[REVIEW] FAST FUSION | NINTENDO SWITCH 2

Welcome to EXPlay, (Explain & Play) the review series where we care not for scores, but tell it how it is when it comes to every game we get our hands on, all whilst including some lengthy gameplay, to give you, the reader, the chance to form your own impressions and views while reading and watching.

In this explanatory review, we’re covering FAST FUSION by developer, Shin’en Multimedia:

FAST FUSION (Nintendo Switch 2)

Developed by Shin’en Multimedia, FAST FUSION is the fourth entry in the FAST series and, like FAST RMX being a launch title for the original Nintendo Switch, FAST FUSION released on June 5, 2025, as a Nintendo Switch 2 launch title. 

Since the series first began back in 2011 with FAST Racing NEO, FAST is an IP that has always exclusively launched on a Nintendo platform and that exclusivity is continuing, but when the likes of FAST RMX already being the best in the series, does FAST FUSION do enough to beat it? We certainly like to think so and it’s time to explain why. As a sci-fi racing game that drastically differs from Mario Kart World, FAST FUSION is a game that remains true to its roots and delivers some of the best racing action one can hope to expect.

The main Championship mode is divided into three different leagues, Subsonic, Supersonic and Hypersonic. Each league is harder than the one before it, with overall speed and CPU difficulty being increased. To advance to the next league, FAST FUSION requires the player to play through the previous league and come third or higher in the four cups associated with each league. Of the four cups available in FAST FUSION, there are: Mercium, Indigon, Argium, and Iridigon. All cups are made up of four tracks each, with each track consisting of three laps and bringing the game to a total of 12 tracks to playthrough.

One could argue the number of tracks is “rookie numbers” when compared to FAST RMX, but let’s not forget FAST RMX did have more tracks added to the game through free updates and that Shin’en Multimedia has already confirmed free updates are in the works for FAST FUSION. So, more tracks can be added in due course and one such update we know for a fact that is coming, is a new graphics mode called “PURE,” which said to “render the game without upscaling to generate a clearer image.” But more on this game’s beautiful graphics later.

When actually playing through the Championship mode, players will need boost, jump and phase shift their way to victory and the higher you rank, the better the pay day you will receive once a cup has been completed. Those funds can then be used to purchase other cups that were previously denied to you, or you can head on over to the game’s shop where the real fun begins.

Through the shop and the game’s new Fusion mechanic, players can spend their hard-won money on purchasing new vehicles and if its stats are not to your liking, you can fuse to vehicles together to create one that is. Fusing and dismantling fused vehicles does come with a price tag, but with hundreds of combinations available, the only way to discover the ones that work best for you, is to play around with them and experiment.

Then, should you be left with any money after purchasing all vehicles and cups, players are free to head on over to the game’s Jukebox menu, where 35 tracks can be purchased. The price for each track does vary, but as the tracks are not limited to just FAST FUSION but also includes the likes of those from FAST Racing League, to FAST Racing NEO and FAST RMX. The tracks make for a nice collectible and just in case you have plenty of fused vehicles, but no coins to spend, FAST FUSION does offer other ways of allowing the player to make money.

The easiest option is via the game’s Time Attack mode. By playing through the game’s 12 tracks across three different speed difficulties (Subsonic, Supersonic and Hypersonic), players can win a sizable payout by beating the record set by the game’s developers. But if it is a true challenge you seek and you want to see just how hardcore this stunning game can become, it’s time to head on over to Super Hero Mode. Through Super Hero Mode, players can revisit any of the game’s tracks but be warned, you will need to finish in first place, you cannot crash, not even once, and jumping will decrease your boost energy. This mode is not for the faint of heart, but despite being downright infuriating at times, it’s also a masochist’s dream come true and a whole ton of fun.

Should you be looking for something a tad easier and something you can share, perhaps multiplayer is more up your alley. With split-screen support for up to four players, now you can share the chaotic fun of FAST FUSION with the whole family. But, if split-screen is not to your liking, there is always the option of GameShare. Not only can you play locally with those around you, but you can also use GameShare to share the game with a friend and play with them during a GameChat session. The only downside is that, in the event of an unstable connection, the person you share FAST FUSION with will get a laggier version of the game and be unable to take in the game’s true beauty (we have a gameplay recording of that on our YouTube Channel).

