Everything you need to know about Suikoden I & II HD Remaster on Nintendo Switch 2
The announcement of a Switch 2 port for the recently released Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars might have flown under the radar for many. This version of the game launched on the same day as the console, but was a digital only release in every country but Japan (which had the game release as a key-card). As someone who played this collection on Switch, and even had a physical, I was curious about why this was a full separate release. This collection runs fine on the Switch 2 via backwards compatibility, despite not featuring any extra enhancements. This curiosity got the best of me to bite the bullet and buy this new version shortly after getting my Switch 2. Here’s everything you need to make an informed purchase.
Can you upgrade to the Switch 2 version Suikoden I & II HD Remaster if you own the Switch version?
No, you can not pay a minor fee to upgrade to the Switch 2 version. It is a separate release, costing $49.99 USD, £44.99, or your region's equivalent. If you don't live in Japan and want the Key Card release, you'll have to worry about extra import fees as well.
Does Suikoden I & II HD Remaster on Switch 2 include save data transfer?
Despite having to buy the game again, Konami has allowed players to at least transfer their Switch 1 save file over to the new version if they decide to buy it. As soon as you boot up the Switch 2 Edition, you’ll be met with this screen asking if you want to transfer your save.
And there you go, your Switch save is now on your native Switch 2 version. It’s worth noting that this is a one-way transfer. If you wanted to move your progress back and forth between the Switch 1 version and Switch 2 for whatever reason, you are unable to do this.
What are the Suikoden I & II HD Remaster Switch 2 improvements compared to Switch?
The original Switch version of the game was 720p in portable mode and 1080p docked, targeting 30 FPS. This is certainly more than playable, but it did make it the least impressive console version. The Switch 2 release spouts a resolution increase to 1080p in portable mode and 1440p docked. This won’t be a large improvement, but our time testing Suikoden II in both versions showed that the image was more clean and the scrolling more smooth. Placed next to each other, there's really not too much of a difference to the naked eye.
Switch 1 Docked
Switch 2 Docked
The Switch 2 Edition also allows for 60 FPS. Usually I wouldn’t think this would be too crucial for a turn-based pixel art RPG, but I hate to admit that it felt much more responsive. The sprite art looks incredibly smooth running at this speed, and it’s something that is really hard to convey unless you see it yourself. Even the title screen menu feels lightning fast now, and load times are almost non-existent. Menu navigation and battles feel snappy, which you might value if you are bothered by 30 FPS. If you’ve already played the other console versions that can hit 60 FPS, or even the PC release, this will be less impressive for you. I’ll be finishing this playthrough of Suikoden II on the Switch 2 version, I can say that at least.
Is it worth it?
Ultimately, if you’re playing the Switch 1 version of Suikoden I & II HD Remaster and enjoying it you shouldn’t feel the need to upgrade. As much as I'm enjoying the increase in resolution and framerate, this is the kind of Switch 2 Edition that probably should have had an upgrade path. The improvements are nice, but I wouldn’t say it’s worth buying the full game again. Especially if getting all your games physically mattered, since the Switch 1 version of the game has the full game on the cartridge. If it drops in price, it absolutely would be worth asking yourself if the upgraded features would be worth it. If you haven’t played this remaster yet and don’t mind this being a digital-only release for most reasons, this collection might be worth your attention.