Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series XIS, Switch (2)
Tested On: Switch 2
Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion (Switch 2) – Review
It feels like only yesterday that we were looking back at Square Enix’s crowded 2022 release schedule, culminating in the triumphant arrival of Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion on Nintendo’s original hybrid handheld console. Four years later, Square Enix has fully embraced the Switch 2, bringing over the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy to the platform. Naturally, Zack Fair’s tragic prequel drops right into their crosshairs for a current-gen touch-up, as a companion piece to said trilogy. But as we return to Midgar once again, does this updated release offer an actual leap forward, or is it merely a pointless double-dip?
There has been one major change, at least for us, since we last played Crisis Core. Back in 2022, we were an outlier in that we weren’t familiar with FFVII. With the arrival of REMAKE INTERGRADE and REBIRTH on Switch 2, that has changed. We realize that we’re the exception, but for narrative alone, having played through the already released parts of the trilogy does increase Crisis Core’s narrative value. This alone makes the game worth revisiting, regardless of whether or not you already own it in one form or another. Rather than feeling like an auxiliary, cameo-heavy spin-off, Crisis Core establishes crucial backstory information surrounding SOLDIER and Sephiroth’s descent into madness long before Cloud ever set foot on that train in Sector 1. Revisiting Zack’s relationships with Cloud, Aerith, and Angeal gives the overarching narrative emotional weight that reverberates directly through the mainline trilogy.
When we reviewed that original Switch release, we noted that although the game looked fantastic for a remastered PSP title, especially keeping the hardware limitations in mind. One of those limitations was that Crisis Core was strictly locked to 30 fps. On the Switch 2, performance sees a massive bump through the introduction of two distinct visual modes: Graphics Mode and Performance Mode. Performance Mode is the headline feature of the Switch 2 port. With the game now aiming for 60 fps, Crisis Core’s combat fundamentally feels different. The fast-paced hack-and-slash action feels instantly snappier and significantly more reactive. The ageing underlying ARPG mechanics feel far closer to modern-day standards than they did just a couple of years ago. That said, this buttery smooth performance does come with noticeable visual trade-offs. Real-time cutscenes feature downgraded lighting, lower-res textures and softer character models.
Switching over to Graphics Mode reinstates that 30 fps lock, but pushes the Switch 2 hardware to deliver an experience that is far easier on the eyes. Character skin tones, environmental reflections and shadows, and texture quality in general receive a massive boost, making those same cutscenes look strikingly crisp, especially in docked mode. It’s a bit of a shame that you can’t toggle between the modes on the fly, instead having to exit all the way back to the game’s title screen. Even so, having the option to choose between pristine fidelity or fluid 60 fps is a very welcome addition.
Underneath that shiny new coat of current-gen paint, though, Crisis Core remains an authentic product of the mid-2000s handheld era. No changes have been made to the game itself. The main campaign is still delivered in concise, bite-sized chapters, supported by hundreds of repetitive, hallway-style side missions accessed via save points. While these micro missions remain tailor-made for quick bursts in handheld mode, they feel undeniably dated and grindy when settled in for longer dock-based play sessions on the big screen.
Unfortunately, the visual triumphs that this updated version achieves are once again undercut by Square Enix’ anti-consumer release strategy, though at this point that is hardly surprising. Despite this being fundamentally the exact same content that hit store shelves years ago, Crisis Core on Switch 2 is only available as a standalone, full-price release, with no upgrade path for owners of that original version. That also means that you cannot access your prior save files from this version. If you spent dozens of hours grinding out hundreds of bite-sized side missions on your original Switch, tough luck. You’ll have to start over Zack’s journey from scratch. A particularly frustrating detail here is that the menu icon between both versions of the game is identical, with no Switch 2 branding visible. It does make the choice of (not) picking this one up a little easier if you already own the game though, as there is simply not enough here to justify buying the exact same game a second time. We know we’ve said this before about other Square Enix Switch 2 re-releases, but as long as they keep up with these anti-consumer practices, we’re going to keep hammering on the same nail.
One final thing worth mentioning is Crisis Core’s Switch 2 file size. In an era where the prices of memory are skyrocketing and where the FFVII trilogy games sit at a whopping 90+ GB each, Crisis Core comes in at a refreshing 15 GB. Of course, this is a much, much smaller spinoff compared to its bigger brothers, but at least this one can sit on our MicroSD Express card for a while as we hop in and out for short bursts of gameplay. It would have been even better if the physical version actually had the game on it instead of being a Game Key Card, which is another thing where the Switch 1 version outclasses this new port.
Conclusion
Although the Switch 2 version of Crisis Core is unequivocally the definitive way to experience Zack Fair’s emotional journey on the go, it remains a compromise compared to the PS5 and Xbox X|S versions. Performance Mode noticeably elevates the combat gameplay, while Graphics Mode brings the game in line with the aforementioned home console versions. However, Square Enix’s persistent refusal to offer an upgrade path or cross-save functionality remains a massive misstep, and it’s simply not worth double-dipping. That said, if you have skipped Crisis Core up until this point, this Switch 2 edition is an easy recommendation for a fantastic ARPG.
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