Final Fantasy VII on Nintendo Switch marks a high-profile return of Square Enix’s landmark 1997 role-playing game to Nintendo hardware.
Originally released by Square in 1997 for Sony’s PlayStation, the game is widely credited with helping redefine narrative ambition in console RPGs.
The Switch release uses the same enhanced port that arrived on PlayStation 4, bringing the classic story and systems to Nintendo’s hybrid platform and the eShop.
The game opens with a dramatic bombing mission in the industrial city of Midgar and quickly expands into a globe-spanning adventure.
The story centers on Cloud Strife, a mercenary who becomes entangled with the eco-activist group AVALANCHE in its conflict with the Shinra Electric Power Company.
Key narrative beats—such as revelations about Red XIII’s lineage and the emotional deaths that follow—remain central to the experience and continue to resonate with longtime fans.
The reviewer described the original release as a transformative experience, saying scenes like the opening bombing mission and the death of important characters reshaped expectations for storytelling in games and sparked a lasting interest in the RPG genre.
The reviewer also noted that a problematic PC port had previously prevented them from completing the game until it was reissued on PlayStation 4 in 2015; the Switch version offers a readily accessible way to revisit or discover the original adventure.
From a gameplay perspective, Final Fantasy VII retains its Active Time Battle (ATB) system and the Materia customization framework that freed characters from rigid job classes.
Players can engage in random encounters across a world map, summon powerful allies, and combine Materia to unlock spells and abilities.
Side activities—such as Chocobo breeding and racing, minigames at the Gold Saucer, and equipment shopping—remain intact and add variety to the core campaign.
The Switch port mirrors the enhancements introduced in the PS4 release: speed-up options, encounter toggles, and battle-assist features designed to make the campaign more accessible for modern audiences.
Nobuo Uematsu’s score and the game’s memorable cast continue to define Final Fantasy VII’s legacy.
Version Tested: Nintendo Switch.
Review copy provided by Square Enix.
The review awarded the Switch port a 9/10 score, emphasizing accessibility improvements while preserving the original’s narrative and mechanical strengths.
Originally released by Square in 1997 for Sony’s PlayStation, the game is widely credited with helping redefine narrative ambition in console RPGs.
The Switch release uses the same enhanced port that arrived on PlayStation 4, bringing the classic story and systems to Nintendo’s hybrid platform and the eShop.
The game opens with a dramatic bombing mission in the industrial city of Midgar and quickly expands into a globe-spanning adventure.
The story centers on Cloud Strife, a mercenary who becomes entangled with the eco-activist group AVALANCHE in its conflict with the Shinra Electric Power Company.
Key narrative beats—such as revelations about Red XIII’s lineage and the emotional deaths that follow—remain central to the experience and continue to resonate with longtime fans.
The reviewer described the original release as a transformative experience, saying scenes like the opening bombing mission and the death of important characters reshaped expectations for storytelling in games and sparked a lasting interest in the RPG genre.
The reviewer also noted that a problematic PC port had previously prevented them from completing the game until it was reissued on PlayStation 4 in 2015; the Switch version offers a readily accessible way to revisit or discover the original adventure.
From a gameplay perspective, Final Fantasy VII retains its Active Time Battle (ATB) system and the Materia customization framework that freed characters from rigid job classes.
Players can engage in random encounters across a world map, summon powerful allies, and combine Materia to unlock spells and abilities.
Side activities—such as Chocobo breeding and racing, minigames at the Gold Saucer, and equipment shopping—remain intact and add variety to the core campaign.
The Switch port mirrors the enhancements introduced in the PS4 release: speed-up options, encounter toggles, and battle-assist features designed to make the campaign more accessible for modern audiences.
Nobuo Uematsu’s score and the game’s memorable cast continue to define Final Fantasy VII’s legacy.
Version Tested: Nintendo Switch.
Review copy provided by Square Enix.
The review awarded the Switch port a 9/10 score, emphasizing accessibility improvements while preserving the original’s narrative and mechanical strengths.
