I Am Setsuna review - How does it hold up on Nintendo Switch?

I Am Setsuna was developed by Square Enix in a bid to claw back JRPG fans of yesteryear.

The titanic publisher set up the indie-style studio Tokyo RPG Factory to recreate the soul of stuff like early Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger, but with modern trappings.

When it launched early last year, I Am Setsuna was pretty well-received - doing a good job of balancing classic mechanics with modern trends.

We won't be boring you with a retread of those reviews though, and will instead address the concern at hand. How is it on Nintendo Switch?

Who is Setsuna?

But before we kick off, let's refresh your memory. I Am Setsuna is a classic-style JRPG with decent, if not impressive, 3D visuals. It's isometric, features an active time battle system, and has very little voice acting.

You play as the mercenary Endir who takes it upon himself to help Setsuna complete her quest. Without getting into spoilers, that's to sacrifice herself to the monsters so they won't take over the world. Pretty standard JRPG fare - at least on paper. I actually found the plot to be pretty coherent.

I Am Setsuna doesn't overstay its welcome like a lot of JRPGs either. That's thanks to a combination of a trim 20 hour length, zippy combat, and solid plot pacing.

You rarely spend a lot of time in any one location, and as a result you'll enjoy it. Dungeons and towns are small, the plot doesn't dawdle, and the dialogue is always a pleasure to read.

It also runs at a smooth 30 FPS and it's very consistent. The only time I noticed a drop was during a sequence towards the end, when there was a lot going on.

Occasionally, there's a second of lag when a character pops into the screen but it's by no means game breaking.

Mobile

As a result, I Am Setsuna is pretty perfect for playing on the go. Sure, it won't beat out Clash Royale when you've only got three minutes to spare, but when on the train or lunch break you can usually achieve something before you're busy again.

And you'll have fun when doing it. Whether it's fine-tuning your party, hunting down world chests, or grinding for experience, I Am Setsuna is a blast. It reminds you what you loved so much about the classic JRPGs, but removes the stuff you'd rather forget.

So if you've just finished Breath of the Wild and are looking for something new to sink your teeth into, you can't really go wrong with I Am Setsuna.