As a dedicated gamer, I’m thrilled to share that “Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time” from Level-5 is now globally available on all platforms including consoles and PC (Steam) after a much-anticipated wait! You can find my comprehensive 10/10 review of the game here. Over 20 hours of gameplay across various devices like the Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, ROG Ally, PS5, Xbox Series X, and even the new Nintendo Switch 2 have given me a well-rounded perspective on this captivating title. This article has been updated to provide insights into Fantasy Life i’s performance on the Switch 2, comparisons between the two Switch consoles, optimal settings for Steam Deck, thoughts on the PC port, and more. Rest assured, there are no story spoilers in my review. I’ve also tested cross-save functionality across multiple platforms, including the Steam Deck, Switch, PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch 2, and ROG Ally, ensuring a seamless gaming experience after over 80 hours spent with the game so far.
Fantasy Life i Nintendo Switch performance impressions
I primarily played Fantasy Life on Steam initially, but after pre-ordering digitally, I later tested the Nintendo Switch variant. Since Fantasy Life i offers cross-save functionality, I synced my Steam save to explore bustling zones and experiment with a fresh start using another user profile. I was keen to compare the game’s initial experience on the Switch, evaluating its performance from day one. Please note that this was done with version 1.1.0, which lags slightly behind the PS5, PS4, and Steam versions. The Nintendo Switch edition did not receive an early unlock for the Digital Deluxe Edition like other platforms.
The Fantasy Life game on Nintendo Switch performs better than anticipated compared to footage from the last Direct presentation. So far, I’ve only played it in handheld mode, and the visuals appear softer than you might expect on Switch, even when playing on-the-go. Load times are reasonable, but unfortunately, the performance is inconsistent, often dipping below 30fps, even during certain cut-scenes. Even when it appears to maintain its target frame rate for some periods, issues with frame pacing or stuttering detract from the overall gaming experience. These hiccups occur in more crowded areas like the sandy regions of Ginormosia or near Mysteria’s Capital with numerous NPCs. I was pleasantly surprised by the improved performance compared to my expectations, but it still falls short of an ideal gaming experience.
Fantasy Life i Switch handheld gameplay screenshots
As a dedicated fan, I long for Level-5 to update the game to allow me to turn off the depth of field effect, similar to how it works in the PC version. The blurry edges in certain situations really dampen my experience. Additionally, I eagerly anticipate a future update that includes touchscreen support. Although it may not be essential during combat or exploration, having this feature for progressing through cut-scenes or navigating menus would have greatly enhanced my gameplay. While the Switch version offers good HD Rumble and is playable, I wouldn’t advise purchasing it unless you plan to use it as a portable alternative to playing on another platform with cross save enabled.
It’s uncertain at this point, but it would be ideal if the performance problems with the Switch version could be fixed when played using backward compatibility on the upcoming Switch 2, before the official Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is released. For now, this Switch port is acceptable for playing alongside another version, but I wouldn’t advise making it your primary way to enjoy Fantasy Life just yet. Here’s hoping that some of the performance issues can be corrected with updates.
Fantasy Life i Nintendo Switch 2 Edition impressions
In terms of Fantasy Life 2 for Nintendo Switch, it significantly enhances the initial Switch version, yet falls short of perfection. The upgrades in graphic quality and performance are commendable, but I anticipated a bit more. Regarding image quality, it’s noticeably improved from Switch 1 and looks great on the Switch 2’s native screen, however, it doesn’t quite match the clarity of the PS5 or Xbox versions when played docked on a 1440p display. The other concern lies in performance, which isn’t as consistent as it is on Steam Deck or other consoles. However, it’s worth mentioning that navigating the map using the cursor feels smoother on Switch compared to PS5 and Xbox.
Regarding gameplay and loading times, Fantasy Life on Switch 2 offers a nearly unparalleled experience in portable gaming, trailing only behind Steam Deck OLED. An added feature of toggling off the blur or depth of field would greatly enhance the user experience on Switch 2, given its performance requirements. I eagerly anticipate future updates to iron out minor performance glitches encountered during multiplayer adventures in Ginormosia. If you’re a current owner of Fantasy Life on Switch, an upgrade to the Switch 2 is highly recommended if you plan to play it there.
Fantasy Life i Nintendo Switch vs Nintendo Switch 2 comparison
Due to cross-progression, I was able to seamlessly switch between the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 versions of Fantasy Life. Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the game when played in handheld mode, highlighting the differences in resolution and draw distance. It’s important to mention that the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Fantasy Life also aims for 60fps, whereas the original Switch version can occasionally drop below 30fps. Although visuals and performance are enhanced on the Switch 2, load times aren’t as quick as those on PC and PS5 in my tests. The rumble feature is also more effective on the Switch 2, although it may simply be that overall rumble quality feels better on the Switch 2 compared to the original Switch.
Fantasy Life i PC graphics options and port features
Due to Megaton Musashi W: Wired for PC having an excellent port that performed well on handheld devices, I wasn’t overly concerned about Fantasy Life 1. However, I must say I am quite impressed with the Steam version. It offers a multitude of graphics settings, scales effectively, and functions smoothly with mouse and keyboard input, as I discovered while testing those controls.
If you’re using Steam Deck or any other device running SteamOS while playing games, there’s a chance you may encounter an issue where the game restricts you from modifying the display mode and resolution settings. Let me elaborate on how to customize these settings in Fantasy Life. This game allows you to change the display mode (windowed, borderless), adjust the resolution with support for 16:10 aspect ratio, enable or disable v-sync, set frame rate limits (30, 60, 120 FPS or unlimited), toggle motion blur effects, select a graphics preset (low, medium, high, custom), activate HDR, and adjust screen brightness levels.
