fantasy 7 Remake on Switch 2: A Blend of PS5 and PS4 Features, Enhanced with DLSS Technology
The anticipation for Final Fantasy 7 Remake has been intense, especially among Nintendo fans who had to wait far longer than their PlayStation counterparts. But now, with the advent of the Switch 2, Nintendo finally has the hardware capable of doing justice to this beloved classic from the PS4 era. It appears that Square Enix has achieved a noteworthy port here; however, the version on Switch 2 doesn't perfectly mirror any previous release of the game. The game runs at a steady 30 frames per second, similar to the initial PS4 version, but includes many upgrades found in the PS5 Intergrade edition—though not all of the latest enhancements—bringing some fresh challenges along with the advantages. Despite these nuances, the overall experience is remarkably engaging and well worth exploring.
From a visual standpoint, one of the most revealing comparisons involves the game's textures. The PS4 version of FF7 Remake was criticized for its low-quality textures, with the Sector 7 Slums doors often cited as a prominent example of the shortcomings, alongside textures that appeared blurry and lifeless throughout the game. The PS5 Intergrade release addressed many of these issues, but the original PS4 flaws were never fully corrected.
When examining the Switch 2 port, many textures come much closer to the PS5 version. For example, doors, walls, and metallic surfaces now display sharpness and detail that were previously missing or blurry. These textures appear clear and high-resolution, though some elements still resemble the PS4 version upon closer inspection, especially certain textured backgrounds. Notably, the ground surfaces and key signage in the Sector 7 Slums now look much cleaner and crisper, aligning more with the PS5 experience, but not entirely matching it—many textures still fall behind in detail, keeping the port within a close but imperfect proximity.
Materials such as geometry, which are a staple in the game, remain chunky and less refined, regardless of platform. However, the 2D artwork and finer details are notably superior on the PS5, and Switch 2 delivers sufficient visual fidelity during handheld play, even if it doesn't utilize the full extent of the Intergrade assets. The system's RAM and streaming capabilities appear to bridge the gap between the PS4 and PS5, leading to some trade-offs in asset quality due to hardware limitations.
When it comes to shadows, the differences are more straightforward and largely predictable. The shadow quality on Switch 2 aligns closely with PS4, with shadow maps offering similar clarity and detail. While PS5 offers visibly crisper shadows, the overall differences in most scenes are subtle and often only noticeable upon close inspection. Occasional scenes may reveal clearer shadow delineation on the newer hardware, but these are exceptions rather than the rule.
Pop-in of non-player characters (NPCs) is another area where the port mirrors the PS4 experience. NPCs that are static in the distance on PS5 tend to be absent on Switch 2 and PS4 until the viewer gets closer, with Switch 2 sometimes exhibiting a slight delay in rendering these NPCs. This issue predominantly affects city areas where NPC presence is more frequent. In more populated scenes, the pop-in behavior remains consistent with what we see on PS4, emphasizing that this port prioritizes core gameplay visuals over minor NPC rendering details.
The most noticeable differences between versions emerge in lighting, especially with the updates seen in the Intergrade edition. Many of these enhancements, such as volumetric lighting and more atmospheric shading, are present on Switch 2 and resemble the PS5 modifications. These changes tend to result in more realistic and physically plausible lighting, especially in scenes that aren’t illuminated solely by direct sunlight. However, due to hardware constraints, some volumetric lighting appears at a lower resolution or with less detail, which can sometimes be noticeable.
Switch 2 offers impressive image quality, even in docked mode. Although it likely outputs at 1080p—probably employing a DLSS variant—still images from the game are remarkably sharp and cleaner than the original PS4 release, often rivalling performance mode on PS5. DLSS is primarily used to smooth out jagged edges (anti-aliasing), and despite being a lower-tier model—sometimes called 'tiny DLSS'—it produces a crisper, clearer picture than older techniques like UE4’s TAA, especially at the same resolution. Motion quality might suffer somewhat, but overall, the images remain satisfying.