But what of the performance? Not only is FAST FUSION downright gorgeous in every conceivable way, but the performance is the best we have ever seen. It’s high-octane racing at its finest and everything runs buttery smooth, but then that’s to be expected from a game with a variety of modes. Let’s break them down for you, shall we:

HANDHELD MODE: (Graphics Pure)

• 60 fps
• HDR
• 1080p Dynamic Resolution
• Dynamic Cubemap reflections
• No Anti-aliasing, no AO

 

HANDHELD MODE: (Graphics Quality)

• 30 fps
• HQ Graphics
• HDR
• 1080p

 

HANDHELD MODE: (Graphics Performance)

• 60 fps
• HDR
• 1080p
• Dynamic Shadows

 

TV MODE: (Graphics Pure)

• 60 fps
• HDR
• 1440p Dynamic Resolution
• Dynamic Cubemap reflections
• No Anti-aliasing, no AO

 

TV MODE: (Graphics Balanced)

• 60 fps
• HDR
• 1440p
• Dynamic Shadows

 

TV MODE: (Graphics Performance)

• 60 fps
• HDR
• 1080p
• Dynamic Shadows

 

TV MODE: (Graphics Quality)

• 60 fps
• HDR
• 4K
• Static Shadows
• Screenspace Shadows

 

TV MODE: (Graphics Ultra Quality)

• HD Graphics
• 30 fps (Game)
• 60 fps (Menu)
• HDR
• 4K
• Dynamic Shadows

During our review, we tried out the different graphics modes and found Graphics Balanced to be our favourite, but we would encourage anyone willing to do so, to try out Graphics Ultra Quality. From a visual perspective, FAST has never looked or felt better. Furthermore, if the options above aren’t enough to blow your mind, don’t forget you can get all of this for the low, low price of $14.99/£13.49. That’s not just a bargain; that’s the deal of the century. And because we delayed it for as long as we have, for those curious and fond of Jack Merluzzi’s work, yes, he has returned to voice the announcer in FAST FUSION. 

FAST FUSION is the culmination of everything Shin’en Multimedia has learned over the last fourteen years, and it is easily the best entry in the whole series. Whether you go it alone or play with a friend, FAST FUSION is one of the best racing games you could pick up, period. It’s the perfect alternative for those of us missing the F-Zero series and it boggles the mind as to why Nintendo hasn’t asked Shin’en Multimedia to try developing a new entry for them.

We’d happily settle for DLC. Keep the FAST branding but allow for a F-Zero collaboration that adds a new league comprised of four tracks from F-Zero and a small selection of vehicles. Starlink: Battle for Atlas had Star Fox, so why can’t FAST FUSION have F-Zero? Yes, the game is already perfect enough in its own right, but DLC such as that, would be the vanilla frosting on top for every F-Zero fan out there.

UPDATE #1 (June 26, 2025): Thanks to the PURE update, which released on June 26, 2025, FAST FUSION has recieved in the form of a fourth cup. The Carbium Cup adds three tracks that are based on those that appeared in FAST RMX, but have been graphically improved, with adjustments made to make them tie in to the rest of tracks used in FAST FUSION. The tracks that have been added are: Alpine Trust, Sunahara Plains, and Zenshoh Habitat.

This update also added the all-new pure rendering mode, which removes upscalling, offers dynamic resolution and renders the game at 1440p when docked and 1080p in Handheld Mode. Furthermore, two new jukebox tracks have been added, a new GPU particle system has been included for snow and extra stability and performance fixes have been implemented. But, as we said, the game was already pretty perfect in its own right, but now it has even more content at no extra cost.

UPDATE #2 (July 10, 2025): With the release of version 1.4, Photo Mode has now also been added to FAST FUSION and can be activated by pressing the – button. Sadly, Photo Mode can not be activated when your vehicle is mid-explosion after a crash. 

Game Specifications:

Developer: Shin’en Multimedia
Publisher: Shin’en Multimedia GmbH
Platform: Nintendo Switch 2 (Digital)
Genre: Racing
No. of Players: 1 – 4 (Single System)
Release Date: June 5, 2025
Price: $14.99
File Size: 3.5 GB
Nintendo.com Listing