In the Fantasy Life game, the graphics preset is set to automatically optimize certain visual aspects that you can also customize manually. These include shadow sharpness (ranging from low to high), anti-aliasing options such as FXAA and TAA, toggling global illumination, ambient occlusion, screen space reflections, depth of field, adjusting object detail, and selecting display quality level (low, medium, or high).
Fantasy Life i Steam Deck impressions
Fantasy Life 1 has been confirmed as compatible with the Steam Deck. Although this verification may not hold as much weight for newer games, in this case, it’s well-deserved. Upon launching the game, there might be a brief wait for downloading or updating Epic Online Services, but after that, the game functions smoothly without any issues, even with its anti-cheat system. I’ve personally invested around 20 hours into playing on my Steam Deck out of the total playtime so far. Features like text input bringing up the keyboard and performance are seamless, and HDR is supported on the Steam Deck OLED.
Hey there fellow gamer! I’ve got a heads up for those of you playing Fantasy Life on Steam Deck. There seems to be a minor hiccup that might pop up while you’re gaming. If you tinker with the graphics settings, the game will automatically switch from 800p / 16:10 to 720p and 16:9. Now, here’s the thing – by default, Fantasy Life on Steam Deck locks the display mode and resolution options.
To fix this issue, you can add a launch option when starting the game. Simply include “SteamDeck=0 %command%” (without quotes) in your Steam settings for Fantasy Life. This nifty little trick will grant you the freedom to adjust all the graphics settings according to your preference within the game itself. Enjoy gaming!
Among all the games I’ve played on Steam Deck, Fantasy Life 1 truly stands out. Having tested more than a thousand games over the years, I frequently explore new and old titles that are RPGs-compatible with Steam Deck. Yet, Fantasy Life 1 is exceptional due to its seamless performance and compatibility with the system. Notably, you can advance dialogues by simply tapping and use the right trackpad for precise placement during the building phase (thanks to Steam Input).
Fantasy Life i Steam Deck recommended settings and a fix
To ensure a seamless and consistent gaming experience with Fantasy Life on both the Steam Deck’s LCD and OLED screens, it would be wise to set your frame rate at 60fps. However, if you are using an OLED screen, avoid setting the game’s frame rate to 60fps within the game itself as it may not match with the 90hz display. Instead, I found that adjusting the Steam Deck’s quick access menu to limit the frame rate to 60hz provides a smooth experience overall. In my playtime of Fantasy Life on the Steam Decks, there have only been brief moments, lasting just a second or two, when the frame rate dipped below 60fps in menus.
In most cases, many performance-enhancing options don’t make much difference when you’re playing on a smaller screen. To start with, I suggest turning off depth of field as it tends to blur parts of the screen, and I personally find that annoying. After that, simply set the game to medium settings without worrying too much about further adjustments. Using the High preset may lead to frame rates dropping below 60fps, so it’s not advisable on Steam Deck. Additionally, I usually decrease shadow quality as well.
Fantasy Life i ROG Ally impressions and recommended settings
In my standard procedure, I’ve been testing the performance of my ROG Ally Z1 Extreme, with the graphics card set at 5GB VRAM. I’m currently running the most recent driver update that came out last week, ensuring everything is current. So far, I’ve only spent an hour or so playing Fantasy Life on the ROG Ally, but my experience with Steam Deck led me to some high-stress test locations, making this evaluation more straightforward. My aim was to push the visuals to their limits across different modes and see if I could achieve a consistent 120fps in handheld mode on the device.
To achieve top-notch graphics, running at 1080p and selecting the high preset, you can expect a stable 30 frames per second (fps) in the 30W mode. However, I found that it dips slightly to the upper twenties in crowded areas when using the 25W mode. I don’t suggest striving for 30fps in Fantasy Life, as the visual changes do not seem worth the significant performance trade-off.
At a resolution of 1080p with the low setting, Fantasy Life 1 runs at 70fps or more in the 25W mode, while frame rates drop to the mid to high 60s when switched to the 15W mode. Reducing the resolution to 720p and maintaining the low preset boosted the frames per second to between 100 and 120. To achieve a locked 60fps in the 15W mode, you need to lower the resolution to 720p. The 900p mode comes close, but with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), you may still experience occasional drops into the 50s.
Which is the best portable version of Fantasy Life i?
The current optimal way to experience Fantasy Life is by playing it on the Steam Deck OLED, especially if an improved version of Nintendo Switch 2 (the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition) becomes available in the future. With Level-5 addressing the minor performance issues and allowing players to adjust the screen’s edge blur (as seen on PC), the gaming experience will be even more seamless. At present, the Steam Deck OLED offers superior performance, quicker load times, and excellent HDR support. However, if you own a standard LCD Steam Deck, your decision may be trickier; I’d suggest choosing whichever feels more comfortable to you. Keep in mind that switching to Nintendo Switch 2 handheld mode means sacrificing the back buttons, but you’ll gain a better screen and longer battery life compared to the LCD Steam Deck model.
The enchanting title “Fantasy Life I: The Time Thief Girl” is now accessible on various platforms, including Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, original Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. For those of you intending to play it or who already have, don’t forget to explore our comprehensive game guides right here.
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2025-06-12 09:27