The DLSS implementation on Switch 2 appears to be a lightweight version, sometimes showing artifacts like sharp edges on disoccluded details and aliasing during rapid movements. While not the highest quality available, this model benefits from high internal resolution, maintaining a generally clean appearance, and surpasses many comparable handheld adaptations in clarity.
However, certain lighting conditions reveal issues with dithering patterns—tiny visual artifacts that become apparent when up close to the screen. These artifacts are most noticeable in bright lighting or when observing particles and hair textures during gameplay. In docked mode, these glitches are mildly bothersome but not game-breaking. In handheld mode, where the game seems to upscale from approximately 720p to 1080p using DLSS, the dither patterns become more visible, and visual roughness increases. Certain effects, like hair and particles, may display more aliasing and dithering artifacts here, giving a somewhat rougher appearance. Nonetheless, the overall visual quality remains quite good considering the platform.
Across both docked and portable modes, core visual settings are consistent, with similar shadow quality, NPC draw distance, reflections, ambient occlusion, and foliage density. The main difference lies in resolution, which DLSS helps mitigate, making the game look quite fine in handheld mode despite the lower perceived resolution.
Performance-wise, the Switch 2 delivers reliably. The game runs locked at 30 frames per second during most gameplay, including fast-paced combat and urban traversal. This steady frame rate, while not matching modern standards for ultra-smooth gameplay, feels smooth enough for enjoyment and responsiveness. Cutscenes may occasionally experience dropped frames—particularly during scene transfers—but this doesn’t usually interfere with gameplay. In handheld mode, performance remains stable, with no major issues during combat or exploration. A rare exception occurs outside Aerith’s house, where camera pans may stutter, possibly due to the game dropping frames without the benefit of variable refresh rate (VRR) technology.
Loading times are notably shorter than on PS4, whether using the internal SSD or SD Express storage. Using SD Express, it takes about 8 to 9 seconds to load different chapters, slightly longer than the roughly 6 to 7 seconds achieved via the internal SSD. In contrast, PS5 achieves near-instant loads of only 2 seconds, which remains unmatched. Still, for a portable console, these improved load times are a significant upgrade from previous generations, making exploration and transitions much smoother.
In summary, Final Fantasy 7 Remake on Switch 2 is a port that impresses with its overall quality. As anticipated from the recent demo, most gameplay runs smoothly, textures frequently resemble the PS5 version, and loading times are notably quick. Every concern from the demo has been addressed satisfactorily, affirming that this version mirrors the PS5 Intergrade experience but with graphic settings closer to the PS4 version, enhanced by DLSS for anti-aliasing and upscaling.
The game itself has aged gracefully, primarily because it successfully elevates real-time cinematic visuals to the level of high-quality CG animation, featuring impressive animation, direction, and sophisticated rendering. Despite its limitations—especially in textures and environment detail—it holds up remarkably well, rivaling or exceeding the visual quality of early 2000s CGI efforts, all over an extensive 11-hour stretch of cutscenes.
On the technical side, its physically-based rendering, baked lighting, and environmental design show a game crafted with care, even if polygon counts and textures aren’t top-tier. This aging process is less apparent than one might expect, which bodes well for future ports, including potentially Rebirth on Switch 2. Given Square Enix’s commitment to bringing all FF7 Remake titles to Nintendo and Xbox consoles, a future port of Rebirth is plausible—though it depends on how ambitious they are with Unreal Engine 5 for the upcoming sequel. The final installment's platform trajectory remains uncertain: whether it will be built on UE5 or stick with UE4 for stability and familiarity could significantly impact its portability.
In conclusion, for those curious about experiencing the latest Final Fantasy magic on Nintendo’s hybrid device, this port makes a compelling case. It offers a balanced mix of visual fidelity, performance, and loading speed, making it an excellent choice for both die-hard fans and newcomers alike. Do you agree with this assessment? Or do you believe certain compromises undermine the experience? Share your thoughts below—your opinions could challenge the conventional wisdom on this promising port.
