STEINS;GATE REBOOT Switch 2 Review: Akihabara is More Beautiful Than Ever, But the Words Remain in English

STEINS GATE is one of those names in the world of visual novels that needs no introduction. Born in 2009 from the collaboration between MAGES and Nitroplus, the title has become a true benchmark in video game science fiction over the years, selling over four million copies and spawning anime, spin-offs, and various re-editions. Now MAGES returns to Akihabara with STEINS GATE REBOOT, a new version that doesn't just re-propose the classic with higher resolution, but completely redesigns characters, environments, and event images, re-reads the script, and also introduces unreleased narrative material.

The Nintendo Switch 2 version therefore represents another opportunity to enter the Future Gadget Laboratory, this time also comfortably on the go. And it is precisely here that the title finds one of its most interesting dimensions, namely taking a visual novel born almost twenty years ago and giving it a contemporary look without erasing its identity. 

Okabe, the Phone Trigger, and the Conspiracy that Rewrites Time

Rintaro Okabe is a decidedly eccentric university student who runs the Future Gadget Laboratory in Akihabara with his friends. During one of their experiments, what seems to be a simple phone capable of sending messages into the past, however, opens the door to something much larger and more dangerous.

From that moment, the story begins to play with timelines, unpredictable consequences, scientific theories, and a conspiracy that directly involves the protagonists' future. To tell anything more would mean spoiling much of the pleasure of discovery, because STEINS GATE builds its strength precisely in the way every small initial detail acquires a completely different meaning as it progresses.

The title starts from the STEINS GATE ELITE script, making it more fluid and readable, but adds new dialogues, content, and especially a new Worldline with its respective ending. An interesting choice, especially for those who already know the story and are looking for something beyond a simple nostalgia operation. 

Pros and Compromises of STEINS GATE REBOOT

Talking about gameplay in a visual novel is always peculiar, but STEINS GATE has an interaction system that manages to give the player a more important role than it might seem.

The heart of the experience remains the Phone Trigger: Okabe receives messages and calls on his phone, and deciding whether to answer, ignore, or interact with certain communications can alter the narrative path and lead to different developments and endings. We are not, therefore, facing a simple passive reading, although much of the time will inevitably be dedicated to dialogues, monologues, and narrative scenes.

Tools dedicated to Worldlines and choices made also make exploring the various possibilities easier, especially considering how intricate the plot becomes as the hours pass.

The pacing has also been revised compared to the original. It's a choice I personally appreciate, as it allows the story to reach its truly important moments more quickly. At the same time, those familiar with the original version might notice some parts cut or condensed compared to the 2009 script: a compromise that makes STEINS GATE REBOOT more accessible, but will surely spark debate among the most loyal fans. 

Art, E-mote, and Sound Design: MAGES Redoes Everything from Scratch with Great Personality

MAGES has redesigned characters, backgrounds, and event images from scratch, with huke returning to character design. Event images are approximately double that of the original Xbox 360, while backgrounds have increased by about 20%. Akihabara thus appears richer and more detailed, while the E-mote system gives movement to characters through facial expressions, small movements, and more natural breathing.

The sound compartment has also been completely reworked, with all Japanese voices fully re-recorded and the soundtrack newly created by Takeshi Abo. The result maintains the sonic identity that accompanied STEINS GATE, but presents it with a decidedly more modern clarity and presence.

On the Nintendo Switch 2 version, the interesting point is above all the possibility of experiencing this new graphic style both on the television and portably. It is not a production that needs to exploit the power of the new console through spectacular effects, because here the value of the hardware lies above all in how it allows you to enjoy the artistic and narrative work practically anywhere.

However, there is an absence that, personally, I find much more difficult to justify than a simple aesthetic lack: Italian. STEINS GATE REBOOT does not feature any localization in our language, and in this case, the problem weighs quite heavily. We are talking about a visual novel in which hours are spent reading dialogues, descriptions, messages, scientific explanations, and fundamental passages to understand the story. Not having the texts in Italian means asking the Italian player to face an enormous amount of content in a foreign language precisely in the genre where understanding words should be at the center of the experience.

It's a real shame, because a production of this level would have deserved an Italian localization, especially considering that we are not talking about a simple accessory element, but the main tool through which the game tells its story. For those who do not have a good grasp of English, the absence of Italian can become a concrete obstacle to the full enjoyment of the adventure and, personally, it is one of the most evident limitations of this version.